A Guide to Leveraging Data Collected by Your Access Control System

Operators know that the foundation of any self-storage facility is a comprehensive access control system. With it, operators can manage and secure their facility remotely by controlling and monitoring access – from gates to individual units – ensuring only authorized tenants can enter. When paired with smart tech solutions such as keypads or latches, the access control system collects data used to alert operators to unauthorized access or suspicious activity, improving overall facility security. Beyond security, data collected by an access control system can be leveraged to reduce operating expenses and elevate the tenant experience. The data collected throughout tenants’ self-storage experiences provide operators with insights into tenant behavior, traffic patterns, and overall facility usage. These insights can be used to inform staffing schedules, identify upsell opportunities, or personalize services. Ultimately, leveraging data collected by access control systems enables operators to not only elevate their security but also optimize operations to help their businesses thrive in an increasingly competitive industry.  

Data Collection Points

Access control systems integrate with a range of traditional security solutions to provide operators with very basic insights into their facility. However, when an access control system is paired with smart tech solutions, such as PTI’s AP1 keypad or ProEdge latch, the volume of data available to operators increases significantly. The guide below displays PTI’s security solutions, the data they capture, and where to find it in the award-winning access control software, StorLogix Cloud.

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Real-Time vs. Historical Data

Data context refers to the background details that provide meaning to a dataset; in other words, the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the data. When utilizing data for strategic decision-making, operators must understand that when the data is collected directly impacts how the data is used.

Real-time facility data can be used to improve security and direct day-to-day operational tasks. Much of self-storage real-time data is collected through live monitoring of security solutions. With live monitoring, operators are immediately notified through the access control system of any unauthorized access attempts or doors being held open, allowing them to respond quickly to potential theft or vandalism. Additionally, live monitoring also helps operators track the health of solutions utilized throughout their facility. For instance, PTI’s StorLogix Cloud allows operators to view the battery levels of ProEdge smart latches and alerts them to power outages and voltage drops with AP1’s keypad diagnostics. Real-time data provided through live monitoring empowers operators to resolve issues quickly so they can keep their facility up and running smoothly. A significant emphasis is often placed on real-time data, but historical facility data is just as important. Access control systems maintain a library of archived data. Operators can analyze this data year-over-year to inform their long-term strategy decisions, including budget and staffing. They can also study equipment usage and repair patterns to schedule maintenance before breakdowns even occur. Both real-time and historical data are essential to the efficient management and improvement of a self-storage operation.

Enhancing Security

Self-storage security solutions and the data they collect are essential for protecting tenant and facility assets. With the aforementioned live monitoring of access points, operators can swiftly respond to suspicious activities such as incorrect PIN entries, unit tampering, or any forced entry attempts. In addition to real-time alerts, access control systems generate audit logs containing timestamped records of all activities at facility entry points, exit points, and units. Operators can use this log to identify where the incident occurred, when, and, in some cases, who caused it. These records are helpful for preventing loitering or casing of units, investigating security incidents, resolving disputes, or proving compliance with security policies.

Optimizing Operations

An access control system is a powerful tool for optimizing facility operations, providing data-driven insights into how to reduce costs and increase revenue. Using historical data, operators can analyze tenant visits to identify peak visiting times and adjust their staffing accordingly. This ensures employees are on-site when needed during high-traffic periods, such as the holidays, while reducing unnecessary labor costs during slower times. Besides staffing and scheduling, operators can leverage facility data to develop marketing and pricing strategies. By tracking the frequency of visits, seasonal peaks, and key sharing, operators can develop targeted marketing strategies for specific groups of tenants based on the “when” and “why” of their storage needs. Similar data points can also be used to provide tailored promotions and even adjust pricing based on demand and unit type, ensuring revenue is always maximized.

Takeaways

In the age of technology, data is critical for the management and growth of all businesses, and self-storage is no exception. When investing in comprehensive access control systems and smart security solutions, operators also invest in the additional data these solutions collect. In doing so, operators open the door for opportunities to enhance operational efficiency and improve the overall tenant experience. As the self-storage industry becomes more saturated, leveraging data ensures that operators remain competitive by providing a secure, efficient, and tenant-focused facility.