Self Storage
Using Self-Storage Automation To Build Unmanned Facilities
Self-storage automation has completely changed the way we think about running facilities.
When we first started working with facility operators, we noticed that most of them were juggling a dozen daily tasks while still trying to respond instantly to every lead.
That combination rarely works.
If you want to build an unmanned storage facility that doesn’t just survive but thrives, you have to make automation the backbone of your operation.
We’ve tested a lot of approaches over the years, and what we’ve found is that the right technology stack removes the constant pressure on your team while opening the door to faster bookings and better tenant experiences.
Self-Storage Automation Is Top Of Mind For Many Operators
When we are looking at a new facility’s lead flow, we always start with one question: how quickly can you respond to an inquiry?
The truth is, speed wins.
What surprised us early on was just how many potential tenants would go with the first facility that gave them an answer.
If you are stuck returning calls hours later, you are already too late.
We’ve seen operators try to cover this gap by hiring more people, but this didn’t work for us because the cost and scheduling challenges outweighed the benefit.
Instead, self-storage automation tools like swivl can instantly answer common questions, escalate sales queries to the right human when needed, and keep the booking process moving 24/7.
We’ve had facility teams tell us about prospects who booked in the middle of the night without a single staff member getting involved.
Automating Facility Operations Unlocks Massive Gains For Teams
When your team is buried under repetitive customer service tasks, growth stalls.
We’ve worked with operators who were spending all day on phone calls, leaving no time for marketing or improving occupancy rates.
Once they switched to an automated approach, they could finally focus on higher-value activities.
We like using this because AI doesn’t need a coffee break or a weekend off.
With the right integration, unmanned storage facilities can even outperform manned ones.
The key is to treat self-storage automation as an extension of your team.
It’s not replacing your people, but giving them the breathing room to work on strategic growth.
How Automation Is Used In Self-Storage Facilities
Digital Documentation
Manual paperwork processes slow everything down. Now, agreements are generated automatically, sent instantly, and signed without a single sheet of paper changing hands. Teams love how effortless it feels.
Variable-Rate Management
This was a major win for one facility we worked with recently.
Rates automatically adjusted based on occupancy triggers, which meant they could capture more revenue without constantly watching the numbers.
Auto-Generated Data Reports
The moment operators stop manually building spreadsheets, they realize how much time they were wasting.
With automation, reports update themselves in real time, so decisions are made on current data, not last week’s numbers.
Cloud-Based Access Control
Facility teams like using this because it gives tenants an instant gate code right after they sign their lease digitally. This means:
- No waiting
- No calls
- No confusion
We’ve Done The Hard Work For You
When we are asked whether to build an in-house system or use swivl, we always remind operators that swivl comes ready with a self-storage-specific natural language model that’s already been trained on countless tenant conversations.
You’re not starting from scratch. You’re actually benefiting from an incredibly intelligent tool that knows exactly how to handle any tenant query you throw at it.
Operators who use swivl never miss a prospect.
The assistant works every hour of every day, answering questions, guiding tenants through bookings, and escalating high-value opportunities to your team.
You can even feed it your FAQs, chat history, and other resources so it gets smarter over time.
We’ve tested this with operators of all sizes, and the feedback is the same: it feels like adding a knowledgeable staff member who never sleeps.
Building Your Self-Storage Technology Stack
The thing facility teams love about swivl is how easy it is to get started with the platform.
You don’t have to worry about any coding or complicated onboarding.
In just a few clicks, you’re ready to start booking more units while your team focuses on growing the business.
If you’re ready to see what self-storage automation can do for your facility, we’d be happy to show you.
Schedule a demo and let us walk you through exactly how swivl can help you run a more profitable, fully automated, and tenant-friendly storage operation.
