Automation Allows for Flexible, Scalable Storage Solutions

Q: What sets Spakio apart from other players in the market, and how do you ensure that you maintain a competitive edge? 

A: Spakio was founded in 2021 as a digital alternative to traditional self-storage. Instead of requiring customers to adapt to a fixed storage space and manage their inventory on their own, we handle the entire process. We pick up their items, create a digital inventory with photos and precise measurements, store them securely, and return them whenever needed. This model eliminates the need for customers to travel to a storage facility, making the experience seamless and hassle-free.

Our competitive edge lies in three key differentiators. The first is cost savings as customers only pay for the space they actually use, reducing costs by 30%-50% compared to traditional storage solutions. The second is flexibility as monthly fees are adjusted based on the volume stored, so clients are not locked into fixed storage contracts. The third is convenience as our fully digital inventory management system allows customers to oversee their stored items remotely, while our logistics service ensures they never have to physically visit a storage facility.

Q: How has Spakio evolved to keep up with clients' needs?

A: We initially designed Spakio for individual customers, but we soon realized that businesses also had similar needs. Companies started reaching out, looking for a more adaptable and cost-effective storage solution. Many of them required storage spaces ranging from 50m2 to 1,000m2, an underserved segment that struggles to find flexible, well-equipped spaces in industrial parks or with traditional logistics providers.

Unlike traditional 3PL providers, which often require standardized inventory and fixed pallet sizes, we offer a more adaptable model. Businesses can store items of any size and type, from furniture and documents to stock, without the constraints of rigid logistics systems. This ability to tailor our service to each client’s specific needs has allowed us to scale rapidly and establish a strong market presence. Our success comes from prioritizing real customer needs and developing solutions that do not just fit the industry standard but actually solve existing gaps in the market.

Q: How does Spakio’s digital inventory system work and how does it enhance the customer experience compared to traditional storage methods? 

A: Our digital inventory system is a key differentiator and a driving force behind our scalability. Unlike traditional storage methods that rely on emails and spreadsheets, we provide a fully digitized solution that enhances efficiency and transparency. Customers can manage their entire storage process online, from scheduling pickups to tracking items in real time. Internally, our system records each item’s measurements, descriptions, and photos, ensuring precise tracking. Every movement — from pickup to warehouse placement — is logged, allowing customers to see exactly where their items are stored. Through our platform, they can view their inventory, track historical movements, and request deliveries with just a few clicks.

This level of automation eliminates the inefficiencies of traditional storage providers, making inventory management seamless and significantly more user-friendly.

Q: What measures do you take to guarantee that your clients’ belongings are safe? 

A: We ensure the safety of our clients’ belongings through multiple layers of security. All our storage spaces are high-security industrial warehouses equipped with 24/7 surveillance and controlled access. This provides a much higher level of protection compared to traditional self-storage, where customers are responsible for securing their own units. In addition, we offer insurance for all stored items, which many storage providers do not include. This saves customers from having to arrange for their own separate insurance, giving them added peace of mind.

We also take extra precautions in handling stored items. Our storage system includes specialized racks tailored to different types of goods, from household items to industrial pallets. Furthermore, our detailed digital inventory process records each item with images and descriptions, documenting its condition upon arrival. This ensures full transparency, allowing customers to verify that their belongings are stored safely and will be returned in the same condition.

Q: How do you balance cost-effectiveness with excellent security and services? 

A: We balance cost-effectiveness with high-quality service by leveraging efficiencies gained from our B2C model and applying them to B2B operations. Starting with a B2C approach allowed us to develop a highly flexible system capable of handling a wide variety of items with different sizes, shapes, and requirements. This adaptability has proven to be a strong advantage when working with B2B clients, which have more standardized processes. By excelling in managing complexity, we achieve even greater efficiencies when dealing with structured, large-scale inventories.

Our pricing model also plays a crucial role. Traditional self-storage facilities are located in high-cost commercial areas and rent space by square meters. In contrast, we operate in industrial zones with lower rental costs, using high-ceiling warehouses that maximize vertical space. We rent by square meters but charge customers based on cubic meters, significantly reducing their costs while maintaining strong margins. Our flexible model caters to businesses of all sizes, including SMEs, which are often overlooked by large logistics providers due to their lower storage volumes. Spakio is filling the gap in the storage market, offering scalable and cost-efficient solutions that benefit both small and large enterprises.

Q: Which areas within Mexico City and its metropolitan area have seen the highest demand for Spakio’s storage services? 

A: We have strategically focused on Mexico City because its market is large enough to sustain our growth for several years. While many startups rush to expand into new cities or countries after raising capital, we prioritized refining our model and capturing a significant share of the highly fragmented storage market in the capital.

Industrial space scarcity is a key factor driving demand, as only 1.5% of warehouse capacity is available. However, many storage providers underutilize their facilities due to a lack of sophistication or technology. While there are over 1,400 storage companies in Mexico, a significant percentage operates below full capacity.

Spakio leverages technology to optimize this unused space. Instead of solely expanding by acquiring new warehouses, we also integrate existing storage providers into our platform, helping them maximize occupancy and efficiency. This dual approach, which leverages our strategic location selection and utilization of idle capacity, allows us to scale effectively while meeting market demand.

Q: Between individual customers and companies, which group tends to require more of Spakio’s services? 

A: Our revenue is evenly split between B2B and B2C, but we anticipate B2B will grow between 70% and 80% this year and continue expanding. While B2B represents the future, maintaining both segments strengthens our model. B2C has helped us develop a flexible, efficient service that benefits businesses, while B2B’s structure enhances our overall platform. This synergy allows us to provide added value to both markets without abandoning individual customers.

Q: Among the various industries that Spakio serves, which one typically requires the most storage space and services? 

A: Initially, our main clients were individuals who needed to store their belongings. We later serve businesses with similar needs, especially during the pandemic when many downsized or closed offices. Our biggest clients now are importers and commercial businesses that need end-to-end solutions to receive containers and manage inventory, storage, and distribution. Foreign companies entering the Mexican market are also leveraging Spakio to manage their inventory remotely. Nearshoring has further accelerated demand, creating a significant opportunity for us.

Q: How is Spakio leveraging nearshoring and changing supply chain dynamics to grow?

A: To capitalize on nearshoring, we first identified our ideal customer profile (ICP): importers and commercial businesses. We then analyzed where they operate and what services they seek. Our strategy includes forming alliances with fintech startups that provide freight financing, helping us connect with importers in need of storage solutions. We also collaborate with customs brokers and logistics providers handling cargo from ports.

We also established a presence on real estate platforms where businesses typically search for warehouses. This positions Spakio as a flexible alternative to owning or leasing traditional storage spaces.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges Spakio has faced in Mexico? How have you overcome these challenges? 

A: Spakio has faced significant challenges, particularly when scaling operations. The most prominent challenge has been the shift in venture capital investment. In 2021, there was a surge in funding, but investment has become scarcer and more focused on profitability alongside growth. This shift has made capital access more difficult and forced startups, including Spakio, to prioritize both growth and profitability. As a result, Spakio has focused on technology development and operational efficiency to support scalability, while striving to achieve profitability within the next couple of years.

Another challenge comes from the traditional nature of the logistics and storage industries. Despite the large number of players in Mexico, many are not highly sophisticated or tech-driven. Spakio leverages technology to disrupt this sector by streamlining operations, offering better services, and increasing scalability. Spakio’s founders, while experienced in logistics and inventory management, are not deeply entrenched in the traditional logistics industry. This fresh perspective has allowed Spakio to approach the market with innovative solutions and flexibility, without being hindered by industry norms. 

Q: With advances in technology and the growing need for flexibility in logistics, what innovations or services can we expect to see from Spakio moving forward? 

A: In the coming years, Spakio will focus on consolidating its operations and fully utilizing its warehouse capacities. This year, the goal is to optimize and scale its operations while continuing to develop technology to better leverage idle warehouse space.

Looking forward, Spakio aims to expand its platform’s capabilities. Initially used for inventory management, the platform will eventually integrate logistics networks, enabling transporters to manage movements and deliveries for clients. Spakio also plans to introduce a fintech layer, offering credit to businesses using their stored goods as collateral. The overall strategy is to build on their existing warehouse capacity and enhance the technology to provide more value-added services.

Spakio is a tech enabled company that provides storage infrastructure, logistics, and transportation services.