virtual tours
PM trends in Canada? WePivot (slowly)
Technology is not the new flavour. How do we manage the change process?
Josh Lipton moderated an insightful panel discussion with industry leaders at the 2017 PM expo Wednesday afternoon. Here’s my take-away…
Peter Altobelli, VP of Yardi Canada, reflecting on the evolution of commercial leasing, spoke about change management with the confidence that comes from years of steadying the ship. He discussed the impact of “WeWork” the latest disruptor, completely unforeseeable as a business model in previous decades. Waves of humiliation rolled over in fear that I probably had no idea what he was talking about. Then suddenly, aha! I HAD heard about WeWork. A notice in my inbox from the Meetup Community announcing it had been acquired. All for We
Robert Plateck, Founder/CEO of SensorSuite and Building Systems Engineer, Laura Tousley spoke on the importance of open architecture for software integration of legacy systems and future expansion to optimize everything. I starting thinking building performance like indoor air quality and energy consumption; tenant information and concierge services, maintenance, security, life safety all connected and operated from a single dashboard. I imagined systems linked to reporting and remittance functions (like energy benchmarking) informing financial planning and providing intelligence to risk management in real time.
Core readiness for future proofing will include building infrastructure investments in wired, wireless and radio communications. The importance of cybersecurity and training on the devices and apps that interact with the building cannot be overstated. I had heard that same warning delivered at an earlier seminar and made a mental note to flag these as barriers to user adoption. The Buzz in the room agreed.
Plan an exist strategy for software use. Who owns the data? Can you transport all your work to a new platform?
Our panel’s vision of the future extends beyond a fully automated, integrated and even modular building to include smart neighbourhoods, powered by local solar/wind generation. Energy storage and local demand response are other strategies that have been tested to improve service where power outages are common. Knowledge will increase in the deployment of battery energy storage for peak shaving and further the clean energy market.
Max Steinman Director of Sales for Landlord Web Solutions reflected on the trend toward marketing running everything at the site level. 3D virtual tours complete with virtual/augmented reality may soon replace the role of the leasing agent. Having worked with the folks at iGuide, I was somewhat familiar with that reality…slipping into the not too distant future I imagined all of the savings possible (time, fuel, disappointment, not to mention the inconvenience to existing tenants and pets). Virtual tours would show the space in pristine condition at any hour of the day, provide accurate room dimensions with tools for furniture placement and estimating window coverings, appliance specifications, and more. One stop collaborative tools for connecting to local utility providers, day care centres, grocery delivery, movers, driverless car pick-up…
What process/analysis can be put in place for a new vender?
What specific applications and collaboration tools work with senior housing? Student residences? Family multi-residential? Commercial tenants?
Engagement Engagement Engagement
Forget Credit Karma, artificial intelligence will predict tenant behaviour and launch credit check accuracy, employment and personality screening to a new level enabling instant tenant approvals. Out pops a smart lease, ready for immediate digital endorsement thanks to the advancement of blockchain technology. Questions about living in the building? Neighbours? There’s a chatbot for that. Keys? Yep, fully functional on moving day and you can probably unlock a private storage locker in advance as a signing bonus. Just hit the send button on the lease to seal the deal.
Data driven, experience driven, and tenant driven change are the new forces bearing down on landlords
music & musings 