The companies’ long-term plan is to convert RentPlus users to Centershift software and retire RentPlus. For now, Hi-Tech will continue to provide support for RentPlus customers. Hi-Tech and Centershift have created a comprehensive migration process that includes the overnight conversion of data, financial incentives, and learning resources such as employee training, special documentation and informational webinars. Hi-Tech is preparing details regarding the migration for its customers and will soon send a letter outlining the process.
Regarding reasons for the sale, Hi-Tech President Michael Richards said it mostly has to do with ensuring his customers have a software system that will best meet the needs and demands of 21st-century self-storage operators. “I believe that only a centralized data model is viable in the long run, mostly because you now need to access that data from a variety of locations and devices, not just the PC sitting in the office,” Richards wrote in an e-mail announcement.
“With centralized data, a ‘software’ company is no longer just that. We have to also become an information technology company in order to provide the security, reliability and redundancy that hosting customer data requires. Further, as a centralized system grows, the volume of transactions quickly escalates into the millions, further increasing the demands and responsibilities of the hosting company. This is a great challenge for small software companies, as we generally do not have the resources or capital to invest in the hardware, software and personnel to adequately meet those responsibilities,” Richards said.
Based
in Salt Lake City, Centershift provides Internet-based management
software to the self-storage industry. The company provides management
software to two self-storage real estate investment trusts as well as
many large ownership and management companies. The centralized database
model of the Centershift STORE applications was designed specifically
for seamless integration with call centers, websites, corporate offices
and other business systems.
August
27, 2010 Letter To Customers
from Michael Richards, President, Hi-Tech Smart Systems, Inc.
August 27, 2010
To Our Valued Customers and Friends:
It is with great pleasure that I am able to announce to you today that RentPlus, Hi-Tech’s self storage management software product, has been acquired by Centershift, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Why sell?
There
are a number of reasons, but mostly it has to do with trying to ensure
that our customers have a software system that will best meet the needs
and demands of 21st century storage facility operators.
I believe that only a centralized data model is viable in the long run,
mostly because you now need to access that data from a variety of
locations and devices, not just the PC sitting in the office. Today
customers want to make payments, reservations and rentals or view their
account on your website. Kiosks, smart phone applications and call
centers are also in demand and are just the tip of the iceberg when it
comes to the technology devices we will be seeing in the near future.
With centralized data, a ‘software’ company is no longer just that. We
have to also become an information technology company in order to
provide the security, reliability and redundancy that hosting customer
data requires. Further, as a centralized system grows, the volume of
transactions quickly escalates into the millions, further increasing
the demands and responsibilities of the hosting company.
This is a great challenge for small software companies, as we generally
do not have the resources or capital to invest in the hardware,
software and personnel to adequately meet those responsibilities.
Why
Centershift?
In our industry, Centershift clearly stands out as
the technology leader. From its inception, Centershift has demonstrated
a commitment to a centralized data model, and their willingness and
ability to invest millions in the hardware, software and people that
are needed to create a great software package is unmatched. With the
infrastructure to support their goals and the financial acumen to
ensure long term viability and growth, I am confident Centershift will
continue to lead the industry.
What
happens now?
In general terms, the long term plan is to migrate customers from
RentPlus to Centershift and eventually retire RentPlus. For now,
Hi-Tech will continue to provide support for RentPlus.
Hi-Tech and Centershift have worked together to create a very
comprehensive migration process that includes seamless, overnight
conversion of the data, training, special documentation, informational
webinars and financial incentives.
We are preparing the details of these programs for each type of
RentPlus customer (V2.0 on-line, V20, and V1.8 desktop, etc.) and will
be sending a follow-up letter that outlines the details of the
migration process for you and your facilities. Once you have that, we
encourage you to attend one of the informational webinars to get
started (details will be in the follow-up letter).
Visit
us at the SSA Trade Show in Las Vegas September 1-2
Centershift has dedicated a section of their booth
to Hi-Tech for the next SSA trade show, and I will be there to answer
any questions you may have and to introduce you to Centershift’s
executive team. This will also be a great opportunity for you to see a
demo of Centershift’s software and learn more about it.
Change is never easy, and we know that changing software is not
something anybody ever really wants to do. That said, we are very
excited about this acquisition and believe it to be a great opportunity
for your organization to leverage the latest technology and make your
business more successful than ever.
Finally, on behalf of all of us at Hi-Tech Smart Systems Inc., please
allow me to thank you for your business and support over these many
years. The best experiences for me have been the opportunities to meet
and get to know so many smart and interesting people from all over the
world.
Sincerely,
Michael Richards
President
Hi-Tech Smart Systems, Inc.
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