Self-Storage Access Control Systems: Most Fall Flat (But One Stands Out)

Self-storage access control systems are a major source of frustration for many operators.

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These tools are supposed to make tenant experiences flawless, but in practice, many facilities are still fielding constant questions about gate codes, access hours, or failed entries.

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When we talk to operators, the frustration usually comes down to this: they’ve installed systems that still rely heavily on facility staff to do the heavy lifting.

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That’s not access control. That’s assisted control.

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They dipped their toes in the water, but haven’t fully committed to what technology can do for their facility.

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The access systems that actually work are the ones that work without staff involvement.

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They remove friction for the tenant and the team. Sure, we’re a little biased, but one platform in particular is making this a reality.

Most Self-Storage Access Control Systems Just Shift The Problem

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Facility operators will often invest in access tools with the promise of automation, but it doesn’t fully materialize.

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Instead, operators find that they’re still manually troubleshooting problems every single day.

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Keypads don’t work. Codes expire early. Tenants call the desk to ask if their payment went through because their gate access is being denied.

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One wrong entry locks them out entirely. 

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Someone on staff then has to pause what they’re doing and handle the fallout.

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It’s a messy process.

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Instead of solving problems, the system creates more of them.

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This leaves staff rushing between customer service and gate management, with little time to spare.

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So, what’s the core issue? Well, most access control systems still expect facility teams to be on-call for issues that the system should be handling automatically.

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Access should be simple.

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If a tenant has paid, their code should work.

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If they’re on site, they should be able to enter without delay.

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And if something changes, the system should handle it, without dragging a human into the mix.

Automation That Actually Works Starts With Intelligence

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Most operators don’t need fancier hardware. What they need is smarter software.

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This is what we offer with swivl.

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Instead of relying on rigid access systems that break at the first edge case, swivl acts like a live, intelligent layer that keeps access seamless and consistent for tenants.

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Here’s how swivl can help:

• When a tenant can’t get in, swivl knows why.
• If their payment didn’t process, swivl can let them know.

The best bit? swivl will even help them resolve it on the spot. No phone call. No wait time. And most importantly, no staff intervention.

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It’s not just about letting someone through a gate. It’s about answering the why behind every access issue and solving it before a support ticket ever forms.

Tenants Don’t Want To Be Told To Wait

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As we’ve mentioned in other recent articles, millennials expect instant service, nothing is more frustrating than showing up at a facility and hitting a wall. Literally!

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When access is blocked, tenants don’t want to hear “We’ll get back to you soon.” No, they want to know what went wrong and how to fix it - right this second.

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This is where traditional systems fall flat and fail. They lock people out and offer no explanation, just an error beep and a vague suggestion to call someone who may or may not be available.

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swivl doesn’t put tenants in those situations.

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The platform gives tenants real-time answers and action steps that help them move forward without needing to involve your team.

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It becomes the first line of support for tenant queries and resolves most access issues before your staff even knows there was a problem.

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Modern access control should feel: smooth, fast, and invisible.

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swivl ticks all three of the boxes.

Your Facility Staff Shouldn’t Be The Bottleneck

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Facility operators often tell us they’re tired of systems that make their team the go-between for every minor issue.

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If someone can’t open the gate, a facility manager has to pause their other work and figure out what’s gone wrong.

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Multiply that by five or six tenants in a day, and the whole operation starts to crumble, and your facility staff end up having relatively unproductive days.

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Sure, they’ve addressed urgent tenant queries, but it’s distracted them away from doing meaningful work on business development.

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That’s not scalable.

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swivl is built to remove staff as the bottleneck.

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It monitors what’s happening at the access point, connects the dots behind the scenes, and steps in with instant support.

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Tenants are guided in real time.

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And staff get to focus on running the business, not running interference.

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Teams who use swivl say their mornings are no longer hijacked by routine access issues.

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What does this look like? It’s simple: fewer phone calls, clearer inboxes.

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And no need to drop everything for something that a system can handle.

Tenants Need Effortless Access, And You Can Offer This

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Great access control doesn’t look like hardware upgrades or bigger lockout logs.

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It looks like fewer interruptions.

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You can have confidence that your systems will work, even when you and other team members are busy helping a new renter or away from your desk.

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From what we’ve seen, the facilities with the smoothest access experiences are the ones that stop relying on people to solve problems that software should be handling.

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swivl makes this possible. It handles tenant interactions at the gate with speed, clarity, and consistency, so your brand feels modern and your team feels supported.

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Do you want to see what effortless access looks like in action?

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Get a live demo today and find out more about our self-storage automation platform.

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