Most of us (if not all) have embraced digital in most areas of our life. From apps that help us keep up with the load-shedding schedule (thank you EskomSePush developers) to getting hooked on streaming platforms for our entertainment and ordering our groceries online.
It’s safe to say that we’re pretty comfortable with adopting digital technologies in our personal lives. However, when it comes to our professional lives, we’re sometimes a little slower to adapt—especially those who’ve been following the same processes for the last 20 plus years.
In 2021, it’s now time for the property management industry to make the permanent switch to digital. And it comes in the form of automation.
The adoption of automation in the property management space has been slow and steady. However, 2020 taught us that you simply won’t make it in the industry without adopting some form of automation technology.
COVID-19 made us face the reality of having to conduct business without physical interaction. And the companies who had already implemented specific automated processes were much more resilient to the changes that the industry had to adapt to quickly.
Why do you need to automate?
If you want to grow your business, you need to automate your processes. It’s as simple as that.
Plus, it would be best if you kept up with the times.
We’re seeing a massive increase in software and apps entering the market. They’re calling it the Fourth Industrial Revolution – an era of automation and digital processes. This has led to the emergence of a new sector in the property industry, commonly known as proptech.
Hold on, what is proptech?
Proptech refers to technology that aids or improves the way we do property. This includes technology that influences real estate in terms of design, management, transactions, investment or use.
It’s a broad term speaking to the real estate sector as a whole, but we’re focusing on proptech for the property management industry, specifically.
Automation technology is there to make your business processes more efficient. When you automate, you get more bang for your buck. As it means, you’ll have the capacity to take on more clients without necessarily hiring more staff.
To organically grow your property management business, you need to automate certain tasks. Automation allows you to do your job faster and in a more competitive way.
As a property manager, it’s important to stay informed regarding the types of proptech solutions available to you. The more informed you are, the better your ability to anticipate changes in the market and meet your clients’ needs.
What types of proptech are available for property managers?
There are several proptech solutions available for property managers. Solutions that streamline age-old processes of Excel spreadsheets, email threads and good-old-fashioned human memory to cutting out middle-parties where it makes sense to and building a link between managing agents and body corporates.
There are two distinct types of proptech solutions for property managers:
- Ones that hone in on a specific property management area, like financial, management, or communication.
- Others that offer a more holistic, end-to-end solution.
Of these systems, you also get back-of-office systems that are purely for internal use, as well as front-of-house systems that allow you to communicate with your clients. Some systems are a mix of both.
To know which system to use, you need to ask yourself how you want to grow your business. You could always experiment with different software, test new tactics and find out what is successful. Client feedback is also hugely beneficial in determining whether a new system is serving their needs.
Which automation solution do you need for your business?
The key to deciding which automation system is best for your business is first identifying your value. Why do your clients need you?
There are three key areas that property managers can automate:
- Levy statements: All successful property managers, big or small, need to have some form of financial system. There are many standalone financial systems that are not specifically created for property, but can be adapted to work as such.
- A tracking system: Where traditionally you would have used Excel spreadsheets or manual tracking, an automated ticketing system can keep all daily and historical management tracking in one place.
- Community management: This refers to a communication-type platform where you can push information onto an app, directly into your customer’s hands.
An automated financial system is absolutely essential, and you likely already have some form of a financial system that runs your levy statements. A tracking system is also vital if you want to keep on top of everything and start expanding your business. A community management system is still considered a ‘nice-to-have’ while the tech catches in this arena.
A really cool property manager will have all three systems automated. Perhaps using one system that offers a complete end-to-end offering, using different systems for each function, or developing their own in-house system.
Unity is the first step to property management automation
If this all sounds a bit daunting to you, then you need a stepping stone software. Unity is just that.
Unity is an excellent introduction to automation, as it’s intuitive and straightforward to use. We based the system off the many Excel spreadsheets that property managers use – so, if that was your work style, you’ll be right at home on our platform.
Unity is for you if…
- You’re a freelance property manager that wants to make their processes more efficient.
- A standalone property manager that has slowly grown into a team of two or three and wants to increase their bottom line by getting more clients, but not increasing operational expenses.
- Small to medium-sized managing agents with several property management teams.
- Any property manager or managing agency who would like to keep up with their admin remotely.
Unity is fully designed for online work. Meaning that whether we’re forced into another lockdown, you decide to cancel your office lease agreement, or you’d just like to work from anywhere – you can carry on ‘business-as-usual’.
We’re purely a back-of-house system, covering ticketing management only. If you want all the bells and whistles, including a financial and community management system, we’re not the software for you.
When you’re first starting with automation in your business, you don’t need to be inundated with fancy features that you’re probably not going to use. Transitioning to Unity is a seamless process as it was designed specifically for property managers. Taking your usual processes and making them more efficient.
Make 2021 your year of growth
Change is real and inevitable and will happen regardless of whether you hop on board or not. The question is, will your business survive if you don’t?
Let’s take that first step to automation together. No fluff, no frills, just exactly what you need to grow your business. Get in touch with us today to set up a demo session and start your 4-week FREE trial with Unity.