The self-storage industry has long relied on analog infrastructure, with manual locks, physical keys, and labor-intensive workflows remaining standard across much of the sector. But growing operational pressures and changing customer expectations are accelerating a shift toward mobile-first automation, according to industry technology providers and operators.
One example of that transition is unfolding through a collaboration between UK self-storage operator Ready Steady Store and North Carolina-based startup Keep It Simple Storage, also known as KISS. The companies recently partnered to deploy NFC-powered smart lock technology designed to eliminate many of the infrastructure challenges associated with traditional access-control systems.
Industry Pressures Drive Search for New Solutions
As operators face rising labor costs and increasing demand for mobile-based customer experiences, many are reevaluating legacy operational systems that still depend heavily on manual processes.
“We had ambitious plans to grow the portfolio, but it became clear our existing operational model wouldn’t support that kind of scale,” said Robert Symon, head of operations for Ready Steady Store. “We started exploring ways to automate access — but everything we looked at either added complexity, required too much infrastructure, or just didn’t work the way we needed it to.”
According to the companies, many existing smart-access solutions created operational tradeoffs. Wired systems often required significant infrastructure investments, while battery-powered systems introduced maintenance concerns and reliability issues. Bluetooth- and Wi-Fi-based systems also presented connectivity challenges across larger portfolios.
NFC-Based Access Eliminates Traditional Infrastructure Requirements
Rather than modifying legacy systems, Ready Steady Store and KISS pursued a different approach centered on NFC, or Near Field Communication, technology.
The companies implemented KISS’ ONELock system, which uses NFC power harvesting technology that allows a tenant’s smartphone to both authenticate and activate a lock in real time. The system operates without batteries, wiring, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth connectivity.
By removing many of the traditional failure points associated with smart-access systems, the companies said the technology simplifies installation and reduces long-term operational costs. Installation reportedly required only attaching hardware directly to unit doors without trenching, network configuration, or disruptions to existing operations.
The partnership began with a pilot deployment in 2024 at select Ready Steady Store facilities, where staff were trained on digital credentialing and customers introduced to mobile-based unit access.
Following early results, the rollout expanded in 2025 and was later incorporated into the operator’s broader long-term growth strategy.
Operational Benefits Reported
According to Ready Steady Store, the implementation delivered measurable operational improvements, including:
The company also cited the elimination of battery replacement cycles, network-related outages, and additional infrastructure burdens.
“The ONELock system solved what we considered an unsolvable problem,” said Andy Egerton, operations director at Ready Steady Store. “It delivered smart access at the unit level without the cost and complexity that had previously made it impractical.”
Industry Recognition and Broader Implications
The collaboration between KISS and Ready Steady Store received the 2026 Supplier Collaboration Award at the SSA UK Level Up Conference held in April.
Rob Kapp of KISS said the project reflected the importance of building technology around real operator challenges rather than adapting legacy systems.
“When you genuinely listen to the challenges operators are facing — and build solutions to address them head on — that’s where real innovation happens,” Kapp said.
The companies argue the deployment represents more than a single operational upgrade and instead signals a broader industry shift away from infrastructure-heavy automation models.
KISS said self-storage is beginning to follow a pattern already seen in industries such as parking, travel, and ticketing, where smartphones increasingly serve as the primary access and transaction tool.
The company’s 2026 technology manifesto outlines several principles it believes will shape the next generation of self-storage operations, including mobile-only access, infrastructure-light technology, and simplified automation systems that can scale across entire portfolios.
According to KISS, NFC-powered smart access could eventually serve as a foundational infrastructure layer for the self-storage industry by enabling operators to automate facilities more efficiently while delivering fully mobile tenant experiences from gate access to individual units.
As operators continue looking for ways to streamline labor, improve customer convenience, and scale portfolios more efficiently, companies involved in the project believe the industry’s transition toward mobile-based access systems could accelerate rapidly over the next several years.