Extra Space Cuts Claims Costs with INSOMNIAC SmartEye
News related to:Extra Space Storage · 2 min read
PHOENIX, AZ, UNITED STATES, October 20, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Extra Space Storage has seen a significant reduction in claims costs and a marked improvement in security following the implementation of INSOMNIAC® SmartEye, a security monitoring service provided by OpenTech Alliance. The company adopted the service in 2019 and has since expanded its use to hundreds of properties.
David Wiehe, Senior Director of Tenant Insurance at Extra Space Storage, emphasized the success of the initiative.
INSOMNIAC® SmartEye combines artificial intelligence with a live Virtual Security Team to identify and address suspicious activities in real-time. Monitoring professionals communicate directly with individuals through facility speakers and can contact local authorities when necessary. According to Wiehe, this proactive approach can limit the extent of losses.
The service has proven particularly effective in preventing small fires and interrupting break-ins before they escalate. Similarly, interrupting a break-in before an intruder reaches additional units can reduce tenant losses and associated claims costs.
The claims savings have been substantial enough for Extra Space to incorporate SmartEye into its security planning for new properties. This proactive approach has also had a positive impact on staff turnover.
Monitoring reports show that most interactions at Extra Space properties are handled through live audio intervention, with relatively few escalating to police dispatch.
Ryan Stewart, Vice President of Sales at OpenTech Alliance, highlighted the value of proactive monitoring.
The INSOMNIAC® SmartEye Results since 2019 have driven the continued expansion of the service.
The service works by integrating with existing CCTV systems, allowing self storage operators to add proactive monitoring to their current security infrastructure.
The company's experience demonstrates how that response can limit the extent of a loss. Wiehe explained. He cited multiple instances in which monitoring teams identified small fires and notified authorities, allowing responders to extinguish them before significant damage occurred. Similarly, interrupting a break-in before an intruder reaches additional units can reduce tenant losses and associated claims costs.
The claims savings were substantial enough for Extra Space to incorporate SmartEye into security planning for properties entering its portfolio. This proactive approach has also had a positive impact on staff turnover.
Monitoring reports also show that most interactions at Extra Space properties are handled through live audio intervention, with relatively few escalating to police dispatch. The service has proven to be a valuable tool in reducing claims costs and enhancing security, making it a key component of Extra Space Storage's ongoing efforts to protect its properties and tenants.