URBIS LAUNCH SIP

SIP – Storage Interactive Platform

By David Blackwell and Linda Sharkey, Directors at Urbis.

The 2019 SSAA Cairns Conference saw the launch of the Self Storage Interactive Platform (SIP). Urbis is developing the database platform in conjunction with the SSAA.

For many years the industry has sought to establish reliable data relating to self storage supply levels and geographic spread of self storage industry throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The SIP project will present the opportunity to establish, and make available to SSAA members, quality data on the size, ownership and geographic location of self storage facilities in major metropolitan areas. Stage One of the project will focus on establishing data for east coast Australia capital cities, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland New Zealand. With continued industry support, this coverage can be expanded to include other capital cities and major regional locations.

Urbis is at an advanced stage of development of the SIP database. The platform will have a high level of functionality, including a map-based, search capability. It will allow data to be sourced as an individual facility detail or identify all facilities in a defined area including the whole of a metropolitan area or sub-region.

DATA DISPLAY AT WHOLE OF AUCKLAND LEVEL

Urbis has completed data collection for Brisbane and Auckland and is now moving to other capital cities to collate and verify inputs. To ensure data integrity, Urbis has undertaken verification and cross-checked data from a range of sources, including: l Owners, operators and facility builders; l Existing Urbis records; l Data supplied by the SSAA; l Public records including council development consents and other approvals; and l Recent on-site inspections are undertaken by Urbis.

The platform will also contain data associated with proposed facilities where that information is public.

It is intended that the database be a dynamic platform with updates and additional data to be added as it becomes available. The platform will have a “Meet the Team” page allowing owners to provide additional factual data. However, it is intended that the platform be strictly limited to objective information. It is not intended as a promotional platform.

SIP will form the cornerstone for higher levels of analysis. With demographic detail overlay, it will be possible to examine supply level on several bases, including supply per capita, supply by household and housing type and supply by average household income. This can be done on a whole of city basis or by defined localities. Overall Urbis and the SSAA see this tool as an essential part of cementing the status of self storage as a separate and mature investment asset class. This has benefits for all members.

Urbis is in the final stage of platform development and welcomes input or suggestions from industry participants. This may be done by contacting David Blackwell (dblackwell@urbis.com.au) or Linda Sharkey (lsharkey@urbis.com.au) with your suggestions or comment. The project plan provided for completion of stage one date collation and establishment of an operational platform by the end of December 2019. l