Exploring Smart Entry Solutions: Sensorberg | Self Storage Explained #4

Hi, I'm Gavin Shields and this is Self Storage Explained expert advice on how to set up and scale your self storage business. Hello and welcome. And we're joined today by Gulsnath from Centreberg. Welcome.

Hi Gavin, thanks for inviting.

Thank you very much for coming. So Gulsna, would you mind introducing yourself please and like yourself and a little bit about Sensoberg please?

Sure. So my name is Gurjanath and I work as a part of professional services team in Sensorberg. And what Sensorberg does is that we try to digitalize access controls in self storage facilities. We have several types of hardware specifically designed for the self storage buildings and we also provide app and backend. Yeah. Depending on the client needs, we adjust our solutions.

Okay. Okay, great. Okay, thank you very much. So we've got a couple of things I want to run through and mostly what I'd like to try and do is help listeners understand more about your solution and you know what it means to install it at their site and for their customers. So that's the kind of stuff I'd like to try and go through on this call. So first of all, so just thinking about the different, you know, I know you've got, you know, had various products in self storage. So would you be able to talk us through the different products that you have at Sensorberg and what they do and why a self storage operator might use those products? Sure.

So let me introduce from hardware perspective. So regarding hardware, we have several types of devices and their use would depend on the type of unit that they are designed to. So for example, if operator is interested in installing the device access control device for the doors, then it would be access hub or access hub protect. If operators are interested for equipping the devices on the storage units itself then we can use low control hub. Low control hub is a device which can control up to 32 different storage units doors and yeah, it also allows to open the door via IP and bluetooth. So that's something that would highlight for our operators. Apart from that we also have the combination of those hardware that I mentioned which is used for elevators. So elevator control hub, it is a combination of access hub protect and low control hub which also can control several layers for elevator access. And at the same time we can use the combination of those solutions for direct access units. So I would say it would depend on the customer needs and we can adjust different combination of our solutions based on that. That's regarding hardware but we also provide app which is branded and based on the customer design handbook and the Logo. We can develop our app based on that. The main feature of our app is to create those opening requests for each user so each user can log in and open their assigned units. And apart from that, the most beneficial part for operators is the backend where operators can monitor the opening request, the number of units locations and also sensor results. So it combines all the picture for the current storage facility and gives insights for operators.

Okay, okay, that's a great answer. So just so I understand that. So there's hardware and you have access hub and access hub protect.

Yeah.

Are they for entrance doors like roller shutter doors, gates and are they also for the actual unit doors themselves?

Yeah, exactly. They are used for. Specifically for the main gates and the entrances or even can be doors can be used for just office doors as well. So yeah, mostly it's used for doors, let's say.

Okay, and. And the. If you wanted to put it on the like, you know, I have 149 units in my facility here in Northern Ireland. If I wanted to put that onto every single door, I could also put it into the doors.

Yeah, of course there is no like restriction. You can do that. But in that case that you have like several hundred doors, then we would definitely recommend low Control hub because that would allow you to control up to 32 different units. Like one dev can. Yeah, can do opening requests for those 32. So I think this is quite efficient solution.

So the way. Right then. So the Access hub Access hub protect is the lock hardware and then is the low. Is it. Is it called low Control Lock Control.

Hub Lock Control Hub.

Okay, so is that kind of like a. Is that the thing that communicates with the locks?

Exactly, yeah. For log Control hub we have specific types of locks, mechanical locks. And yeah, they are coming with the cables and they directly connect to log control hubs.

Okay, so with lock Control hub is it. So it communicates to locks on doors?

Exactly. Through read contact there is a sensor, Read contact sensor and that would allow us to monitor through backend if the door is open or closed.

Okay, okay, okay. So all right. And so with lock Control hub does it connect to the ATS hub protect locks or is it a different type of lock?

Well, it's different type of lock. Like it's mechanical lock, the one with sensors and with a specific RJ45 cable which will also provide. So yeah, it's connected directly. But you are not wrong once you ask me if you can control like access hub protect with local hub solution, it's multiplexer so you can also install Several access hub protects to this low control hub and that might also allow you to control like elevators and also direct access units. So you can combine these kind of solutions and play around.

Between all of that. You can, you have got the hardware, hardware solutions for main entry gates, roller shutter doors, every single unit door if you wish, and the lifts for elevators. So you have hardware for all of that?

Yeah.

And okay, and then, then you've got the app as well. So the mobile app. And so is that what is used by the, the customer, the. The actual end customer or is it used by the operator or corpos?

So it can be used by both by operators and by end users. If we go through user experience of end user, then what we can say is that for example, user books a unit through the website and he proceeds to payment and then he receives the email with communication of his credentials, the link to the app. So he downloads it, he logs in and then he goes to unit to open it. So that's how user experience is done from end user perspective. So it's straightforward and simple. As for Operation Manager, the steps can be same. Only thing is that Operation Manager would have admin role or operation manager role in the backend. So he would be able to see all the units, the facility, while end user is seeing only the unit that he or she booked. So that's the main difference. Also it's us who provide the link for the app for Operation Manager. And yeah, of course, Operation Manager would have the whole access to the backend. That would be the difference with end user.

Yeah, so the third thing you mentioned was the backend system. And so that's something that the operator would use presumably to see when people have been in and out of the facility, what else would they be using the backend for?

So I would address several features that our backend offers. Yeah, first of all, you're right, backend is used for monitoring the requests that have been made by users. So what time, what kind of unit has been opened and this kind of data. Apart from that also backend provides kind of the dashboard where you can also see a number of units, number of users, number of visitors, the frequency of visitors during the year. So it's kind of providing these kind of graphs. Also the results of some sensors, like motion detector sensors. It can be also integrated with alarm feature, presence feature. So based on needs of customers, we can implement those features altogether. And also I think the main benefit of our backend is that it can be scoped. So just give you an example. We had the client A few years ago who opened the facility just with like hundred boxes and now it's scaled up to few thousands. So like all these units can be monitored through one backend and all the locations could be monitored in one backend. So this would allow to Operation manager to gather all the data from all this like period of time and. Yeah. Monitors activity. Yeah. And also I would say security part that our platform is available 247 so Operation Manager would be also to. We would be able to like monitor the activities like at night if some breakings like might happen. That's all translated in our platform.

Okay. Okay, so you mentioned there just security. Do you have any kind of alarm system that's included in your solutions as well that helps people keep the facility more secure?

Yeah, exactly. Recently we have implemented this feature to one of our clients. Yeah. So what we did is that we enabled alarm feature in the backend and also presence feature. So this has been done also through adjusting the sensor of our hardware of the logs that we are using for each storage unit. And in terms of software we implemented the necessary algorithms. So basically if there is some signal which might be potentially related to breaking, then it would communicate it to necessary organization. So they would be taking care of it. So they would check security cameras if everything is fine. There was a unit. So we have implemented these solutions and I think it is quite like quite unique in terms of. Yeah. In terms of this solution. Apart from that, we also have like presence feature which would allow us to monitor how many like users are currently in the facility and for how long they are. They have been there. So the main benefit of it, it might be used for fire department, for example, if the building. Yeah. If there is something is happening with the building regarding the safety regarding fire, then of course Operation manager could just check the dashboard and see like how many users are currently in and were they able to exit the facility, like these kind of features. Yeah.

Okay. And what about units? So one of the things we hear a lot about in the UK recently is break inside and people, you know, getting into people in the units and even tunneling between units. So do. Do your locks have any kind of like if somebody tried to break into the unit, is there an alarm built into the lock? Do you have any sort of unit alarms inside?

Like I would say currently our implementation is done based on the sensor which. Yeah. Which can say aha. Which can say if the door is open or closed.

Yeah.

So if the current door is actually open, but there are no requests made in our backend, that means that something was wrong with the setup. So the request has not been made and the necessary actions would be sent to like to the organization to check like for the security and to check the cameras. That's how it usually works.

Gotcha. Okay, yep. So that, that's great. So you have an alarm built into the lock itself. So if that is, if it hasn't connected then you know there's something wrong. Okay, great. Thank you very much. Okay. One of the things that we often get asked is like if you have an existing facility and you know you're, it's an indoor facility, let's say and you have, you're using padlocks and then you know, new technology like yours comes out and people might be interested to put in locks to all the, all the doors and we call that retrofitting. Does SensorVarrow, can you your locks be retrofitted to a facility?

Yes, I think currently we are also providing this service, the engineering service for our customers. So we can send our team to measure the storage units, what's current technical state of the building. And based on that we can cooperate with our box builders that we work closely together. And based on it we can build the frames, the necessary frames for installing our logs, our devices and this can be done for sure.

Okay, so you can put that onto existing locks, existing doors.

Exactly.

Okay. And then another thing, we get asked a lot because we have a lot of customers who run container based self storage facilities. Whether there are lock solutions, there's obviously a lock solution for the gate. Centralberg is a great solution for gates. Do you have any customers who have used Sensorberg in containers to manage the access to containers?

Yes, yes, we do have some of our clients which use huge containers, their facility and they have up to like thousands units. Yeah, yeah, we have, we have implemented it last year. In that case we have used cylinders, cylinders which are Bluetooth based. So there is no wiring. Only what is needed to be done is installing the cylinders which is also quite simple. Like regarding the installation, we also provide support and have our own installers already aware on how to install them. And yeah, that's done in the same way. I mean the backend, the app request is done the same way as is done with our hardware. All the activities is monitored through backend. So that's already been done.

So that's great. So I didn't quite catch. So is it like a padlock attached to the door or what is the. So a shipping container will often have a big, you know, kind of steel thing that goes across and then you attach a padlock. So what is the solution and how does it work with the container?

All right, so.

Sometimes, sometimes what we would, what we hear is with a container, sometimes they will, in order to make it work with an automated lock system, they'll take the whole door off and then roller shutter door. And then you can attach a lock system to the roller shutter door. That's one solution I've heard of. So I'm just interested to understand exactly how your, your container solution could work.

Yeah, like in that case, I would say client used like cylinders, like it's normal door. So it's like more like a door handle. Like I was describing that solution, the.

Door handle solution with the sensor bed lock in the handle.

Yes, with a cylinder lock in the handle. So that was the case. But of course we can implement like with frames with several engineering services based on client needs, the necessary equipment. So if not cylinder. Okay. We can implement it with other logs which is like controlled by low control hub. So this might be also the case.

Okay. Okay, apologies. I, I, you said cylinder and I, I didn't quite put two and three together workout. It was a cylinder lock. So apologies for that.

Yeah, no problem. I'm happy to explain.

Okay, brilliant. So, so then we've integrated with Xtora, integrates with Sensorberg. It's a recent thing we've just added. So from a customer experience. So just it sounds like what happens is let's say they book on the web, on the store website, and our system, once it's moving day, our system will talk to your system and say, you know, Mr. Smith is moving into unit number one this morning. So then your system then becomes aware that this is happening. What does your system do then and what's the experience for the customer? Do they receive a text message or a code or what happens then?

All right, so I would say it would depend on our integration partner first of all. And for the end users, the experience with that would be that after they booked. Yes. They receive the email with the necessary credentials to log into app and the link, where the link they can download the app and proceed to the next steps. That's for the end user. But before going to that step, we of course communicate with our clients regarding the external identifiers which are necessary to set up before integration with Tora or with other partners. So yeah, we communicate the necessary external identifiers to the customer and to integration partner. So we all work closely together, set up those labels and afterwards we also agree on the access groups. So what Are generally access groups consist of. So this can be like general units, main door, elevator, floor one, elevator floor two, for example. So we combine all of these units into one group and then of course there will be another group which is the unit itself, the unit that the user booked. So once the booking is proceeded, all of these changes regarding the user assignment to specific group of the unit, it will be reflected in our backend through booking platform. Yeah.

Okay, so once the Sensorberg and your software platform can communicate together and that setup phase is done, then the software platform will be talking to the Sensorberg back end to update it with changes to the facility and people moving in and out. And then when the customer is moving in. So in the morning of the move in with Stora, they will receive an email and in the email will be a link to download the app and that's how they get in to the facility. And I just had a question with the app. So is it a Sensorberg app or do you create an app for every different individual self storage customer?

Yeah, like currently we are creating each app, each white label app for each customer and also include their logos like their preferred colors. So yeah, it's kind of designed app for each customer.

Okay. Oh, very good. That's a nice experience. Okay. And so then so we touched on a little bit. So the operator experience for installation. You know, there's obviously the connection connecting to the software. But what about, you know, before that? Presumably some of your team come to site, do a survey like how does that, what happens on site? Do they need things like power at all the locations? Do they need Internet? What's the experience of getting a Sensorberg system installed at a facility?

All right, so yeah, there are several steps before project is implemented. So first of all we would organize several discussions. So we'll involve our technical team, project management team and sales team. And all of us sit together and go through each like technical requirement of each customer. So after we considered all these technical points, we suggest the scope of the product. So we get the necessary floor plans from customer. And this document is including all floors, all units and all doors. So we mark which device can be installed where and communicated to the customer and to our installers. And during installation our installers would go on site and they would support the installation process. We have already worked with several projects within and outside Europe. So we have our trusted experts. So there are like box builders who already installing our devices and our cables. And in terms of requirements regarding like in terms of our requirements to our client is first of all to get the stable network connection and power supply because some of our devices would require some power supply. So that would be like the main points and we of course discuss it beforehand. So yeah, I think after installation we would also provide acceptance tests where we test all of our units in all our devices and we provide some trainings with our backend and like hardware how to open it, necessary troubleshooting steps. So yeah, this knowledge would be shared during the project implementation and then project goes to life and to maintenance stage where we also support via hotline and by support tickets as well.

Okay. Okay. So you're, you're, you're there to help and you've got a great support system in place too for any issues.

Yeah.

Okay, so an important question, how much does it typically cost?

Yeah, I think it would depend on the solution and client requirements. We have base implementation of our projects and we have advanced. So base implementation would include 100 doors, for example one main entrance, one exit door, one elevator and that would be base implementation. But also there is advanced which would include alarm feature, motion detector, keywords, cup, which is a digitalized version of PIN based solution and yeah, up to 1,000 units. So we would say that would, the cost would of course depend on what kind of features does the client want. And this is why like I would be happy to connect customers with our sales team and they would be happy to share and give more information.

Okay. Okay. So the answer is. It depends. Yeah, One thing you mentioned there, which I didn't catch earlier was that there's a PIN solution as well. So we talked there about the customer experience being you get an email and you download an app and then you have to open the doors. Is there also a solution from Centreberg where there's a code created and they type a PIN code in?

Yeah, exactly. So in the case of customer forgets the phone or they don't want to use phone, they want to use nfc, then we're, we are offering a kiosk solution, it's a tablet solution which would allow to input the necessary code and open the unit which is assigned to the user. So and the main benefit of kiosk, I would say that it's scoped to one location or one floor. So it's highly secure compared to for example mechanical solutions. Yeah, and what I can also add that we recently got some requests from our customers that they want to share PIN codes with DHL or with ups so they would be able to drop the parcels. So we are offering kiosk for specifically that purpose as well. So that simplifies operators like daily activities.

Okay. Okay. So this is. So if a customer doesn't have a smartphone it could be there's a. You call the kiosk. Do you mean it's like a tablet at the front of the building?

Yeah, it's a tablet in front of the building where like necessary numbers can be input.

So let's say you're a customer, you're unit 50, you type the thing in there and that will open up the lock at your door. So by the time you get there it'll be open. Is that how that works?

So yeah, like let's say once customer is on site and inputting them his or her identification code. Yeah. Then it opens automatically. We can set it to automatically opening or if it's not automatic then there will be display of several units that the customer has access to. So then customer would select which unit he or she wants to open and that is unit would be open also. Yeah, the time can be from 30 to 60 seconds. Like regarding time, like how short it should be. So we would also ask that from the customer. What's the preferred timing?

Okay. Okay, brilliant. Thank you. And so we've got customers all around the world. Is Centreberg available worldwide? Do you support just certain countries? Where are you most? Where are most of your customers?

So yeah like currently we are supporting European market and outside of Europe as well. So we have our customers in Spain, France, Germany and Switzerland UK but at the 10th, at the same time we are constantly like in communication with other countries and we are happy to expand. Yeah so I think that's something which is in progress.

So no limitation. There's no limitation to where you, you can, you can work.

Exactly.

Okay, okay, so just maybe final couple of questions. So what's the mode if you're using Sensorberg, what's the kind of most, what do most customers do? You know so do most customers just have it on gates? Do most of your customers have it across the whole facility? What's the most common implementation of Sensorberg?

I think the most common implementation would be using low control hubs for the storage units. So that's something that we are providing is efficient solution. And of course the main gates we are using Access hub protect. That's also the most common implementation. Yeah, Access hub protect also like it's water resistant, humidity resistant so it's well protected so our users can trust our devices even outside during harsh weather conditions and elevation Control hub that's also included in the basic implementation and I would say kiosk Kiosk is also becoming something that our customers are preferring to switch from like mechanical pin pads to digital ones.

Okay, okay, okay. Is there anything else that we haven't talked about that you think listeners should know about Sensor Bear?

I think one point that I wanted to share is that recently we are having more and more customers which are very new in the field. They have no experience in the self storage facility, but they are eager to learn and to cooperate with us. So we have provided some consulting services for those customers and we are sharing our contacts of our partners and we guide through the whole process of project implementation. So at the same time we are also learning. So I think that's important to highlight. And each customer's experience is unique, each customer's technical requirements is unique. So we are also always happy, happy to adjust our solutions to align and to teach, to teach and to learn at the same time. So I think, yeah, that's something that we are happy to help within this transformation from analog to digital.

Okay. All right. Okay, that's, that's great to know. And so if anyone wants to find out more about Sensorberg, where should they go?

Yeah, we have our website, sensorberg.com. yeah, we have all, all the product sheets there. Our contact information would be there as well. So yeah, anyone interested just can go to our website and call us directly there. Yeah, okay.

All right. Okay. Well thank you very much Guls and that. Really nice to talk to you and to hear more about Sensorsberg. So thanks very much for sharing all that with us all today.

Thank you very much Kevin. Thanks for inviting me.

You're very welcome. Thanks for. Thanks for everything. Speak soon. Thank you.

Thank you. Bye.

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