RFID technology is used across a wide variety of industries for tracking livestock, inventory, and more. You’re probably fairly familiar with the idea of scanning a little keychain fob to access a door or with the tracking tags on certain items in stores. Those are RFID tags!
Let’s take a look at how RFID technology can benefit a self storage facility and its tenants.
RFID stands for Radio-Frequency Identification.
Now you know what RFID means, but what does it do? How does it work? The technology might go over some of our heads a little bit, but the application is exceptionally simple and can come in handy for things like self storage access control!
What is RFID technology?
RFID tags use radio frequencies to communicate with items and people. These frequencies can be used to locate and track items or people tagged by an RFID chip. They can also be used to identify whatever they are tagging through data stored on the tag.
How does RFID technology work?
Basically, these tags are simple computerized labels that can store information and be read by RFID readers. Depending on the intended use, RFID tags can store anything from short serial numbers to entire documents including many pages.
RFID tags can also be designed to include a high level of verification and authentication. They can be made secure enough that they are not easily copied.
There are also different types of RFID tags.
That’s right, not every RFID chip is built the same! In fact, there are three main types you should be aware of if you’re going to get into using them at your self storage facility:
The ranges the RFID tag can be read at change what applications they are best suited for, with basic access control systems—such as where you tap a card with an RFID tag to open a door—typically using LF systems.
LF systems are also some of the more expensive RFID systems in general, while UHF are the most inexpensive.
The primary way that RFID can be used in the self storage industry is for access control.
More advanced forms of access control are becoming increasingly common in the self storage industry. While there are still storage facilities using padlocks, many have upgraded to other forms of access control at both their gates and storage units.
Common types of access control currently include traditional lock and key, keypad entry, and—you may have guessed it—RFID access!
RFID access at self storage facilities enables many of the same convenience and security benefits as access via a mobile app, and it does it without your customers needing to take any extra steps and without leaning on them to be at all technologically savvy.
If you have an RFID-based access control system that integrates with your self storage software, your facility has truly leveled up compared to traditional locks or keypads when it comes to security and convenience.
So, what actually are the advantages of using RFID for your access control? Should you use it above other options, and is it worth upgrading?
Whether or not you should swap your access control to RFID is truly a matter of what most benefits your self storage facility and its tenants. It’s entirely possible for a traditional lock and key or keypad system to best fit your needs, so don’t ever make a change unless you know how it will benefit you and weigh those benefits against the costs!
Here’s a look at some of the benefits of RFID access so that you can make a more informed choice about your access control systems:
RFID access is convenient. In fact, it may come in as the first or second most convenient form of self storage access control, depending on your average tenant.
Mobile app access can arguably be more convenient as it does not require keeping track of an RFID tag, and access can be shared more easily. However, not everyone wants to download another app. Some people may not even be able to download the app or know how to. In these scenarios, RFID pushes ahead of mobile access.
Allowing your tenants to access your gate or even their storage unit simply by placing an RFID tag near a reader is much more convenient than forcing them to remember gate codes or keep track of keys!
Do you run a boat and RV storage facility? Or does your self storage facility include vehicle storage?
If so, imagine having to climb out of your RV to unlock a gate with a key or to punch in a gate code. At least with a keypad, you can try to construct an arm that brings it closer to the average vehicle’s window, but not all vehicles will be the same size. Even just RVs alone have a high variance in height.
RFID gate access can help when it comes to vehicle storage access.
With the right choice of RFID system, you can have a reader that scans the vehicle for the RFID tag and opens the gate if it is present. This means the driver never needs to worry about exiting their vehicle to open the gate!
Just remember the types of RFID systems and their read ranges (mentioned earlier in this post) when you are making these choices.
Before we get into security, it’s important to note that you should probably consult access control and security experts if your top priority is how different access control systems compare in the realm of security.
With that said, there are some obvious points to cover.
RFID systems don’t use traditional locks. The fact is that nearly all physical locks are vulnerable to being picked or broken open. One benefit of an RFID system (and even mobile access control) is that would-be intruders can’t typically access the mechanisms that restrict access.
It’s possible that specific RFID systems can be broken into, but the technology and know-how is much less common and is more likely to deter run-of-the-mill criminals.
As a bonus, RFID tags can be designed in such a way that they are unable to be copied. Compare this to traditional keys (which can be copied, even with just a photograph) and gate codes (which can be cracked or accidentally shared).
At some point, you’re going to need to overlock a storage unit or revoke access to the entire facility.
This is hardest with traditional locks, where you need to physically add another lock and—should the unit eventually go to auction—potentially cut the original lock. This is often true even if you use keypad access at your gates, as such facilities tend to use traditional locks at the unit level.
With computerized access control systems, revoking access becomes virtually effortless.
The moment you need to revoke access, you can do so through your access control software (or your self storage software if your access control integrates with it). If you use RFID access at your units, as well, you can easily revoke access without even stepping foot onto the property or bothering with another lock!
There’s no simple answer to the question of whether you should change to RFID access control at your self storage facility.
Ultimately, the right access control is the system that works for you, your tenants, your budget, and other needs at your facility. Don’t make a change just because it seems state-of-the-art or has many benefits on paper.
Always weigh the benefits and downsides against what actually matters at your facility!
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