SSA Spring show recap: cautious optimism, AI buzz, and tech-savvy operators. * Alexander Harris * March 25, 2026 * Blog Storedge is back from the 2026 Self-Storage Association Spring Conference and Tradeshow in San Antonio with fresh industry insights and plenty of optimism for the future of its industry. The conversations were focused and productive. Operators delved into the nitty gritty of running their businesses efficiently and sharing their strategies for dealing with shifting market conditions. Here's its top 3 takeaways from the expo floor: Cautious optimism is back. Outlook on demand is improving. Most operators feel more positive than in recent years, even though performance is still below pandemic highs. There is a mix of optimism and uncertainty, but the mindset has shifted toward growth and improving operations rather than reacting to the market. Attracting new tenants remains a major concern for owners and operators, and many are using effective tools like Agent Assist and Digital Marketing Services to generate steady lead flow. AI is the buzz, but BI drives action. AI was the most talked-about topic, and most operators seem to be in the early stages of figuring out how to use it to enhance their business. Interest is high and practical applications are slowly starting to come to life. There was also a lot of interest in Business Intelligence. Operators want clearer visibility into their performance and more confidence in decisions like pricing, unit mix, and marketing. While AI is still developing, BI tools to visualize and surface trends from data are here now and shaping the way managers run their day-to-day operations. Storable CEO Chuck Gordon moderated a panel with self-storage operators titled "Smarter Operations from the Inside Out" and examined these topics in detail. A poll of the audience made one very important point clear - operators see investing in tech and automation systems as their biggest opportunity right now. Operators are more tech-savvy than ever. Operators are more comfortable with technology than they have ever been. Many are actively tracking website performance, marketing channels, and lead data, and are familiar with tools like analytics platforms and tag management. This increased sophistication is raising expectations and producing better outcomes. Operators are no longer satisfied with basic reporting. They want tools that connect data across systems, deliver clear insights, and help them act quickly and confidently. Final thoughts. The industry is moving toward more data-driven decision-making, but many operators are still working to keep pace with the volume of new tools and the speed of change. There is a sense of overwhelm, not from lack of interest, but from the sheer number of systems, features, and expectations now in play. While they are inundated with new technologies, operators are proving to be fast learners. As they adopt and begin to understand these tools, they are becoming more confident and more effective in how they run their businesses. The learning curve is real, but so is the progress. If you missed stopping by its booth to see Storable's 2026 Innovation Plan and will be at the ISS World Expo in April, you can sign up for its Edge or Sitelink sessions here. Not planning on attending ISS? Reach out to its team anytime to see what is on its roadmap for this year and next. Lastly, a BIG thank to its co-sponsors for event at Howl at the Moon - StoragePug, swivl, and Divinci. Storedge appreciate everyone who joined Storedge for a much deserved celebration of its amazing industry and look forward to more events in the near future!

Storable has announced a platform refresh and new AI capabilities coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Sitelink, the self-storage industry's most widely deployed facility management system. The updates include a refreshed design and expanded browser-based functionality for Sitelink, alongside AI-powered features for its Edge platform. The Edge platform's Ask Your Data feature allows operators to query facility data using plain-language questions, providing instant insights on revenue, occupancy and tenant behaviour without navigating complex dashboards. Storable plans to release additional features throughout 2026, including expanded business intelligence reporting, industry benchmarking, collections automation and voice AI for customer calls. The company will showcase these innovations at the SSA Spring Conference in San Antonio and ISS World Expo in Las Vegas. Storable serves over 33,000 self-storage facilities.

Storable, a technology provider for the self-storage industry, has launched Auto-Protect Max, an automated tenant insurance enrollment system designed to increase coverage rates from the industry average of 20-40% to 70-85%. The solution addresses a significant gap, as many tenants mistakenly assume their homeowner's or renter's insurance covers stored belongings. Auto-Protect Max integrates directly with Storable's property management software, automating enrollment and verification whilst providing dedicated support from onboarding through claims. The system requires minimal operational effort from facility staff. The solution is now available to customers using Storable Edge Sitelink and Storable Easy platforms. Storable serves over 33,000 self-storage facilities, providing integrated technology solutions including management software, customer relationship management tools and insurance products.