We’re 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 our 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 our 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 our booth to see Storable’s 2026 Innovation Plan and will be at the ISS World Expo in April, you can sign up for our Edge or Sitelink sessions here.
Not planning on attending ISS? Reach out to our team anytime to see what is on our roadmap for this year and next.
Lastly, a BIG thank to our co–sponsors for event at Howl at the Moon—StoragePug, swivl, and Divinci. We appreciate everyone who joined us for a much deserved celebration of our amazing industry and look forward to more events in the near future!
