Whether you are tired of hearing about AI or you are fully embracing ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok, there are some practical ways that AI can help self-storage owners and operators with the day-to-day functions of running a business.
What is AI?
In short, artificial intelligence is a supercomputer database of all the information that has ever been created or made available on the internet. AI does not think for itself, but rather it sources information from massive amounts of data and compiles the most and best information in short, digestible bits of information.
AI can produce writing, images, sounds, and code from the data used to compile the information that was generated from the original prompt the user entered. AI is a computer processor that uses information already available, but perhaps slightly inaccessible due to time constraints for the average human.
Imagine sitting in a library and gathering/reading everything you could possibly find on a particular topic. How many hours would it take for a human mind to complete this task? It depends on the topic. AI digests information and puts it into short, compiled chunks of information to speed up the research process.
How can AI benefit a small self-storage business?
There are many companies now incorporating AI into their business model in order to improve efficiency, offer faster response times, automate processes, and more. Many existing vendors already offer an AI component. Here are 5 things that AI in self-storage can help business owners with:
- Automate the contract process so that customers can secure a storage unit online in a matter of minutes.
- Answer generic customer questions after hours when staff are unavailable.
- Provide answers to potential tenants about unit sizes available that meet their storage needs.
- Draft and revise responses to customer inquiries via email.
- On-site security access and control via existing security systems.
In the process of writing this article, I needed to amend a lunch reservation. In calling the establishment, my phone call was answered by Jasmine. The automated nature of the response told me that Jasmine is an AI response that enables restaurants to better manage their calls. While Jasmine sounded like a real human, the automated response phrases and pauses gave her AI identity away. The chatbot helped me amend my reservation, and the call was completed.
This is just one small example of how AI can benefit small businesses to handle smaller tasks, after-hours tasks, and respond to customer requests in a timely manner. While the goal is always a personal, human touch in connecting to tenants, it’s possible that AI can help self-storage business owners work smarter, not harder. While AI can be used to handle calls and field queries when staff is busy, it’s still possible and important for staff to follow up after to ensure that the tenant needs are met.
At Coastal Storage, we consult with our clients to ensure that their next investment is the best one and to ensure their continued success after acquisition. Call us today at 904-491-0140 to work with our team of experts and find your next self-storage solution.