Rethinking Self-Storage Through Smart Access
From Vision to Reality
When Finn-Kristof Kausch founded Space4You, he already had a clear vision: if self-storage was going to succeed in the future, it needed to be built around digital infrastructure from the very beginning.
For Finn, digitalisation was never meant to be an add-on or a later upgrade. Instead, it had to form the structural foundation of the entire operating model.
Before entering the self-storage industry, Finn worked in hospitality, where digital customer experiences had already become standard. Guests could book their stay online, check in without staff interaction and unlock their hotel room doors via their smartphone.
This level of convenience shaped his expectations of what modern service should look like.
When he began exploring the self-storage market, he noticed a clear contrast. Many facilities still relied on manual processes, physical keys and office-hour-dependent customer interactions.
Finn believed self-storage customers deserved the same level of flexibility and independence as hotel guests.
“For us, having fully digital access was basically non-negotiable. It’s the foundation of a scalable and customer-friendly operation.”
From the beginning, Space4You was therefore designed as a technology-driven self-storage operator, where automation and digital access would enable growth without increasing operational complexity.
The Turning Point: Moving Away from Key Management
Like many traditional self-storage operators, early operations still involved elements of physical access management. Locks had to be installed and maintained, units had to be secured manually, and access had to be coordinated through staff.
As the customer base grew, it became increasingly clear how much operational friction this model created.
Managing keys, locks and manual processes required time and resources that could otherwise be spent improving the customer experience.
“Previously, every manual process and every piece of key management took a lot of time. Today everything runs automatically and our team can focus on real customer service.”
These operational limitations became especially visible through bookings outside normal office hours. Customers often think about getting more space on the weekend, and many want to move in immediately but have to wait until staff were available.
For a company with ambitions to expand beyond a single location, this approach was simply not scalable.
The Solution: Digital Operations with Stora and Sensorberg
To enable a fully automated self-storage experience, Space4You implemented a combination of Stora as the management platform and Sensorberg as the smart access infrastructure.
Stora connects the entire customer journey — from enquiry and booking to contracts, payments and account management — within one digital workflow. Customers can browse available units, complete their booking online and sign their contracts without requiring manual intervention from staff.
Sensorberg provides the access control technology that enables Space4You’s fully digital self-storage business model.
Through the integration between Stora and Sensorberg, the operational process becomes fully automated. As soon as a booking is completed in Stora, the customer automatically receives their access credentials via the Sensorberg One Access App. Access permissions are created instantly and updated automatically if a contract changes or ends.
This integration enables a completely seamless move-in process:
- Customers book their storage unit online
- The contract and payment are processed digitally
- Access rights are automatically generated
- Customers can enter the facility immediately via the app
No manual setup, key handover or staff involvement is required.
This automation significantly reduces operational overhead while delivering a frictionless experience for customers.
Smart Access: Eliminating Key Management
One of the biggest operational improvements was the removal of physical key handling.
With Sensorberg, Space4You replaced traditional locks and keys with smartphone-based access control.
Customers unlock facility doors directly via the One Access App, while operators manage permissions centrally and in real time.
“The best thing about Sensorberg is that everything is automated. Key management is simply a thing of the past.”
Since implementing digital access, Space4You has reduced administrative workload per move-in by around 80 %, allowing the team to handle significantly more customers without increasing headcount.
Instant Access for Customers
Sensorberg One Access does not only simplify internal operations but also fundamentally improves the customer experience.
Customers can book their storage unit online at any time and receive instant access via the app. There is no need to wait for a staff member, collect a key or schedule an appointment.
If someone decides they need storage on a Sunday evening, they can complete the booking and move in immediately.
“Customers are sitting on the sofa and thinking about having more space — we’re getting a lot of bookings during the weekends and Sunday evenings”
This flexibility reflects modern customer behaviour. In fact, a significant portion of bookings happens outside traditional office hours.
Digital access therefore enables Space4You to operate a true 24/7 self-service storage model.
Greater Efficiency With the Same Team
One of the most significant advantages of smart access control lies in its scalability.
Because access permissions are managed digitally, operational processes become significantly more streamlined. Staff no longer need to manage keys, change locks or manually coordinate facility entry.
As a result, Space4You has been able to grow its customer base without expanding its operational team at the same rate.
“We can handle more customers with the same team size.”
The combination of digital booking workflows and smart access infrastructure allows facilities to operate with minimal on-site staff presence while maintaining full control and security.
Technology as a Growth Enabler
Today, Space4You operates multiple modern self-storage facilities across Germany and Switzerland, all built around a fully digital customer journey.
Looking ahead, the company plans to expand further by offering third-party management services for property owners who want to enter the self-storage market. Under this model, Space4You helps partners transform underutilised buildings into fully operational storage facilities and manages the entire operation on their behalf.
For property owners, this offers a way to enter the growing self-storage market without needing industry expertise or operational resources. Space4You provides the full operational framework — from planning and facility setup to digital infrastructure, customer onboarding and day-to-day management.
Because the operating model is built on digital workflows and smart access infrastructure, new locations can be integrated into the system quickly while maintaining consistent operational standards.
Delivering this at scale requires consistent processes and reliable technology infrastructure.
“Technology is the key enabler to deliver that at scale with consistent quality.”
Smart access and digital management therefore serve as the operational backbone that allows Space4You to manage multiple locations efficiently while ensuring the same seamless experience for customers across every site.
Conclusion
The introduction of digital access control has fundamentally reshaped Space4You’s operations.
By replacing physical keys with a smartphone-based access system and integrating it directly with the Stora management platform, the company has built a fully automated customer journey.
Together, the two systems enable a seamless workflow: customers can book their unit online through Stora and receive immediate access through Sensorberg — without waiting for staff or visiting an office.
This approach has allowed Space4You to:
- Eliminate complex key management
- Reduce administrative effort by around 80 % per move-in
- Enable instant access and 24/7 move-ins
- Increase operational efficiency without expanding staff
- Build a scalable foundation for multi-site growth
What began as a single small facility in Bremerhaven has evolved into a growing, digitally driven self-storage operation.
For Space4You, the combination of digital management through Stora and smart access through Sensorberg proves that operational efficiency and customer experience are not competing priorities — but two parts of the same modern self-storage strategy.
