Even though the main product of the self storage industry is the space, service has become an important part of the final product. Whenever you are involved in any kind of service oriented industry one of the last things you want to do is suffer through any disruptive influences. Yet, that is exactly what one person has done by introducing a new form of disruptive technology to the self storage industry.
Being disruptive is typically not viewed as a positive thing, but in this case it is. A disruptive technology is one that is so innovative that it creates a new market and eventually becomes big enough to overshadow an existing one that has become obsolete due to the technology.
Molly Seeley believes that she has something that will do just that for the self storage industry, and will be something that eventually every self storage facility is going to want to have.
"It dawned on me that if you can buy a product online, then why can't I store and view my items stored the same way?" says Seeley.
The basic concept behind the software that she has patented and is putting into practice at Cyber Space Self Storage in Minneapolis is to make it seem like even though your precious treasures are in a self storage unit miles away that they can seem like they are right there with you.
Part of the concept does involve being able to view the content of your storage unit at any time online, but the main crux of it is the convenience which it offers users.
"The feature of this technology is the choices they have once they have their items indexed. They can arrange for delivery or pickup, they can purge via a recycle program, donate to Goodwill, and even sell it on EBay."
Through the use of Seeley’s technology, Cyber Space Self Storage is able to take the concept of service and make it a much bigger part of the self storage industry. In an industry where it is service that allows one facility to stand out from another, this technology stands to be a game-changer for the entire self storage industry.
"Will this potentially make a lot of self storage lockers worried? Yes. Do I feel bad? Of course, but I feel great about saving thousands of people a ton of money on top of providing them a great convenience that my technology provides," Seeley said.
Sources Used:
“Disruptive Technology Hits the National Self Storage Marketplace: How a MN Woman's Company, Cyber Space, Will Revolutionize the 26 Billion Dollar Self Storage Industry.” PR.com; 17 September 2011.
Cyber Space Self Storage; Online Self Storage.