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RapidStor V2 – Released to Drive More Online Self Storage Business

BRISBANE: Technology Company, Centreforce Technology Group, successfully implemented their integrated online, real-time booking system for Self Storage called RapidStor in June 2011. Since the release, over 1,000 online move ins and reservations have been made by Self Storage sites across Australia using RapidStor.

RapidStor V2 is the result of over 12 months analysis of the market and feedback from our customers, Dallas Dogger, Managing Director of Centreforce Technology Group said.

“Our in-house development team redeveloped the application to account for the change in consumer demand and new features requested by customers. Self Storage suffers from a lack of awareness in the community, and this lack of awareness translates to understanding what Self Storage is all about on the Web.

“RapidStor V2 takes some of the confusion out of selecting a Self Storage space with the addition of a custom space calculator that works based on customers’ needs rather than a whole bunch of confusing numbers – customers need to be easily able to work out what space they need and our new space calculator does that,” Dogger said.

Self Storage spaces can be broadly defined into three separate sizes: small, medium, and large. Most consumers can understand these terms and if they pick any one of these three basic terms, RapidStor V2 will display a number of spaces that fit within these categories. The standard rate or push rate is shown and also a defined discount deal as well. If push rates are used these are dynamically displayed as they change in SiteLink Web Edition.

Online renters can purchase Merchandise and Insurance quickly by entering their personal details, answering a few questions, completing the move in process, including taking payment, and filling out of the storage agreement. Customers are time poor and they can do their administration of the storage space online before they get to the site.

The customer receives a pre-filled copy of the agreement, their first invoice, including information about the Self Storage site. In the background, the move in is being processed by SiteLink Web Edition, completing the transactions and notifying the manager of a new online move in or reservation.

“Some Self Storage websites offer a reservation system for Self Storage spaces, but these systems rely on a response from an e-mail sent from the form on the website. These are not automated systems, are not secure, don’t take payments, and don’t complete the move in process in the operational software. They’re just e-mail systems. If sites don’t respond within two minutes, customers go elsewhere,” Dogger said.

RapidStor V2 interfaces with SiteLink Web Edition, the most popular Self Storage management software available today, using the provided API tools by SMD software.

“Customers are increasingly using the Internet to make purchasing decisions about Self Storage spaces every day, with a 60% increase in move ins using RapidStor in 2012. With searches on mobile devices now representing more than 50% of all searches, RapidStor V2 is optimised to work on mobile devices as well as desktop computers,” Dogger said.

RapidStor V2 is the only online Self Storage move in technology that’s optimised to work 24/7, providing a complete move in or reservation experience for the owner and the customer.

Self Storage operators that use RapidStor V2 have access to an online portal that provides real-time information on how the service is being used and gives control over a number of configuration options.

To use RapidStor, Self Storage operators need to use SiteLink Web Edition and also be able to take web payments and have an Internet merchant account.

Centreforce Technology Group staff can easily set up RapidStor for existing SiteLink Web Edition users both in Australia and New Zealand and the USA. RapidStor V2 is available from 8th November 2012.