MyBox

Three Locations. One Platform. Zero On-Site Staff.

MyBox is a German self-storage operator with a simple but radical premise: storage that works without anyone on site. Customers access, manage and rent units entirely through an app, around the clock, across all three locations in Bochum, Münster and Bielefeld.

What started as a single unmanned site has grown into a fully connected multi-location operation, with CEO Marc Astroh positioning MyBox at the forefront of a major industry shift. According to the SSA UK Annual Report 2024, unmanned self-storage facilities grew by 13% in 2024 alone, as operators across Europe increasingly recognise that digital infrastructure is no longer optional — it is the business model.

Running 3 Locations Remotely Doesn’t Just Happen

Building a genuinely unmanned self-storage business requires more than simply removing staff from a location. It demands a reliable, flexible and secure digital infrastructure capable of handling everything from customer onboarding to daily access control, all remotely. Every door, every access event, every security alert needs to work without anyone being physically present. The margin for error is zero: if the technology fails, the entire business model fails with it.

For MyBox, finding the right technology partner to modernise its first location and support the business as it scaled was one of the most critical decisions they faced. The solution needed to be robust enough to run without supervision, flexible enough to grow alongside the business, and adaptable enough to work with existing hardware where needed.

One Solution. Three Cities — All Growing Together.

MyBox first partnered with Sensorberg to digitalise its initial location, implementing a complete access control infrastructure that enabled fully unmanned operations from day one. As confidence in the platform grew, so did the partnership. Sensorberg rolled out the solution across Bochum, Münster and Bielefeld, with each site running on the same unified system:

• Remote door control across all units
• Real-time access monitoring with instant alerts
• Integrated CCTV visibility and centralised access logs, all managed from a single interface

At one location, existing hardware was successfully retrofitted, enabling a faster rollout without replacing legacy infrastructure.

Throughout the process, the collaboration between both teams was as important as the technology itself.

“What stands out in particular is the close relationship between the company and the customer. This direct connection allows us to identify needs quickly and solve problems in a very fast and effective way.”

— Marc Astroh, CEO of MyBox

What Running Unmanned Really Looks Like

The impact of Sensorberg’s solution goes beyond operational convenience. For MyBox, it is the competitive advantage. Traditional self-storage operators typically employ 2 to 3 staff members per site, with fixed opening hours and manual access management. MyBox runs all three locations with zero on-site staff, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The cost savings on staffing alone represent a structural advantage that compounds as the business scales.

An Experience Customers Actually Talk About

The proof is in the reviews. MyBox locations hold an average 4.9-star rating across Bochum, Bielefeld and Münster on Google. Customers consistently highlight the app experience, the 24/7 access and the flexibility the platform enables.

“Clean, modern, everything runs via app. Flawlessly implemented.”

That flexibility extends beyond simply opening a door. One customer described how, during an urgent move, they were able to share app-based access directly with their moving company — without any staff involvement or scheduling coordination. This is something no traditionally staffed facility can offer.

“Thanks to the access app, I was able to share my access with my moving company. I had to move out of my apartment on short notice. I would be happy to use them again!”

Security Without Compromise

Operating without staff does not mean operating without oversight. With 100% of units monitored through integrated CCTV and real-time access tracking, MyBox has complete visibility across all sites around the clock. Every access event is logged, alerts are triggered instantly for irregularities such as doors left open, and the system actively reduces external predictability of unit occupancy — lowering the risk of opportunistic break-ins.

MyBox in Numbers

Storage Was Just the Unlock

For Marc Astroh and MyBox, three locations is not the destination. The self-storage industry is at an inflection point, and MyBox is building the infrastructure to take advantage of what comes next.

“I believe we will see many new services develop within self-storage locations, especially for business customers. There are a lot of opportunities, particularly in logistics services for small businesses.”

— Marc Astroh, CEO of MyBox

With a unified digital platform already connecting three sites, MyBox has the foundation to expand into inventory management, last-mile logistics and on-demand business services. In Germany alone, over 3.5 million small businesses could benefit from flexible storage and logistics hubs. The unmanned model that makes MyBox efficient today is exactly the model that makes those services scalable tomorrow.

• Visit MyBox: mybox.eu