Personal Mini Storage will replace existing access control across all 43 of their self storage locations with INSOMNIAC CIA. Central Florida’s largest family-owned storage operator, Personal Mini cites CIA’s lightning suppression and Exclusive Lifetime Protection as key factors.
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OpenTech Alliance launches INSOMNIAC SmartGate, a new integration for the OpenTech IoE (Internet of Everything). When combined with INSOMNIAC CIA, SmartGate allows owners and operators to receive alert notifications when a gate or other device does not open or close when requested, or when it is opened or closed manually.
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OpenTech Alliance announced iStorage has selected INSOMNIAC CIA to replace existing access control systems across several of their facilities by the end of 2019. iStorage, owned and operated by National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA), will install CIA at over 20 facilities in the Michigan region over the next few months.
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OpenTech Alliance now offers the first access control keypad with an integrated IP camera. With most self storage operators already actively using or with plans to implement IP camera systems over obsolete analog video technology, the enhancement, an exclusive feature of INSOMNIAC CIA, is available now.
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OpenTech Alliance has helped Tennessee-based 24 Hour Self Storage flourish with INSOMNIAC Kiosks since its establishment 6 years ago. Founding partners Nicholas Lillios and DJ Cord, who own and operate various commercial, retail and residential properties, were committed to creating an automated business model before venturing into self storage.
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OpenTech Alliance announced the release of the INSOMNIAC 120, the newest addition to the next generation line of self-service INSOMNIAC Kiosks, the 20 Series. The INSOMNIAC 120 offers a small size with stellar performance. Compact in design, this model mirrors many of the benefits of its larger counterparts.
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OpenTech Alliance announced the launch of INSOMNIAC SmartDoor, a new integration for OpenTech’s intelligent platform of smart-connected self storage solutions, OpenTech IoE. SmartDoor is the first and only self storage office analytics system that provides actionable insights on consumer traffic, whether your office is open or closed.
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Beachfront A1 Surfside Self Storage uses online auctions to safeguard staff and assets while recouping funds tied to delinquent units. A locally owned company since 1991, facility managers have resolved $34,000 outstanding in bad accounts with StorageTreasures.com.
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Amsdell Companies has converted its Compass Self Storage facilities from live auctions to StorageTreasures.com. According to Amsdell, use of the site has become standard practice due to a streamlined auction process, superior customer service, and a better overall ROI.
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Atlantic Self Storage rivals top operators with a combination of INSOMNIAC Live! call center solutions, XpressCollect and CIA. A small entrepreneur that operates in the competitive Washington D.C. metro market, Atlantic Self Storage knows you can’t miss a phone call.
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OpenTech Alliance launches the next generation of self-serve INSOMNIAC Kiosks. The 20 series was designed with a focus on the user experience, the latest in hardware components and cloud-based software for maximum engagement and unparalleled reliability – all available at a new, lower price.
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Changes to the fee structure for the integration between StorageTreasures.com and newly merged StorEDGE and SiteLink‘s property management solution allows all StorageTreasures customers to take advantage of the SiteLink API, at no extra charge.
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OpenTech Alliance announced the launch of UsedStorageKeypads.com, a website offering used access control equipment at significant savings. UsedStorageKeypads offers self storage owners and operators a one-stop shop to find low-cost access control equipment.
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Westport Properties, Inc. has committed to replace existing access control at their full portfolio of 120 properties exclusively with INSOMNIAC CIA (Centralized Intelligent Access), the industry’s first cloud-based access control solution.
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Storage Choice automated their 15 self storage facilities in Texas to offer services and benefits that larger competitors don’t have, such as hands-free gate access via the Storage Genie app and 24/7 kiosks.
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Amy and Kevin Payne, the owners of 5 Star Boat and RV Storage located in Georgetown, TX, have been able to work full-time and launch their first successful boat and RV storage facility by automating operations with a kiosk.
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Graham Investments maximizes lien loss recovery efforts to the tune of an 80 percent increase over live auctions at their self storage facilities in Colorado, Texas, and Nevada – and just celebrated the one-year anniversary of their first auction on StorageTreasures.com.
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February 7, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ, OpenTech Alliance, the leading developer of innovative technology solutions for the self-storage industry announced Fox Trail Mini Storage, a family owned business in Kinston, NC has upgraded their Access Control to INSOMNIAC CIA after lightning destroyed their PC based access control system.
Fox Trail Mini Storage owner Amy and Chris Rouse had heard the saying, “lightning never strikes in the same place twice,” however, he wanted to make sure he had researched all the Access Control options on the self-storage market before replacing his keypad. “The lightning storm zapped my Falcon XT, right down to the readout on the keypad,” exclaimed Chris.
“When I took over the business in 2016, we had a stand-alone keypad where I would have to physically go out the keypad and input codes manually. When we upgraded, I no longer needed to walk to the keypad, but we did encounter lots of issues of having to reset the system when the computer went down and support was another thing, we had to submit an online ticket and sometimes wait days to be assisted. That was frustrating and not how we do business; we offer exceptional
customer service to our customers at Fox Trail Mini Storage and I wanted the same when it came to our vendors. When I started researching OpenTech’s CIA Access ControI, I realized our May 2018 lightning strike would allow us to make one of the best business decisions for our expanding self-storage business,” Chris commented.
“Since upgrading to CIA we have noticed a change in our business on various fronts; real-time alerts, reports on how many times tenants are accessing our location, giving tenants hands-free access through the Storage Genie mobile app, and knowing I have Lifetime Protection on the hardware and someone to pick up the phone when I need customer support,” added Chris.
“We built INSOMNIAC CIA from the ground up for the self-storage industry to address issues with older PC based systems including technology, warranty, installations, and support to solve frustrations that operators like Chris experience,” stated Robert A. Chiti, CEO of OpenTech Alliance. Robert added, “CIA has been listed to Underwriters Laboratory spec UL294 for Access Control as well as independently tested to withstand surges of 20,000 Volts and 10,000 Amps, so if lightning does strike twice, we have Chris covered!”
To learn more about INSOMNIAC CIA, contact OpenTech Alliance at sales@opentechalliance.com.
by Robert Chiti
Open Platforms Are Good for Everyone
When self-storage operators first started using technology it was in the form of PC software that was by its very nature isolated and rarely integrated with other systems. Early integrations included exporting data files other systems could read, including credit card processing software and access control systems. Because the unencrypted data files were automatically created and exported to a shared hard drive the originating software vendor could not control who could use the data, resulting in a true Open Integration.
Today, things are a bit different. Software systems now send data and commands back and forth through what is known as an Application Programming Interface (API). Here is where the problems start, for security reasons some type of authentication code needs to ensure the system trying to access the API has been authorized and is not a hacker. So this means the use of the API needs to be restricted. In most cases these restrictions are good for the self-storage operator, they make the entire system more secure and protect the self-storage operator’s data, and can also ensure the systems using the API are programmed efficiently so they do not cause performance problems for the users. However, in some cases, vendors put restrictions in place to limit competition or control the operator’s data. These closed end-to-end type systems can have a very negative impact on the success of a self-storage business.
Closed end-to-end platforms get self-storage operators “hooked” and then limit the other solutions that can be integrated with, to only solutions they sell, in some cases forcing the user to implement substandard technology. This approach can be very good for the vendor, but disastrous for the self-storage operator. These platforms typically end up costing the self-storage operator much more because they have no choice but to use the products offered by the vendor.
A truly open technology platform offers it’s APIs to all other vendors so a self-storage operator has the freedom to choose the specific solution they feel is best for them, instead of having to be held hostage and forced to only buy solutions from one vendor. A truly open platform sometimes referred to as Internet of Everything (IoE) platform allows all kinds of devices, applications, systems, and people to work together regardless of the vendor.
For example, with a truly open platform, an internal or third-party call center storage counselor can have real-time access to all the transaction data recorded in an access control system and can open a gate for a customer stuck behind the gate after hours without having to give out a temporary code that has to be changed later…. regardless of if the call center vendor competes with the access control vendor in other product areas.
So my Last Word is OPEN. End-to-end platforms that try to lock out competitors are bad for self-storage operators and bad for the industry as a whole. Self-storage operators would be wise to make sure they are only investing in technology that is backed by a vendor committed to providing open technology.
*Published in MiniCo Messenger, January 2019
January 31, 2019 – OpenTech Alliance, Inc. announced Security 101 LLC., has joined their growing list of OpenTech Channel Partners. Security 101 LLC., has supported self-storage operators with their access control and security needs for over 8 years and serves customers in the New Hampshire and Maine area. Clif Johnston, the owner of Security 101 LLC., was introduced to OpenTech when one of his customers inquired about their cloud-based access control solution, INSOMNIAC CIA. “When I investigated the hardware componentry, I was really impressed with the forward-thinking design. Captive screws and a unique hinged faceplate allow for easy installation and service, and the customer experience with the bright OLED display, text me my code, and Storage Genie mobile app are what set CIA apart from other solutions available in the self-storage industry.” Clif commented.
Gary Carland, Channel Development Manager for OpenTech Alliance, emphasized the point, “Every technology we develop is designed entirely to help self-storage operators, and in this case, our dealers work smarter and more efficiently.” Gary added, “Due to the easy installation process, INSOMNIAC CIA saves both the installer and customer time and money.” Clif commented, “The Technical Support staff at OpenTech are incredible, I am not a ticket in the system and a helpful voice is waiting to assist me every time I call!”
INSOMNIAC CIA gives self-storage operators total control of a single or hundreds of properties and addresses issues with older PC-based systems including technology, warranty, installation, and support. Operators don’t have to worry about computer problems or never-ending software updates as the cloud-based software is always running the most current version and will continue to operate even if your Internet connection goes down. Managers and owners can also gain insights into their renter’s behaviors and streamline business operations with predictive maintenance triggers with real-time data visualization and reporting from the OpenTech IoE Control Center.
To learn more about the OpenTech Alliance Channel Partner opportunities, contact Gary Carland
at gcarland@opentechalliance.com or 828.551.1210.
January 30th, 2019 – Phoenix, AZ. OpenTech Alliance, Inc., the leading developer of innovative technology solutions for the self-storage industry announced Mike Connolly has been appointed as President of OpenTech Alliance. “Over the past 15 years, Mike has played a major role in OpenTech’s success and growth as an investor, board member, and leader. Mike has been my professional and personal mentor for over 35 years, without him, OpenTech would never have gotten off the ground. As our business expands and gets more complex, Mike is the perfect person to keep it running smoothly. At the same time, my job will be to shake things up, growing our business through Internal Innovation, Acquisition, and Partnership. I expect the next 15 years to be even more exciting than the first.” stated Robert Chiti, Chairman and CEO of OpenTech Alliance.
Robert added, “As we planned for Mike’s transition, we also realized it was time to recruit some talented leaders with deep experience in the areas of Engineering, Sales, and Marketing to help us grow the company and continue to deliver innovative solutions and superior service to our customers.”
“Kristi Adams-Gubbels will join as the Vice President of Product Marketing. Her 13 years of self-storage experience from assisting with the start-up of USstoragsearch.com to driving marketing strategies for U-Store-It (now CubeSmart) will be instrumental in achieving the company’s overall objectives and goals in the years to come.
Roy Pierson as Vice President of Engineering brings extensive experience in product and solution delivery with a focus on cloud computing, security, big data, and technology transformation and innovation. Roy’s experience includes 15 years at Microsoft and extensive work in the area of global reservation systems as well as leading the effort to create valuable industry standards for data sharing in the Hospitality industry.
Lastly, Bill Hoffman has joined our team as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Bill brings over 20 years of strategic sales, marketing, channel and customer success experience with a focus on team building and hands-on experience implementing “game-changing” CRM strategies. Under Bill’s direction, we have already begun to ramp up our operational tools and implementing new focused marketing and sales programs.
Having talented people is a great thing, but the best part about our team is they all share our core values and commitment to Doing It Right. I have always heard that growing a successful company is all about people, so I am very optimistic about our team and where they will take OpenTech in the future,” stated Robert.
By: Jon Loftin, OpenTech Alliance Vice President and IoE Product Owner
Artificial intelligence is touching more facets of our lives, and we need to start thinking about how it can improve the self-storage industry and our customers’ experience. Read how voice-enabled devices work and the functions they offer.
The way we interact with computers changes approximately every 10 years. First, we used punch cards, then keyboards and monitors, then the mouse, which was followed by touchscreens. Each of these changes meant learning new skills but ultimately improved the way we engage with technology.
The next user interface is voice-driven. Think of Alexa, Google Home, and Siri. A voice-activated device can enable all kinds of hands-free functions at self-storage facilities, from opening gates or doors to answering data-specific questions such as, “Who was the last person who entered the property?” Enabling these types of abilities is like giving the manager an office assistant, allowing him to quickly perform actions and tasks.
While voice interactions with AI assistants are fast becoming commonplace in the home, Amazon is looking to bring the same benefits to the commercial sector with Alexa for Business. The service has three main components: management tools, an application program interface to integrate with existing applications and infrastructure, and Echo devices, which can be configured for individual tasks or used in shared locations such as conference rooms or lobbies.
Because these devices are cloud-based, they can easily be enhanced and expanded. Cloud-based systems allow for easy improvements without the high cost of upgrading older PC-based technology. Self-storage operators who are using antiquated tools should investigate newer platforms that allow for additional functionality, increased security and lower cost of ownership. Some are already experiencing multiple benefits by employing voice-enabled devices at their locations.
“We’ve seen numerous times where overcoming a language barrier sealed the deal in securing a rental,” says Natolie Ochi, president of SKS Management, which operates 23 self-storage properties in California. “We see future benefits of voice-driven functions at our properties, from having Alexa open our gates to giving the manager a daily briefing report, setting reminders, and so much more.”
Here are some common ways to use voice-enabled devices and platforms at your self-storage locations:
Language translation. If a customer who doesn’t speak English enters your facility, you can ask the device to translate your speech into the customer’s language and vice versa, omitting the language barrier and facilitating a unit rental. It vastly improves the customer experience for non-English speakers.
Control other facility devices. Voice technology can also be used to control thermostats, gates, doors and more. For example, you can simply say, “Open the front gate.” There’s no need to stop what you’re doing to find the clicker or open the access software to perform this simple function.
You can even ask the AI to begin the workday, which might include turning on lights, starting the coffee-maker, telling you the weather or breaking news, or relaying the number of rentals the facility had via the self-serve kiosk or online reservation system during the night.
Data security and privacy are significant concerns today with all this new technology. Amazon and Google say their assistants only start recording information after they’ve heard the wake phrases “Alexa” or “Hey Google.” Users can delete any information that was stored.
The attack vector for smart speakers is small, meaning a hacker would have to access Amazon or Google or your physical device. Your laptop and Web browser, which store more critical information, are much more open to cyber-threats than a voice-controlled device.
“Amazon, Apple, and Google are investing billions to make voice recognition the main way we communicate with the Internet. We need to take proactive steps to ensure we’re part of this new shift in user experience,” says Robert A. Chiti, CEO and president of OpenTech Alliance, a provider of self-storage kiosks, call-center services, and other technology.
Investigate the benefits of incorporating voice-enabled devices into your day-to-day operation, including how people use them and how they can enhance the customer experience. As with any new technology, it’s important to choose an open platform that allows for integrations with many devices as opposed to a closed, end-to-end solution.
Just as Web and mobile search displaced the Yellow Pages in how customers find and use self-storage, voice-enabled devices can drive even greater change. As consumers use these platforms, the more functionality they’ll expect. Potential self-storage users will ask their device for the closest facility, then to reserve a unit, pay their rent, schedule a move-out or perform other functions. Facility operators should think about how they’ll use this new technology to stay competitive in a quickly evolving industry.
October 1st, 2018 – Phoenix, AZ. OpenTech Alliance, Inc. announced Storage Authority, a rapidly growing self-storage franchise company, will be implementing OpenTech’s smart-connected technology at all their newly developed locations. Marc Goodin, Civil Engineer and Co-Founder of Storage Authority, designed and permitted his first self-storage facility over 25 years ago. Marc commented, “By utilizing the OpenTech family of products our customers have more conveniences at their fingertips which means we win out over our competition.”
Having been involved in this industry, Marc can clearly see we have entered a pivotal turning point in the self-storage industry. “We’re now selling what’s outside the four walls of a storage unit, not what’s inside. Furthermore, we are in the people business, somewhere between the banking and hotel industries,” added Marc.
To address this shift, Marc’s strategy for his franchisees is to leverage technological advances to increase operational efficiencies and focus on the customer experience. Some of the ways he is leveraging technology are by having an INSOMNIAC kiosk onsite at every property, outsourcing inbound leads through INSOMNIAC Live! Call Center services, offering customers hands-free access through INSOMNIAC CIA and the Storage Genie tenant mobile app and utilizing OpenTech’s IoE integrations such as HVAC and Alexa.
Robert Chiti, President and CEO of OpenTech Alliance, emphasized the point, “Every technology we develop is designed entirely to help self-storage operators work smarter and more efficiently. In today’s business environment you’ve got to use all the tools available to create a competitive advantage, and at OpenTech we’ve got one heck of a tool chest.”
(September 19th, 2018) – Phoenix, AZ, OpenTech Alliance, the leading developer of innovative smart connected technology solutions for the self-storage industry announced SiteLink, the number one rated self-storage management software provider is the first vendor to integrate with INSOMNIAC CIA API, eliminating all the problems plaguing other PC based Access Control systems. 
Markus Hecker, Chief Client Advocate for SiteLink commented, “The cloud based integration between SiteLink and CIA ensures tenants will never be locked out at the gate because of an issue with a PC in the office. This integration also addresses issues with PC based systems to ensure all data is encrypted.” In the self-storage industry, most Access Control systems require a PC in the office to be running properly or it will lock customers out at the gate. In many cases a simple Windows update at night will close the property until the manager arrives to fix it, which ends up in a lot of upset tenants.
PC based systems also store data in plain text which is a big risk for self-storage operators. “By utilizing our secure cloud based infrastructure to transfer Personally Identifiable Information (PII) between systems we protect self-storage operators from risk.”, stated Jon Loftin, VP & OpenTech IoE Product Owner. Loftin adds, “Tenants absolutely hate getting stuck behind the gate, so by removing the office PC from the equation we make the process much more reliable, which results in happy tenants.”
The first integration release from SiteLink includes the ability to automatically perform move-ins, vacates, edits, updates, as well as the ability to transfer units and tenants.
(August 23, 2018) – Phoenix, AZ, OpenTech Alliance, the leading developer of innovative technology solutions for the self-storage industry announced their OpenTech IoE (Internet of Everything), intelligent platform of smart connected self-storage solutions now includes Call Center integration.
This is OpenTech’s third integration module available at no additional charge. This new module, the Amazon’s Alexa and the HVAC Integration launched earlier this month are three of many third-party devices and related systems to be supported by the OpenTech IoE platform.
The Call Center integration allows Call Center staff to remotely control access to a storage facility using INSOMNIAC CIA and offer a higher level of customer service by assisting tenants that are having problems while at the facility. “We handle thousands of tenant calls a day in our Call Center and we are always looking for new ways to improve a tenant’s experience.” stated Robert A. Chiti, OpenTech President and CEO. “If a tenant tailgates or gets stuck behind the gate after hours, they would reach the Call Center who would contact the emergency contact, who would have to drive to the facility to let them out. In some cases the Call Center is given an emergency exit code which is very problematic and needs to be updated regularly to ensure the facility remains secure.
Robert added, “We have heard of customers calling 911 or actually driving into the gate, so you can see how that process was not working. By empowering the Call Center staff with tenant data and the ability to remotely control access to the facility through our cloud based Access Control solution INSOMNIAC CIA, we are creating happier tenants, eliminating negative social media reviews, and making self-storage simpler to use.”
Staying true to their commitment of “Open” solutions, OpenTech is offering the call center integration module to third party and internal call centers as well.
To find out how out more, contact OpenTech Alliance or see them at the SSA Fall Conference and Trade Show at booths #618-625 on September 4th through 7th at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
About the OpenTech IoE Platform:
The OpenTech IoE platform is based on four primary components; a centralized data structure for collecting data from any source, business analytics tools for learning from the data, the ability to monitor and control both proprietary and third-party devices, and a comprehensive notification service based on customizable triggers. OpenTech IoE includes an open API so any property management software, call center, or other applications can easily integrate with the platform.
Phoenix, AZ, OpenTech Alliance, the leading developer of innovative technology solutions for the self-storage industry announced they will be demonstrating their integration with Amazon’s Alexa and their OpenTech IoE, intelligent platform of smart connected self-storage solutions at the upcoming SSA Fall Conference and Trade Show at booths #618-625 on September 4th through 7th at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
This will be OpenTech’s second integration module available at no additional charge. This new module and the HVAC Integration launched on August 9th are two of many third-party devices to be supported by the OpenTech IoE platform.
The integration allows storage operators to perform commands and receive information about their storage facility with their voice. “The way we interact with computers changes every 10 years. Voice enabled commands is the next user interface model.” stated Jon Loftin, VP and IoE Product Owner at OpenTech Alliance. “Alexa is utilized at many self-storage facilities to assist with translation services and integrating hand-free commands allows managers to work more efficiently.”
INSOMNIAC CIA customers can ask Alexa to perform tasks such as: open the gate; ask how many tenants are onsite; who was the last tenant onsite; and many more commands. To find out how to voice control your facility, contact OpenTech Alliance.
About the OpenTech IoE Platform:
The OpenTech IoE platform is based on four primary components: a centralized data structure for collecting data from any source; business analytics tools for learning from the data; the ability to monitor and control both proprietary and third-party devices; and a comprehensive notification service based on customizable triggers. OpenTech IoE includes an open API so any property management software, call center, or other applications can easily integrate with the platform.
Integrating Voice Commands such as, “Alexa, Open The Gate” and many more!
For Immediate Release:
July 7, 2018 – Phoenix, AZ – OpenTech Alliance, Inc. has reached a new milestone this July, celebrating its’ 15th year in business. The company has grown from garage startup into a thriving technology company with over 200 employees and thousands of customers across North America.
Robert Chiti, OpenTech Founder, stated, “Wow, how time flies when you are having fun. Starting and growing a technology business in an industry full of great people has been a dream of mine, I feel very blessed. We owe our success to the hundreds of self-storage operators that trusted us to help them automate their business and vendors that welcomed us to the industry and worked with us on behalf of our mutual customers. We could have never gotten here without them.”
Today, OpenTech is the largest self-service kiosk provider, operates the largest call center in the industry, manages the largest online auction website in the industry, and has most recently launched the industry’s first smart access control system based on the OpenTech IoE platform which is rapidly replacing old PC-based solutions.
In July of 2003, Robert Chiti, Mike Connolly and Davin Dameron drew up plans to develop and market a self-service kiosk, designed to bring the benefits of automation to the booming self-storage industry. OpenTech was initially conceived as a provider of “open” technology solutions that would integrate with and complement other vendors’ systems and technologies. Adhering to this philosophy, OpenTech has since grown into a highly-respected leader and multi-faceted technology solutions provider for the industry.
“Our growth strategy is based on three pillars; Internal Innovation, Acquisitions, Partnerships. So far, the plan is working pretty well’, added Chiti.
For Immediate Release:
July 9th, 2018 – Phoenix, AZ – StorageTreasures, LLC, the owner of StorageTreasures.com, the storage industry’s leading online auction platform, announced it has acquired StorageStuff.Bid, a well-respected competing online storage auction site. As part of the transaction Cheli and Chris Rosa, both seasoned auctioneers and employees of StorageStuff.Bid, will join OpenTech Alliance, Inc., managers of StorageTreasures.com and majority stakeholder of Storage Treasures, LLC.
“We have always had a great relationship with the folks at StorageStuff.Bid and are very excited to now be on the same team. With Cheli and Chris on board, we are the only online auction company to have licensed auctioneers with licenses in all 50 states, which gives our customers a level of protection not available with other online auction sites. They add a ton of credibility to what we’re doing, a wealth of knowledge, and valuable expertise as it pertains to lien laws for both traditional and online auctions”, claimed Robert A. Chiti, CEO of OpenTech Alliance, Inc.
Chiti added, “Cheli will be responsible for supporting the StorageStuff.Bid customers as well as improving our facility manager and auction buyer training programs. We are going to put Chris to work on expanding our Auction Review Service. In addition, we are going to rely on both of them to teach us how we can better support Auctioneers with their live auctions.”
“We have been an OpenTech and StorageStuff.Bid customer for many years. The merger of OpenTech’s technology expertise with Chris and Cheli’s auction experience is a great thing for us and the industry. We trust them to ensure our lien sales are done properly and that we get as much money possible for our delinquent tenant’s goods,” Marc Harris, Vice President of Metro Storage.
“We are proud of what we have accomplished at StorageStuff.Bid, but realized that it was going to be very difficult to compete with the level of investment OpenTech is making in StorageTreasures.com. The amount of money they spend on digital marketing, auction buyer programs, customer service and technology innovations is staggering, so we felt joining forces was the right move. The one area they were weak was actual auction experience. Chris and I are filling that gap and bringing them our years of experience running both online and live auctions as well our professional auctioneer licenses”, stated Cheli Rosa from StorageStuff.Bid.
The company expects to have all StorageStuff.Bid customers transitioned within 90 days, at which time the StorageStuff.Bid site will be shutdown. After the transition StorageTreasures.com will represent 8,500 facilities, 900,000 active buyers and 15,000 monthly auctions. As the leader in online storage auctions, StorageTreasures has completed well over 1,000,000 successful auctions for self-storage facilities.
About StorageTreasures
Founded in 2010, StorageTreasures offers the most comprehensive self-storage auction platform available on the internet. In addition to storage auction hunters, the site serves auctioneers, appraisers, pickers, yard sale buyers, self-storage customers, and facility owners throughout the US and Canada. OpenTech Alliance, Inc. owns a majority of StorageTreasures, LLC and manages StorageTreasures.com.
About OpenTech Alliance
OpenTech Alliance, Inc. is the leading developer of innovative technology solutions for the self storage industry. The company’s products and services include the INSOMNIAC line of self serve kiosks , INSOMNIAC Live! call center , INSOMNIAC CIA access control system and StorageTreasures.com online storage auctions. OpenTech solutions are designed to improve the customer experience, reduce operating costs and increase revenues for self-storage facilities.
Contact: Andrew Letter, Director of Digital Marketing (480)397-6503
September 5th, 2017 Phoenix, AZ – OpenTech Alliance, Inc. is introducing the first of a new generation of products developed for their Internet of Everything (IoE) platform.
The first component of the platform is a Centralized Intelligent Access system – INSOMNIAC CIA . According to Jon Loftin, Vice President and IoE Product Owner for OpenTech Alliance: “The product was designed to address the largest pain points self storage operators have with existing solutions, including: reliance on old school PC technology, skyrocketing pricing, lack of centralized data and control, limited technical support and no long term hardware warranty. We know the industry is anxious to move off their old technology, so we are offering customers the ability to pre-order their systems with a 100% refundable deposit. We are planning to have product available Feb. 2018.”
INSOMNIAC CIA is the first cloud-based access control system designed specifically for the Self Storage industry. It does not require a PC at the facility. The system gives operators total control of one to thousands of facilities with a mobile friendly administration portal using any Internet connected device including PC, Mac, tablets or smartphones. The portal provides secure, real-time diagnostics, data visualization and reporting insights into what is happening at the facility at all times from anywhere in the world.
The IoE platform is designed based on an open architecture allowing operators and other technology vendors to develop their own integrations. OpenTech will be integrating the system with their LiveAgent! call center application, allowing their storage counselors to better assist tenants on the property. INSOMNIAC CIA comes with a Lifetime Protection program that includes; software subscription, hardware warranty, unlimited telephone support, and the Storage Genie mobile app. Storage Genie comes with the “No Touch” feature that allows self storage tenants to quickly access the property without having to even reach for their smartphones.
INSOMNIAC CIA hardware is built to last and has undergone surge/lightning testing of 20,000V at 10,000Amps for the power inputs and 16,000V at 380Amps for the RS485 communications. In addition, it is also listed to Underwriters Laboratory (UL) specification UL294 for access control systems
To learn more, visit www.opentechalliance.com/cia/ or call us at 602.749.9370.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA (PRWEB) MAY 10, 2017The robot is designed to assist self storage customers rent a unit, make a payment, purchase a lock and it will even escort them to their unit. The robot will also connect the consumer with a live storage counselor who can assist them and answer any questions they may have about the facility.
“We are engineers, and our passion is integrating Robotics with Artificial Intelligence technologies to solve business problems. We are very pleased to be partnering with OpenTech Alliance to be our sales and service partner in North America. Their reputation and track record for developing innovative self storage solutions is impressive, and fits perfectly with our strategic plan to bring automation to the industry”, stated Matthieu Besozzi, Wyca Co-Founder.
Robert Chiti, OpenTech President and CEO added: “We are super impressed with the Wyca team. As an industry, we are fortunate they have decided to invest their brainpower, money and resources to help put self storage operators in a position to leverage the latest in technology to operate their businesses. Typically, the aerospace and healthcare industries get to have all the cool technology first. Over the next year we will be demonstrating the robot and collaborating with self storage operators to learn more about how they feel it can help their business.”
About OpenTech Alliance
OpenTech Alliance, Inc. is the leading developer of innovative technology solutions for the self storage industry. The company’s products and services include the INSOMNIAC line of self serve Kiosks, INSOMNIAC Live! call center services, technology for online storage reservations, and the StorageTreasures.com online storage auctions website. OpenTech solutions are designed to improve the customer experience, reduce operating costs and increase revenues for self-storage facilities
About Wyca
Wyca develops Keylo, the first service robot specifically designed for self-storage industry. By combining human interactions and Artificial Intelligence, Keylo robot helps self-storage owners to receive clients remotely, lower operational expenditures and strengthen security. Wyca is headquartered in Toulouse, France.
This technology is part of a larger trend towards unattended or unmanned self storage. A video of the Self Storage Robot in action can be seen here: https://vimeo.com/opentech
Congratulations to the entire OpenTech team for another job well-done:
Winner – ISS Best Self Storage Call Center Services 2016!
More proof that hard work and dedication pays off….
The Inside Self-Storage “Best of Business” reader-choice poll, launched in 2011, solicits online votes from industry professionals who elect their favorite suppliers in approximately 30 categories. Awards include Best Builder, Best Management Software, Most Innovative Product and Best Customer Service among many others. Winners are honored through profile pages in ISS magazine as well as during a special ceremony at the Inside Self-Storage World Expo in Las Vegas. The results are published online year-round for ISS readers to access.
Awesome job, everyone!
OpenTech Alliance cut the ribbon on it’s new software development center dubbed “OpenTech Labs” today. Presiding over the festivities is OpenTech Alliance President and CEO Robert Chiti, and Joe Arnone, Vice President of Product Management, who provided the impetus to make this a reality. The new OpenTech Labs is a part of OpenTech’s push into new products and services geared towards adding value to it’s core technologies in the self storage rentals market. OpenTech Alliance provides a line of integrated hardware, software and solutions that improve customer service, efficiency, and profitability for self storage facilities nationwide.
OpenTech Labs designed the new space in a bid to attract up and coming developers to it’s growing operation. “With the market for tightening, we need to compete more aggressively to find and keep high quality talent” according to Chiti. “what has worked in the past has to make way for new realities”. With growth coming in a range of SaaS (software as a service) products, along with OpenTech’s “StorageTreasures.com” online auctions website, the need for high quality programmers and product developers is continuing to increase. By providing a fresh and open workspace, OpenTech Labs aims to improve internal collaboration while better offering a more inviting work environment for it’s development teams.
Devon Storage Managers Generate Huge Spike in Automated Collections
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – November 18th, 2016 – Today OpenTech Alliance, a leading provider of self-storage technology solutions, announced that Devon Self Storage, a Top Operator in the Storage industry, reported a significant increase in tenant usage of XpressCollect, a SaaS product that collects late rent payments automatically.
With over 40 facilities that span across 15 states, Jim Mooney (Director of Operations at Devon) transitioned the entire portfolio from a manual calling collection process, to a cloud-based automated collection system, by implementing XpressCollect in January of 2016.
From the onset, the results were encouraging. In February of 2016, the automated service collected a total of $36,161 in late payments throughout the portfolio. Since then, the solution has produced even better. In September of 2016, the automated service collected a total of $92,817 late payments throughout the portfolio. Tenant usage increased over 200% in 2016. Even more amazingly, $50,352 in late payments were collected in 1 day on September 5th – Labor Day, when all Devon stores were closed.
When asked what he liked the most about the decision to automate collections, Mooney answered with a question, “How long would it take for you to call 125 people? Once twice, or maybe five times? Now multiply that by 40+ managers. The future of storage collections is all about our managers. And that decision has reduced a large portion of our manual collection calls. Through these efficiencies, our managers have been able to focus more on sales and operations.”
Devon has triggered XpressCollect to send friendly payment reminders via text or email when accounts are 5, 9 & 15 days late. Managers never have to worry about scheduling collections, or sending reminders. Once the system is setup, they never have to touch it again. When reminders are sent, tenants make their payment thru the service by pushing a few buttons on their phone to complete their payment through XpressPay, OpenTech’s pay-by-phone service, or they simply click to make their payment through their phone. Devon collection reports also highlighted that even though the last payment reminder is sent to accounts that remain unpaid on the 15th, thousands of dollars are still collected thru XpressCollect by month end.
Mooney added, “Tenants are unpredictable, and will pay when they can pay. But now, we are far more consistent in reaching past due tenants. The solution delivers everything needed to drive late rent payments automatically, and into the channels our tenants prefer, whether it is by phone, email, or text. As more owners, operators, and managers look for easier solutions to streamline collections, XpressCollect will offload manual collection tasks at much lower costs than doing it manually.”
Why We Do What We Do: Every day, OpenTech Alliance connects thousands of tenants with storage companies around the world. With over 4,000 daily transactions, the companies automated products and services helped Storage Managers move-in over 130,000 tenants in 2015, generating over 140 million dollars in new sales revenue alone. OpenTech also owns a majority stake in Storage Treasures, LLC and operates www.storagetreasures.com, the largest online and onsite self-storage auction market place in the industry with over 900,000 bidders, 6,500 self-storage facilities and over 140,000 auctions held in 2015. OpenTech, Making Self-Storage Easier, So More People will Use It. For additional information, please visit our website www.opentechalliance.com or call an OpenTech Business Development Manager at (602) 749-9370.
Press Contact:
Mike Sawyer, Director of Marketing
OpenTech Alliance, Inc.
602.324.8655
msawyer@opentechalliance.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: OpenTech Alliance, the OpenTech logo, and INSOMNIAC are trademarks of OpenTech Alliance, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. INSOMNIAC kiosks are protected by U.S. patent number 5,946,660.
PHOENIX, Arizona – September 6th, 2016 – OpenTech Alliance, Inc. announced the release of the 2016 Self Storage Technology White Paper. According to the report, storage unit rentals through the INSOMNIAC™ platform eclipsed 130,000 units in 2015.
A total of 49,966 move-ins were completed thru INSOMNIAC self-service kiosks. Also, a total of 76,832 move-ins were completed thru the OpenTech Call Center (INSOMNIAC Live!), and finally, a total of 5,682 rentals were captured via INSOMNIAC Online.
OpenTech’s portfolio of customers yielded an estimated $140 million in new sales over 2015 using the company’s automated solutions. In addition, the kiosk, call center and online solutions assisted store managers in collecting a grand total of 609,649 customer payments, while conducting over 1.9 million self storage transactions in 2015.
This is the 8th year OpenTech will be demonstrating their core value of transparency by sharing their transaction data with the industry. The White Paper includes ongoing self storage business trends, customer case studies, and several valuable illustrations used to highlight key points for consideration.
What you’ll learn from this research:
Jim Chiswell, President of Chiswell & Associates said, “Since the start-up of Open Tech Alliance, Robert and his team of technology professionals have used their annual Self Storage Technology White Paper to share statistical and data insights on facility achievements, sales tactics, manager performance, asset management and customer analytics that they have measured across their various platforms during the past year. I want to acknowledge their contribution to our industry’s growing understanding of the positive impact properly implemented technologies can have on our bottom-line results.”
The complete 2016 Self Service Technology White Paper is available for download at the company website or by clicking here.
Why We Do What We Do: Every day, OpenTech Alliance connects thousands of tenants with storage companies around the world. With over 4,000 daily transactions, the companies automated products and services helped Storage Managers move-in over 130,000 tenants in 2015, generating over 140 million dollars in new sales revenue alone. OpenTech also owns a majority stake in Storage Treasures, LLC and operates www.storagetreasures.com, the largest online and onsite self-storage auction market place in the industry with over 900,000 bidders, 6,500 self-storage facilities and over 140,000 auctions held in 2015. OpenTech, Making Self-Storage Easier, So More People will Use It. For additional information, please visit www.opentechalliance.com or call an OpenTech Business Development Manager at (602) 749-9370.
Press Contact:
Mike Sawyer, Director of Marketing
OpenTech Alliance, Inc.
602.324.8655
msawyer@opentechalliance.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: OpenTech Alliance, the OpenTech logo, and INSOMNIAC are trademarks of OpenTech Alliance, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. INSOMNIAC kiosks are protected by U.S. patent number 5,946,660.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Sept. 5th, 2016 – Today, OpenTech Alliance Inc. announced they have reached an agreement with eTRACKER, LLC to acquire the eTRACKER software system for the self and mobile storage markets. eTRACKER, LLC will exit the self storage market and retain a customized version of the software to sell into the commercial real estate market. The transition is projected to be completed by the end of 2016.
eTRACKER has been available and used by self storage operators for several years. Operators have been enjoying the benefits of streamlining their operation, reducing costs, going paperless, as well as improving communications internally and externally with vendors. The solution has a cloud based corporate module called “HQ” and a mobile app. The system has benefits for managers, district managers, owners and even third party vendors – everyone knows what is happening at the facility without having to be there.
OpenTech will be renaming the operations management solution to StoreTracker. StoreTracker features include:
“We have been using eTRACKER for several months and it has made a very positive impact on our operation. Our managers love it and use it to track and share information in ways we never thought about. We have been a customer of OpenTech’s for many years. We have kiosks at all our properties and trust them to handle all our incoming phone calls thru their call center. In addition, we use their collections tool and StorageTreasures.com to handle our auctions. So we are very happy OpenTech has picked up this product, it is a great addition to their platform of solutions,” stated Margaret Martin, EVP Property Management for Pegasus Group/Central Self Storage.
Jon Loftin, OpenTech Vice President and Product Owner said, “StoreTracker fits nicely into our IoE strategy and we plan to open it up for use by other vendors in the self storage industry. Storage operators including managers, DMs and corporate staff will be able to use one tool to communicate with all of the vendors they use to operate their facility. This will allow operators to track everything that is going on at a facility with one easy to use tool.”
Contact OpenTech if you are interested in learning more about how StoreTracker can save you money, simiplfy your operation and always keep you the loop.
Why We Do What We Do: Every day, OpenTech Alliance connects thousands of tenants with storage companies around the world. With over 4,000 daily transactions, the company’s automated products and services helped Storage Managers move-in over 100,000 tenants in 2015, generating over 100 million dollars in new sales revenue alone. OpenTech also owns a majority stake in StorageTreasures, LLC and operates www.storagetreasures.com, the largest online and onsite self-storage auction market place in the industry with over 950,000 bidders, 7,500 self-storage facilities and over 140,000 auctions held in 2015. OpenTech, Making Self-Storage Easier, So More People will Use It. For additional information, please visit www.opentechalliance.com or call an OpenTech Business Development Manager at (602) 749-9370.
Press Contact:
Mike Sawyer, Director of Marketing
OpenTech Alliance, Inc.
602.324.8655
msawyer@opentechalliance.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: OpenTech Alliance, the OpenTech logo, and INSOMNIAC are trademarks of OpenTech Alliance, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. INSOMNIAC kiosks are protected by U.S. patent number 5,946,660.
Texas Self Storage Association
595 Round Rock West Drive, Ste. 503
Round Rock, TX 78681
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2016
Contact: Jennifer Taylor, Director of Communications & Marketing
(512) 374-9089 • (888) 259-4902 • Fax (512) 374-9253 • pr@txssa.org • ww.txssa.org
Texas Self Storage Association to Host Annual Conference in The Woodlands
TSSA has some big ideas in store for self-storage owners, developers and managers at the 2016 TSSA Annual Conference in The Woodlands at the Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center, October 9-11, 2016.
Share, discover and engage at the premier event for the self-storage industry in Texas. Join us for three days of networking, education and a trade show geared for self storage.
The conference offers four educational tracks to target what you need to know for your business: Strategy & Enterprise; Development & Growth; Management & Operations; and Marketing & Technology.
This year’s keynote speaker Steve Vrooman, Ph.D., Professor of Communication Studies at Texas Lutheran University, will give a presentation titled, “By the Time They Need Us, They Already Know Us: A New Approach to Social Media for the Self-Storage Industry.”
Is this what your Facebook or Twitter sounds like? “We exist. So does our phone number. We have vacancy. And operating hours. Contact us. Please.” Do you have the nagging feeling that it is all just a waste of time? The Texas self-storage industry has a social media problem. Few self-storage businesses use it. Even fewer use it to any effect. How do we build a productive social media strategy when our business is just DIFFERENT than those that social media gurus design their tips for?
The trade show is also a great opportunity to learn about new and innovative products to help your business. “I’ve started doing business with some of the vendors I met at the trade show,” said Bill Gibbs, owner of A Low Cost Self Storage in Baytown.
Early bird discounts are available until August 31. For more information or to register, visit www.txssa.org.
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About TSSA
The Texas Self Storage Association was established in 1986 and is a non-profit trade association dedicated to enhancing the quality of the self-storage industry in Texas. The Association provides opportunities for members to increase their knowledge of the self-storage industry through education, research, discussion and exchange of information. For More Information: Texas Self Storage Association – www.txssa.org
About the Keynoter:
Steven S. Vrooman, Ph.D., is a Professor of Communication Studies at Texas Lutheran University. He has taught courses on public speaking, research methods, popular culture and communication technology for 20 years. He appeared in the documentary film The People Versus George Lucas, and spoke at TEDxSanAntonio on how our brains work like Twitter.He has published articles on popular culture and the rhetoric of the Internet. Dr. Vrooman has presented on diverse topics at numerous conferences around the country.
OpenTech Alliance reminds self storage owners that INSOMNIAC™ Kiosks now qualify for increased tax deductions under the new PATH Act (Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act). The tax act notably reduces the cost of a kiosk purchase by 35% percent, resulting in a savings of up to $6,300 per kiosk. Taking advantage of this tax savings may just be the best financial decision you make in 2016.
Continue readingOpenTech Alliance, Inc. announced today that a couple of farmers have the storage industry buzzing. With a move that might have seemed backwards to most American farmers, brothers Jim and Richard Heidecker made a run at repurposing their farmland to harvest a new crop.
Continue readingOpenTech Recruits Jon Loftin to Lead New Initiative
PHOENIX, Ariz. – June 28, 2016 – Today OpenTech, a technology leader in the self storage industry, announced they have recruited Jon Loftin, one of the industry’s leading access control experts. Jon will report directly to Robert A. Chiti, the companies CEO, and hold the title of Vice President and Product Owner.
Mr. Loftin has held senior management roles in the self storage industry for over 25 years. He has contributed to the success of Digi Tech International, Chamberlain Access Products Group and for the past 5 years has been leading sales, technical support, customer service and marketing for PTI. Jon has managed the dealer/installer networks for all three companies. Jon will be responsible for the development of OpenTech’s new IoE Solutions Platform. Details of the initiative will be announced later this year.
Jon commented, “I have worked with the team at OpenTech for many years and I have watched them continue to grow their company by developing innovative solutions and happy customers. I am excited about getting the opportunity to design, develop and launch an entirely new solution for the self storage industry, built from ground up on the latest technology available.”
Robert A. Chiti said, “We are proud that Jon has decided to join our management team. His values align nicely with OpenTech’s. He puts customers first and will do whatever he can to make them happy. We call it Doing It Right. Jon’s experience and knowledge with access control systems, business, and people makes him the perfect person to lead our IoE initiative.”
Jon will continue to work from Asheville, NC but travel to OpenTech’s headquarters in Arizona on a regular basis. He can be reached at jloftin@opentechalliance.com or his mobile (828) 776-0820.
Why We Do What We Do: Every day, OpenTech Alliance connects thousands of tenants with storage companies around the world. With over 4,000 daily transactions, the company’s automated products and services helped Storage Managers move-in over 100,000 tenants in 2015, generating over 100 million dollars in new sales revenue alone. OpenTech also owns a majority stake in StorageTreasures, LLC and operates www.storagetreasures.com, the largest online and onsite self-storage auction market place in the industry with over 950,000 bidders, 7,500 self-storage facilities and over 140,000 auctions held in 2015. OpenTech, Making Self-Storage Easier, So More People will Use It. For additional information, please visit www.opentechalliance.com or call an OpenTech Business Development Manager at (602) 749-9370.
Press Contact:
Mike Sawyer, Director of Marketing
OpenTech Alliance, Inc.
602.324.8655
msawyer@opentechalliance.com
NOTE TO EDITORS: OpenTech Alliance, the OpenTech logo, and INSOMNIAC are trademarks of OpenTech Alliance, Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. INSOMNIAC kiosks are protected by U.S. patent number 5,946,660.
OpenTech Alliance Inc., the leading innovator of automation solutions for the self storage industry and Select Merchant Solutions, the industry’s leading payment processer have partnered to market OpenTech’s pay by phone solution – XpressPay in conjunction with Select Merchant Solutions credit card payment processing service. The two companies are combining efforts to help Select Merchant Solutions’ customers make the rental payment process an effortless experience for both the tenant and the facility manager.
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