Secure storage is big business.
The global market size of the self-storage industry was near $58 billion in 2023 and, in the US alone, the self-storage industry accounts for more than 1.7 billion square feet of space.
These facilities rent space in a secure location on a short-term basis (often month-to-month, though some offer options for longerterm leases) to individuals or businesses. Units might be used for storing household goods, excess inventory, or archived records – and they’re secured by the tenant's own lock and key.
For those needing a flexible storage solution, or those who have simply run out of storage space on their own premises, these facilities are incredibly popular.
Keeping them safe and secure is paramount.
PTI Security Systems, based in Kennesaw (Georgia, US), have been global leaders in access control since 1979 – developing a range of keypads, padlocks, and latches. Now part of the Assa Abloy group, they are turning to a new line of IoT-enabled products to meet the needs of a sector that is starting to embrace new technologies.
Meeting tenant expectations
The team’s latest innovation - the ProEdge Smart Latch – has been designed specifically for self-storage units.
It provides keyless access to tenants via a simple swipe on a mobile app – and thanks to its Bluetooth technology it doesn’t require phone reception to work (handy, as self-storage facilities can be blind spots for coverage).
Tenants can also send a digital key - a one-time pass - to a business partner or family member who can then access the storage unit for a limited time.
There are other benefits to the more advanced latch compared to traditional low-tech locks. First, tenants can review information about when the unit has been accessed. Second, and crucially, the latch contains an accelerometer which will trigger a response if someone tries to force entry to the unit. Both the tenant and the facility operator will be notified in real-time via their app.
Steve Reeder, Director of Marketing at PTI Security Systems, explains why this matters.
“There is growing competition in the self-storage industry right now, and companies need to be able to show renters that they’re going the extra mile to keep their items safe. Automation, and the benefit of real-time notifications, provides a greater level of security that people have come to expect in the era of smart security devices in the home, office and beyond.”
For the operator, there are further benefits to the latch.
Once connected to the MiraMesh network, operators gain instant access to individual units, including the data associated with each ProEdge Smart Latch and overarching control.
The data itself can provide useful insight and better operational understanding of how, and when, their units are accessed by tenants.
The overlocking functionality is also important. In the event of bill non-payment an operator can stop a smart latch from being opened by a tenant until payment is received. This would normally require a member of staff to physically apply a second lock to the unit to prevent entry – now this can be done remotely.
With many self-storage facilities hosting hundreds of tenants at a time, these efficiencies can improve customer service while contributing to significant cost savings.
‘A competitive edge’
Each latch uses a single Saft LM17500 battery for power – designed specifically for applications with continuous currents in the 0.1-5A range. It provides a three-year lifespan before needing to be replaced.
“We’ve got a reputation for durability and reliability,” adds Steve, noting a PTI keypad in his possession that is still operational after withstanding a shotgun blast.
And that’s exactly what we know Saft to be. We love that we can get three years of life from this battery – and we’ve worked with Assa Abloy and PTI engineers to get every ounce of life out of it – because operators simply don’t want to replace batteries for around 400 units every six months.”
“Other smart latches might only last a matter a months before the battery needs replacing, or they might draw on multiple cells in one lock. For us to have a single cell with a reliable, long lifespan is a real competitive advantage for us.”
The latch was launched in Spring 2024, perfect timing for an industry that is warming up to the possibilities of more automated solutions to security. Both versions of the smart latch – one designed for corrugated doors (more common in the US) and one for flat surfaces (more common in Europe) – have seen a significant uptick in large-scale orders, with many hundreds of devices being installed at a time.
