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re you considering switching to smart locks at your self-storage facility? The technology is becoming increasingly sought after within the self-storage industry. The popularity is due to a variety of reasons, which include extra security for facilities, an automated business, better time management for self-storage managers and employees, and more independence and convenience for tenants. The smart locking technology is already commonly used at family homes, apartment buildings, and hotels. For self-storage facilities, the technology works similarly, but with added benefits to make the lives of tenants and self-storage owners and managers a lot simpler. Smart locks can be battery powered or hardwired, and both can be installed in retrofits and new self-storage facilities.
Through smart locking technology, tenants can feel empowered to enter their units as easily and independently as possible, with no need for physical keys that can be lost or misplaced. With smart locks, it’s also possible for tenants to give access to their units to movers or family members without the need to share a physical key. Many smart lock options offer access to an online platform, enabling tenants to share their “key” with the touch of a finger.
There are many benefits for self-storage owners and operators, too. With some smart locking technologies, it’s possible to integrate the smart locks with the facility management system, facilitating the process of overlooking, for example. When tenants aren’t up to date with their payments, owners can just utilize the “overlocking” function of the smart locks, instead of having to add a physical lock to the unit door. It’s also possible to automatically give access back to the tenants once the payments are completed. Self-storage managers can also remotely check the status of each door, so there’s no need for managers to walk the site checking if each door is securely locked. That way, smart locks can relieve self-storage managers and employees from repetitive tasks, making sure that these professionals can focus on customer service, marketing, and their relationships with the tenants.
To better understand the smart locking options available in the market, Modern Storage Media spoke with representatives from smart lock companies, who explained why their products are unique and shared advice for self-storage owners and operators interested in upgrading their facilities with smart locking technology.
“We have about 400,000 smart locks in the field,” says Christine DeBord, chief commercial officer of Nokē Smart Entry by Janus.
Their hardwired smart lock option, Nokē Ion, is low voltage powered and can be installed in retrofits and newer facilities, working with most standard hasps, as well. This smart lock is customizable, and self-storage owners can choose to add LED lights and motion sensors to the product. Nokē ONE, the battery-powered option, is easily retrofittable and works on roll-up and swing doors. The battery life lasts two years; if the self-storage owner purchases doors from Janus International, the smart locks can be manufactured and pre-installed on the doors.
According to DeBord, self-storage owners can spend from $200 to $300 for each smart lock in their facility; that price includes the product itself, installation, and the mobile app, which tenants can use to access the facility and their units. The Nokē team also provides training for self-storage managers. “We have an account management team that’s great at training and onboarding and working with your managers. If you get your managers excited about the technology and get them engaged early on, then implementation tends to be a lot easier because they’re excited and they’re selling this as a feature to customers,” she says.
According to Bode, DaVinci Solutions’ smart locks are designed to give the tenants the freedom and independence that they desire. Their smart lock option is a hardwired model, with no batteries needed, and access to the cloud. It integrates with different facility management software, meaning that self-storage managers can remotely control actions such as overlocking, granting access to tenants, and protecting vacant units from unauthorized access, for example, remotely and easily. Tenants are also able to receive codes to access their units via email or text messages.
To have access to DaVinci Solutions’ products, self-storage owners and operators can subscribe to one of their membership plans: basic, plus, or premium. The ideal plan depends on the size of your facility. With the basic plan, each lock can be purchased for $13.90, with a $20 monthly membership, and within this plan, there’s a limit of 20 locks per facility. As well as the DaVinci lock, all the plans offer the G.O.A.T. technology and the Tenant Connect platform, which provides fully integrated payments and user analytics.
To self-storage owners and managers considering switching to smart locking technology, Bode advises focusing on automation. “If I were an operator in this market, I would try to automate everything I could in my facility,” she says. “How can I make this as streamlined and as efficient as possible?”
“With the NFC technology, there are motors and capacitors inside the locks—all of the smart things about it, but no batteries or wires. It’s actually the tenants’ smartphone that will transfer energy to the lock. It’s almost like reverse wireless charging; they hold their phone up to the lock for three seconds, and the phone will provide the lock with enough energy to operate,” he says.
“There are no batteries, Bluetooth, hardwiring—everything is pulled from the energy on your phone to open and close a pod,” adds Mason Callahan Shaw, the co-founder and director of operations at Keep It Simple Storage.
ONELock integrates with the facility management system, and KISS Solutions also provides a technology that allows self-storage owners and managers to receive digital reporting. “There’s a report for owners and operators to see the backend. It’s possible to catch units that are unlocked for X amount of hours. Therefore, shows some sort of inclination for maybe [tenants] living in the unit or doing any sort of nefarious activity inside the space,” Shaw says. This technology is useful for tenants too. “There’s also a layer of security, at least with KISS products, where if the door has been unlocked for a certain amount of hours, the tenant will receive a notification.”
According to Starkman, the biggest differentiator of KISS Solutions is that the smart lock is made for and by self-storage operators. Shaw adds that the smart locks have different configurations, including disc, cylinder, and latch locks. “You don’t have to retrofit your entire facility with new doors,” she says.
With prices starting at $55 per lock, KISS Solutions, according to Starkman and Shaw, can provide more security and convenience to tenants, as well as more efficient processes to operators. “Every self-storage operator who doesn’t utilize a smart lock has a lot of inefficient processes,” says Starkman.
From hardwired to battery-powered products, and even smart locks operated with NFC technology, purchasing smart locks for a self-storage facility is a big commitment, and even though there are many great options in the market, the right technology for each operator depends on their priorities, budget, and goals for their business.