4 Must-Ask Questions When Upgrading Your Real Estate Tech Stack
It’s no secret that the latest advancements in tech tools are completely changing the game by giving a competitive edge to players in nearly every major industry - real estate included.
To cultivate success, real estate professionals need to make sure their technology stack is operating at its maximum potential. Agents and brokers have a dynamic workload and they’ll need tech-powered resources that are ready to meet the industry’s high expectations.
If you’re a Transaction Coordinator or Broker who’s looking to update your company’s technology stack, you already know you’re facing the big responsibility of equipping the team with tools that seamlessly fit into their unique workflows. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
Here are 4 things to inquire about when interviewing different tech platforms:
Is the Software Scalable?
Scalability is a huge aspect of business technology. You should always be looking for platforms that can grow and adapt alongside the company. If a platform isn’t able to adjust to the changing needs of a team or brokerage, you’ll need to find another one that can.
Adopting new technologies isn’t always a quick transition. Team members need to train, troubleshoot, and transfer all of their information and data into the new platform. Since this process is time-consuming and can be inconvenient, it’s best to find a tech solution that will continue working with your company into the future — limiting the number of times you have to make a switch.
Does It Offer Mobile Access?
Agents and brokers are always on the move. Whether it’s commuting between meetings with clients, visiting properties, giving a tour, or networking; real estate is a busy profession. Your team will need to have the support of their tools whether they’re in the office or on the go, making mobile access an important feature.
Always make sure to look at the mobile compatibility while researching a platform. Does all of the data transfer over on mobile? Is it a seamless transition, or is it awkward to switch access points? Is there an app or a mobile website? Is the mobile option user-friendly and graphically appealing? Is the mobile feature agent-facing only? Or, client-facing, too?
Don’t overlook any of these key points.
Are Projects Team-Centric or Individual?
Another thing TC’s and Brokers should focus on when researching new technologies is whether or not the platform works for single-agents or teams, too. Organization and access vary from platform to platform, so it’s always a good idea to look into all of the specific details.
Teamwork is essential for optimizing a brokerage’s workflow. Real estate groups need software that facilitates easy communication between members. There needs to be an open line of conversation between the team’s different roles; such as leasing representatives, social media managers, transaction coordinators, and more. This way, information and expertise can be shared and collaboration gets a much-needed boost.
CRM, for example, needs to have both teams and single-agent capabilities so all members of a brokerage can use it seamlessly. A lead-routing platform, for example, would need to have a “broker-view” that allows them to see how (and when) leads are being responded to.
Do a little digging into the perspective platform’s project organization to see if it allows for single-agent and team cooperation.
How Well Does it Integrate with Other Systems?
Finally, you’ll need to determine if the software can integrate with your other systems. Unity is essential for an organized, easy-to-navigate technology stack. Look at how well the different elements can sync together to create a concise resource with all elements of the business working together.
Use these questions to narrow down the options and find the platform that works best for your team. For more professional tips, check out the Glide Blog!
