Boxbee Pivots, Unveils Holistic Software for Storage Entrepreneurs
May 16, 2016
Recognizing an opportunity to shake up the self-storage market, Boxbee today unveiled a proprietary software platform empowering entrepreneurs to create and manage their own storage service with on-demand pickup and delivery. The platform boasts an intuitive design allowing users to create a storage service in a matter of minutes with just a few clicks. The launch marks Boxbee’s pivot from operating an on-demand consumer storage service to a logistics software platform that will unleash entrepreneurship and innovation into the $27 billion dollar self-storage industry.
Led by supply chain and logistics innovator Kristoph Matthews, Boxbee pioneered the on-demand storage space in 2012. Matthews sold the legacy on-demand storage business to Iron Mountain (IRM) earlier this year to focus on creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to provide storage services with on-demand pickup and delivery to their community, but lack the capital or know-how to build software to manage the business as it scales.
"Just as customers have come to expect ‘on-demand’ levels of service in all areas of their lives, the self-storage industry too is rapidly evolving with on-demand pickups and deliveries," said Kristoph Matthews, Founder and CEO of Boxbee. "For most storage entrepreneurs, managing on-demand pickups and deliveries requires expensive and complicated software. We make that part easy and affordable."
Matthews has since brought in a new team of software engineers, product managers and sales staff as well as new leadership including former Etsy executive Dev Tandon as COO. Prior to joining Boxbee, Tandon led the development of Etsy Wholesale, Etsy’s B2B marketplace that connects Etsy sellers who can wholesale with small boutiques and large retailers such as Nordstrom, Whole Foods and West Elm.
"I build tools that help entrepreneurs compete with the big guys in established industries and that’s exactly what we’re doing at Boxbee. Anyone who wants to be their own boss but doesn’t want to be an Uber driver or own a fast-food franchise now has another choice," said Tandon. "Now, all you need is some space, some wheels and Boxbee to get into the storage business and offer customers in your community a robust storage service with on-demand pickup and delivery."
Key platform features include:
- Easy, free setup of a storage service in just a few minutes on boxbee.com.
- An sleek, branded website for customers to sign up, make pickup and delivery appointments, view their stored items and manage their accounts and billing.
- An admin website to easily manage customer service, billing and every aspect of ground operations for warehouse staff and drivers.
- The ability to set driver routes based on appointments and manage stored inventory in a safe, secure way.
- A mobile app for drivers to see their routes, appointments and customer information while en route.
- A mobile app for warehouse staff to barcode, track and securely manage customers’ items within the warehouse.
Go to www.boxbee.com to learn more.