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 June News
In This Issue
Tough Financial Year
IT Lessons From Brisbane Floods
Web Sites - Investment Or Expense?
Spotlight On: Corporate Control Centre
Top 5 Myths About Web Based Software
A Tough Financial Year - Comment
Times are tough
Even the Piggy Bank is not what it used to be!
Self Storage is Changing
  
It's fair to say that the last financial year has not been a one of growth in our industry.
  
The effects of the GFC linger on and business confidence is not high. After nearly 25 years in the business this has been one of the worst years I have seen.
  
Out of the gloom, there are some highlights.
  
Some groups and sites have seen the opportunity to review their businesses and make significant changes. Many have reduced costs and some have slashed staff all in effort to retain profitability.
  
Changes that needed to be made. Self Storage sites now have to compete for ever dwindling dollars out in retail land. Add the fact that residential building is at an all time low and its evident that without a real change to thinking on operations, some sites will go backwards - and some are.
  
On the other hand, recognition of a fundamental change in the way customers find and book Self Storage spaces is really apparent. Customers are impatient and demand choice, combined with a no BS method to Move In.
  
Take the plunge and review how you operate. Do you give your customers the best chance to do business? Can you be easily found? Especially on the Internet?
  
Our newsletter this month is packed with information on how new technology is helping those that recognize that change is upon them.  
  
Many of our customers are doing better now than this time last year. They have leveraged technology to work for them, made the tough calls and updated their systems.
  
Don't wait for things to get better, adapt now to the new way customers deal with you. There is business out there - and some it can be yours, you just have to capture it!
  
Regards -  Dallas Dogger 
Recent IT Lessons Learned From The Brisbane Floods
How The Sydney Morning Herald Saw our Floods
How The Sydney Morning Herald Saw The Flood
"We Wont Flood Again"

 

"We won't flood again" was what we heard in the first week of January this year. Wivenhoe Dam had been built in response to the devastating Brisbane floods in 1974. It cant happen again....

It was raining and it wasn't stopping.  

 

We were hearing reports of cars and people being washed away in Toowoomba -  Australia's largest inland city. Toowoomba is on the Great Diving Range. Can't be happening....

 

At that stage on the 12th of January Brisbane CBD had flooded.  The CBD had evacuated. Brisbane was a ghost town. Water flooded into high rise buildings and basements, electricals and more were flooded out.We thought we would be OK here in Strathpine.  

 

The North Pine Dam a few km from our office was about to open the spillway to relieve the chance of it overflowing. We were told to leave.  The fuel station over the road was already under water.

 

Read the Full Story Here

 

Web Sites - Investment Or Expense?
 Yellow Pages - Dead Media! 

 

Many see advertising as an expense, a drain on the profit and loss statement. Many even advertise in certain media because their competitors do.

 

Some still advertise in Dead Media (DM) like Yellow Pages.

 

One customer told me recently they had spent 20K on Yellow Page Advertising and to this date had received 1 call!

 

It's dead.

 

Times have changed. The old days of 60-100 calls a month for Self Storage are gone and gone forever. When we launched Capital Self Storage's new web site a few months back the time it took for the first automated move in was less than 1 hour from the posting of the new web site.

 

 Read More Here

Spotlight On:  Corporate Control Centre

CCCPowerful Group

User Tool

  
If you have
more than one Self Storage Site, you will know how hard it is to manage all the information across all sites.
  
Fortunately, as part of the Suite of products that are bundled with the SiteLink Web Edition is the Corporate Control Centre. (CCC)
  
This program used by top Operators to make global changes to each SiteLink site. Unit rates, prices for merchandise, global passwords, Marketing information and much more can all be accessed, reviewed and changed in the CCC.
  
Moreover, Tenant information can be viewed, Reservations made and Sales inquiries added.
  
Group wide promotions can be set, Tenant rate management and rent increases are accessed and adjusted and reporting and consolidated reporting are all in the CCC.
  
SiteLink's powerful Web template is configured in the CCC and global SiteLink settings that effect discounts and notices as well.
  
Staff can have restricted access and you can create your own custom level of access for staff.
  
The CCC is the most powerful Corporate tool on the market today. To find out more, Click Here  
 The Top 5 Myths About Web Based Software
 Myth Surrounds Most Fears About Web Software 
  
Self Storage Software has largely moved on from the old days of installing programs with data all on one PC.
  
With the Web now a mature method of communicating world wide, innovation with web based software was always going to happen in Self storage. It has in every other industry. See Apples Announcement
  
What the difference between Web Based and Web Enabled software?
  
Web enabled software usually has data stored on remote servers in a secure location - a copy of the data resides locally on the PC as well. this means that if the Internet is not available then access to data is made in "Offline mode."
  
Access to Data is always available.
  
Web based software is entirely "Cloud" based and relies on the Internet for access. Programs like Centershift, Salesforce and more are these types of programs.
  
Self Storage vendors will of course find a way to make sure their package is the "only" one to use but lets address some myths about Web Software overall.
  
1. Web Software is slow.  Software is often controlled by web speed and good web software for Self Storage is no slower than traditional software. With faster Internet speeds, Web software is getting faster and faster and in many cases outperforms client/Server software, especially when it comes to big number crunching.  
  
2. " I have to pay a subscription every month - They cost more"
  
Web based packages are generally sold on a subscription basis. Computer technology and Internet technology is changing rapidly and subscription model allows developers to deliver fast changes to all users. Users want more features every year and customers expect software to be up to date.
  
Subscription software ensures the latest technology is available. Users expect help and this model ensures help is available. The fact that everyone contributes lowers the overall costs for all users.  
  
3. "My data is out in the cloud"

 

Yes it is and its backed up professionally. Web enabled software (like SiteLink Web Edition) is also cached locally as well. Data is on your PC and on servers backed up constantly. In the event of a disaster you will remember this myth...
  
4. "I have to accept the latest version"

 

Invariably the latest version is the best version. Supporting hundreds of users on many versions is costly and drives up the cost of tractional software. Moreover, you will have access to more features and better usability faster.
  
Web Vendors live and die on updates. They have to earn your business every month.  
  
5. "This will cost me a lot in Internet Charges"

 

Web software uses very small packets of data to update on the web and no impact should be expected on the cost of any modern day Internet plan.
  
Conclusion 
  
Web enabled and web based Self Storage software is growing fast. Vendors of these packages have access to the latest tools and are funded to deliver better and better packages. These packages can integrate to web sites far easier and for less cost than traditional desktop software. You save on costly hardware as well. These packages can deliver online training and keep your staff up to date.
  
Users want to be able to use their software on phones, Ipads and other mobile devices. Web based software delivers clear leadership in the mobile space.   
  
The writing is on the wall for old desktop software. Good web based software companies are growing at over 50% per year. It's already here: Just ask Apple...        
About US
 

CFIT 

Centreforce Technology staff pioneered Self Storage Security and Self Storage Management Software business in Australia and New Zealand & have developed leading edge solutions for Self Storage owners for many years. 

 

If you're in the Self Storage business, you will need Self Storage Management Software, Web site integration and design, specialist Self Storage Access Controls and Self Storage designed CCTV equipment.

 

We sell and Support:

  • SiteLink Web Edition - The world's most popular Self Storage Software
  • AccessEzy - Digital Access Control and door Alarm systems - Distributors
  • PTI - Sales and authorized Installers
  • Full range of PC's printers and peripherals
  • CCTV - BOSCH -  Our speciality
  • Large screen displays for CCTV and Internet

We are Licenced Security Advisers and Installers QLD 3243230

We are members of ASIAL -The peak industry body for Security

We are members of SMBit IT Professionals

We are Microsoft Research Panel Members and Registered Members

 

Office: 28/27 South Pine Rd Strathpine 4500, Queensland

PH: 07 3889 9822 FAX: 07 3889 9870

EMAIL: Contact US 

 

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www.centreforceit.com.au www.accessezy.biz 

  

 

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