New year, new u-nit rentals!
With a new year comes new opportunities, goals, and discoveries. The self storage industry in the United States is massive, with nearly 2 billion square feet of rentable space.4 Although there are many concerns self storage operators face in 2026, 65% of operators2 express optimism about the self storage industry. There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic in this exciting age of innovation, and Storagely shares this positive outlook.
With the right mindset and storage platform, it’s possible to increase ROI and make 2026 your best storage year yet. Those who want a competitive advantage aren’t staying still. They’re researching and investing in new technologies to give them an edge while meeting rising tenant expectations.
Over the last year, searches related to self storage technology have steadily increased across the board. The pattern is consistent with terms like “AI self storage” doubling in search volume, “AI storage solutions” more than doubling, and even foundational queries like “self storage websites” climbed significantly, with many keywords that previously had little or no search volume now reaching 20+ searches monthly. Considering the uptick in searches for all things storage technology, it’s clear where the industry is headed.
What are storage operators prioritizing in 2026? Let’s take a look and add to your list of New Year’s resolutions.
Operators Are Investing in Self Storage Technology That Delivers
According to a survey in Storable’s 2026 Self-Storage Industry Outlook Report,3 the top priority for operators remains customer acquisition at 75%. Additionally, self storage operators are prioritizing the following in 2026:
What’s notable isn’t just what operators are prioritizing—it’s how interconnected these goals are. All of these priorities are essential to success in 2026. Although new technology is prioritized at 19%, it’s worth noting that most of the prioritized goals can be achieved through technology.
Expenses can be reduced by cutting overhead costs and investing in AI self storage automation, customer retention can be encouraged by an easy-to-rent experience on your self storage website, and security features often include different forms of technology to monitor facilities.
Technology isn’t just a buzzword. It has become an integral part of every industry, including self storage. Those who don’t jump aboard the technology express will find themselves unable to compete with REITs or local competitors.
COVID resulted in a self storage boom that brought many new operators to the table, along with technological advancements that came with plenty of bells and whistles. Now that the dust has settled, you can discern what’s truly important when choosing where to invest your hard-earned money. Digital features and tools are well and good, but what are you really looking for in self storage technology?
Results.
That’s it.
This need for transparent, statistical results is why Storagely prioritizes case studies. We know our platform delivers proven results, and we’re not shy about sharing them.
For example, Client A increased rentals by 105% within 6 months for their 46 facilities. Client B, a company with 25 facilities in the U.S., increased total self storage rentals within the first 9 months of switching to Storagely. We’re proud of our many success stories, and we’ve proven that technological innovation can improve ROI for self storage operators. A storage facility website is your storefront, and you want it to run like a well-oiled machine to capture (and retain) every lead possible.
Self Storage Websites Make All the Difference
A self storage website can look nice, but will it increase your revenue and deliver results? Your storage website should be your hardest-working employee. Features have to translate to increased rentals, better customer service, and an optimized operation that will give you the edge in a competitive self storage market.
Your storage website is the foundational piece of your tech stack. Every additional feature or technology you implement will stem from your website, so choosing a platform that’s designed to convert is essential.
Is your website pulling its weight? Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Does your storage facility website load quickly, or does it test your patience (and your renters’)?
- Can leads easily navigate your site, find a facility, and choose a unit without calling for help?
- Is your checkout experience fast and convenient, or does it give renters time to abandon ship?
- Does your website consistently turn traffic into rentals?
- Is it reducing the number of calls your team has to answer, or creating more of them?
- Does your site show accurate unit availability so renters don’t hit dead ends?
- Can renters get help instantly through tools like an AI chat?
- Is your website guiding renters to the right unit size with tools like storage calculators?
- Is your site optimized for search so people can actually find you, or are competitors winning those clicks?
- Does your website improve over time as renter behavior changes, or stay frozen in time?
- Is AI improving the rental experience over time based on real renter behavior?
- When renters hesitate, does your website nudge them forward—or let them disappear?
- Is your site keeping up with evolving AI expectations, or already falling behind?
At the end of the day, your self storage website sets the tone for your entire operation. It’s often the first interaction a lead has with your business and, more often than not, the one that decides whether a unit gets rented. In a competitive market with rising tenant expectations, a website that adapts, guides, and converts does more than support your operation. It pulls its weight. When your website works quietly in the background, answering questions, streamlining rentals, and improving over time, it stops being a marketing expense and starts acting like the most dependable member of your team.
The Self Storage AI Race is On
AI might be the new kid on the block, but it’s here to stay. There’s no stopping this Artificial Intelligence, so let’s look at how you can use it to your advantage. AI can be integrated into a variety of features and platforms to enhance tenant experience and optimize storage asset management. Yes, you want to attract new renters, but you also want to keep rentable square footage filled and promote recurring business.
Storable’s Report3 revealed that one-in-five operators (21%) are prioritizing AI-powered self storage customer service, while 23% plan on investing in data analytics and reporting tools. This shift represents a broader pivot to AI, as 78% of companies1 now use it in their operations.
Self storage operators overwhelmingly see customer service as their primary differentiator (78%), followed by pricing (56%), while fewer point to technology and digital experience (23%)3. At first glance, this suggests technology plays a secondary role; but in reality, it’s becoming the engine behind excellent service.
As core technologies like storage facility websites, property storage management systems, online payments, and digital marketing become standard, technology alone no longer sets operators apart. How it’s used does.
Industry leaders won’t judge technology by how new it looks, but by how much value it creates. The right investments increase rentals, improve retention, free teams to focus on higher-value work, and drive better ROI. Approached this way, technology becomes a growth lever for 2026, while competitors remain stuck solving the same operational problems that held them back in 2025.
Automation and Customer Service
AI chat is becoming a necessary part of self storage websites as its benefits become clear in relation to tenant acquisition. AI-powered chats like Storagely’s swivl integration can give leads instant answers to common questions 24/7 while leading them to click the “rent” button through storage unit size and feature recommendations, powered by a built-in storage calculator.
AI chats should understand the unique needs of the storage business and guide tenants through the rental process, smoothly transitioning to a streamlined checkout page. Every step of the renter journey should be assisted by an intuitive storage website experience.
AI doesn’t mean the end of personable customer service. In addition to chats, AI can work in tandem with your team to create a seamless rental experience. AI can do the routine grunt work while your employees focus on high-value sales and relationship-building instead of repetitive tasks.
There’s no need for long phone calls or answering unit-sizing or availability questions. A chat can instantly recommend a 10×10 climate-controlled unit to a lead based on their inquiries. It’s no wonder that 21% of storage operators are prioritizing AI-powered chat.3 It’s a win-win for all parties involved.
Whether you’ve been in the business 30 years, you’re a National Storage Affiliate, or opening new self storage facilities, leading operators are applying AI and advanced analytics to automate routine inquiries, identify at-risk or high-value tenants, and optimize pricing based on individual tenant behavior. Technology that improves retention, increases operational efficiency, creates a strong presence online, and empowers staff is what turns customer service from a goal into a true competitive advantage.
Q&As for Self Storage Operators
What does self storage success look like in 2026?
Success in 2026 looks practical. With 75% of operators focused on customer acquisition and 78% citing customer service as their top differentiator, winning operators will make it easier for tenants to rent without friction. That means fast, optimized storage websites, accurate unit availability, and online rentals that take seconds. When the website handles more of the work, teams can focus on running self storage facilities rather than chasing leads. Embracing technological innovations will ensure your facility stays competitive as the industry pivots toward AI solutions and digital platforms.
What should self storage operators prioritize in 2026?
Operators should prioritize technology that actually delivers results. With 78% of companies using AI,1 the focus for 2026 is clear: smarter automation, better service, and data-driven decisions that keep units full. Your self storage website should do the heavy lifting by consistently turning interest into rentals, reducing manual work for your team, and improving performance over time. When the website is built to adapt and optimize, it quietly drives higher occupancy, lowers acquisition costs, and increases ROI without adding complexity to your day-to-day operations.
Is self storage a good investment?
The average profit margin for self storage is around 41%,2 making it an attractive option for investors. Low maintenance costs and recurring revenue from long-term tenants make self storage a resilient asset, even in uncertain markets. With smart management and the right technology, operators can boost ROI and promote tenant retention, turning storage facilities into consistently profitable investments.
How can Storagely help you increase ROI in 2026?
Storagely helps increase your ROI by addressing the same challenges operators are prioritizing this year: reducing expenses, improving retention, and increasing revenue per tenant. Instead of a static storage facility website, self storage owners get a platform that continually improves checkout flow, SEO, and usability. The result is fewer drop-offs, more online rentals, and less reliance on paid ads. Storagely customers increase online rentals by an average of 85% while recovering a total of $6.5 million in lost revenue. No pinky promises— just a website that quietly makes money while you sleep.
Turn your 2026 priorities into tangible results. Self storage operators run facilities. Storage websites should run themselves. Schedule a Demo with Storagely to start meeting your new year’s goals today!
Want to read more about the latest self storage technology trends? Check out the blogs below:
References
- HAI Stanford University. (2025). The 2025 AI Index Report. Stanford University HAI Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. https://hai.stanford.edu/aiindex/2025-ai-index-report
- Papa, A. (2025, May 2). The 100 largest self storage companies in the U.S.: Who owns the market?. Rent Cafe. https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/self-storage/the- 100-largest-self-storage-companies-in-the-u-s/
- Storable. (2025). 2026 Self-Storage Industry Outlook. 2026 Self Storage Outlook Report. https://info.storable.com/2026-self-storage-outlook
- StorageCafe. (2025, November). Self Storage Industry Trends | StorageCafe. https://www.storagecafe.com/self-storage-industry-statistics/