Real estate technology is a hot topic across the industry, and one of the greatest questions is how to successfully implement it. Many people in the commercial real estate industry have been doing their jobs for decades, and are hesitant to take the risk of adopting new technologies.
On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, Aquicore, provider of energy management and tenant billing software, hosted its first panel and networking event at Cooley LLP in Washington, DC. Attended by more than 80 industry professionals, “The Future of Commercial Real Estate Technology” panel featured speakers from MRP Realty, DTZ, and JLL. They discussed the importance of technology as a competitive advantage, and gave tips for best practices.
The speakers all agreed that continuous training that comes from within the company is vital for the technology to be successful. They advised choosing tools that would be easy to learn with simple and sleek user interfaces. The best technologies will save time, not create an extra hassle.
A key takeaway, and perhaps a surprising one, was the panelists noted that tenant satisfaction and tenant engagement are even more important outcomes of successful technology use than increased ROI. The bottom line is always important, but it is not top priority. The industry will likely see continuous adoption for technologies that will provide tenants with data and information about building operations, motivating them to treat buildings more efficiently and encouraging them to continue leasing space from building owners who promote engagement.
