Manosque Box

A Brand-New Centre. 240 Boxes. Nobody On Site.

Manosque Box is a French self-storage operator that opened its first centre at the end of December 2025 in Manosque — 240 units from 1 m² to 24 m², spread across two floors, run without any staff on site. Every access, every user, every door is managed remotely.

The centre is the product of two very different starting points. Local demand for autonomous storage had been building for years — Clémence Chambon’s mother runs a moving and furniture-storage business, and her customers were regularly asking for a self-service option they could use on weekends. And Clémence herself came from outside the industry entirely: a nurse by training, taking on the creation and daily management of a self-storage centre as a complementary activity to her main profession.

That combination made one requirement non-negotiable from day one: the centre had to be able to run itself.

Autonomous Wasn’t a Preference. It Was the Brief.

For an operator whose main job is nursing, a facility that depends on staff availability isn’t a facility that works. Remote management, remote access, and the ability to cut off access instantly in the case of non-payment weren’t nice-to-haves — they were the reason the centre could exist at all.

That is what pushed Clémence toward electronic locks, despite a substantial upfront investment in door modifications and hardware.

“Despite the significant initial investment — particularly for door modifications and the locks themselves — the case for electronic locks was clear. Remote management and the ability to block access in the case of non-payment were decisive. I wanted an autonomous centre, because this activity had to fit alongside my main profession.”

— Clémence Chambon, Founder & Manager, Manosque Box

Why Sensorberg

Choosing a technology partner wasn’t a simple decision. What tipped it was less the spec sheet than the relationship — the quality of the conversations, the willingness to sit down for repeated video calls, and to work through technical questions properly rather than deflect them.

“What convinced me about Sensorberg, above everything else, was the quality of the exchanges and the availability of the team. Eymeric always took the time to answer my questions, look into the technical details, and walk me through several video calls. That relationship of trust made the difference.”

— Clémence Chambon, Founder & Manager, Manosque Box

The fact that Sensorberg’s French-speaking team could handle the entire relationship in French, quickly and clearly, mattered as much as the technology.

What Runs the Centre

Manosque Box deployed the full Sensorberg One Access stack: electronic unit locks, remotely-controlled entrance doors, the One Access App for customers, and an on-site tablet with keypad entry. The access platform is plugged into Kinnovis for bookings and contracts, so access rights follow the customer’s contract automatically.

Day-to-day, Clémence uses the platform to:

• Create and revoke customer access
• Manage multiple users on the same unit
• Monitor traffic and access events
• Open entrance doors or individual units remotely when needed

“I use the app every day — creating accesses, managing multiple users on a single box, tracking traffic, and opening entrance doors or units remotely when I need to. It’s a considerable time-saver, for me and for the customers.”

— Clémence Chambon, Founder & Manager, Manosque Box

Two Ways In — So Nobody Is Locked Out

One of the design choices that has resonated most with customers is that the centre offers two access paths rather than one. App users get the fastest, keyless experience. Customers who are less comfortable with digital tools — or who simply don’t want another app on their phone — can use the on-site tablet and a personal keypad code. Same access, same 24/7 availability, no digital gatekeeping.

The whole path from booking to first entry is designed to be self-explanatory. Confirmation messages, access codes, and instructions all reach the customer without anyone needing to be at the centre to hand anything over.

Manosque Box in Numbers

Eight Months In

The measure of an unmanned model is not the day it opens — it’s what happens after several months of real customers coming and going, at all hours, without staff on site. On that measure, Manosque Box’s verdict is straightforward: no regrets, no access failures on the roller shutters or the entrance doors, and a customer base that has taken to the model without friction.

“The customers are happy with the solution. I don’t regret the choice at all: customers are autonomous, and daily management is enormously simplified. The whole journey has been well thought through, from the messages the customer receives at booking to the moment they enter the centre.”

— Clémence Chambon, Founder & Manager, Manosque Box

For Clémence, the outcome is exactly the one the model was designed for: a self-storage business that fits alongside a full career in another profession, without compromising the customer experience.

• Visit Manosque Box: manosquebox.fr