Phoenix-based OpenTech Alliance announced it has exceeded the $38 million dollar mark in rental fees collected by its INSOMNIAC kiosks at its client's self storage facilities across North America, with more than $9 million collected in the first half of 2010.
Self-storage owners have already purchased more than 500 INSOMNIAC kiosks to date. OpenTech reported 427 kiosks were online as of January 1, 2010, and another 41 came online during the period ending June 30, 2010. In the first half of 2010, consumers used INSOMNIAC kiosks to rent 8,778 storage units, make 76,389 payments and purchase 4,652 locks, representing a total of $9,265,998, the company reports.
"INSOMNIAC kiosks can serve as a hedge against increasing expenses in this tough economic climate. The kiosks give self storage owners the ability to reduce their staffing expense without sacrificing customer service," said Robert Chiti, president and CEO of OpenTech Alliance.
For the first half of 2010, 47 percent of move-ins and payments took place outside of office hours, while 53 percent of kiosk usage occurred during regular office hours, demonstrating that kiosks complement on-site managers and showing that customers are comfortable using self-service technology.
Credit cards are the preferred method of payment at the kiosk. However, the use of cash and checks represents 48 percent in total payments made at the kiosk, indicating the need to provide consumers with an on-premises payment system that supports all three forms of payment.
OpenTech Alliance's products and services include seven models of INSOMNIAC Kiosks ranging in price from $4,900 to $18,000; live call center services; and the INSOMNIAC Self Storage Network for online storage reservations.　
