Posts tagged Technology
Pad Tsunami! Could These New Products Be iPad Killers?
Nov 2nd
Apple has set the groundwork (as usual) with a very interesting and pretty device called the iPad. But beyond reading a book and watching videos, the business community is about to be offered a plethora of finally useful choices in Pad computing. More >
The Power of Demographics!
Aug 26th
Demographic information is a vital component to not only describe a market area but to analyze a market area. In order to mitigate risk, retailers have invested time and money in going beyond the basic market snap shot to build in-house geographical information systems (G.I.S.). Today, retailers are blending the understanding of the general market with their own customer understanding and market expectations. G.I.S technology goes beyond the basic 3 ring trade area which illustrates basic information such as: population base, competitors and traffic counts. Data is indeed a commodity; however, it is what you do with the data that is critical to understanding both a market and a customer perspective. A well planned G.I.S. is focused on the customer and provides insights into: Who is the ideal customer? How many exist? What is their share of wallet? Where do they live, work? More >
And What is Coming in Technology… Soon
Aug 2nd
Here is a scenario for upcoming utilization of technology in real estate.
A client engages a real estate broker to manage a portfolio of a few dozen properties. The client wants to know the general condition of each property, surrounding market demographics and valuations, an opinion of value of each property including the general condition of structures and land including major assets and occupiable areas. Importantly, the owner needs specific information for each site, such as retail sales per property, to evaluate future site selections for possible disposition or even growth, and then ask the broker to determine a sales price for identified disposition prospects as well as developing a strategic plan for managing existing leases for both renewals and terminations. And the client wants this information available online for secure viewing both internally to key client users in various departments and to authorized vendors who may be needed for further advisory and consulting services, as well as brokers who may handle the transactions. More >
Smart Phones – The Plot Thickens…
Jul 6th
With the likely demise of the Palm OS for smart phones, there remain four major robust players in the smart phone market: Blackberry, iPhone, Android and Microsoft. And even the Palm may make a comeback if purchased by Lenovo or another offshore company. This is incredible and a great boon to all of us with so many choices and new features and new capabilities and new colors and best of all, price competitiveness. Holy moly and thanks to the techie gods in the Cloud for the good times we live in.
First, the iPhone continues to improve and be cool, now capturing about 28% of the market. But storm clouds are a brewing for the control freaks at Apple as everyone else is taking aim (and make sure your thumb doesn’t cover the antenna). And is it now true that you can actually make a phone call with the iPhone instead of it just looking cool? More >
RealComm 2010 – Changing the DNA
Jun 22nd
I have attended RealComm off an on for many years; seen many promises of technology magic to come, hints of what may be possible in the future and heard about new developments across the world that would soon impact the real estate industry. While this year’s conference was smaller due to the recession, it was much more dramatic in new technology and business practices actually being used today! There was real content with emerging metrics produced by real practitioners with real projects this time… more than any time I have ever seen. In some cases I was almost knocked off my chair in seeing and hearing what is going on throughout the world in real estate technology. Jim Young and Howard Berger and their staff are to be commended for their perseverance, now beginning to pay off with outstanding results!
Green Technology… Smart Buildings… Networked Portfolios… Automated Systems… Connected Buildings… Wireless Controls… Real Time Energy Management… and believe it or not, the Government (GSA and others) leading the charge! More >
Technology through the Looking Glass
May 19th
IWMS, BIM, CAFM, CAD, GIS, IOX, SOX, SAS, LEED, SQL, Cloud, Interoperability, Smart Buildings, Green Buildings… oh my! How do real estate professionals cope with all this jargon just to find a lease or sell a building? And are techies really taking over the world?
Unfortunately for the old fashioned broker, these terms are becoming the lexicon of more and more companies and their real estate departments trying to cope with change and finding ways of saving money. Add to that, companies today are using technology to do more with less (read: less staff) but also cope with critical data that comes from every part of a company requiring a “fully integrated, end to end, solution;” whether you are using crayons or PCs. More >
The iPad Ain’t Much… or Is It?
Apr 16th
Early first blush from the non-Apple PC community is that the iPad is pretty, but not much included and no one can really figure out what it does besides reading a book. It is not really a computer, you can’t use it as a cell phone, and it’s too big to fit in your pocket. And the real price after adding likely needed capabilities is closer to $1,000, not $500.
But what this means to commercial real estate professionals is that this is a noteworthy first shot in interesting remote computing to assist CRE professionals and service providers in a variety of tasks in the field, instead of being chained to their desks back at the office. Typical smart phones and PDA devices have just been too small to really see enough information on tiny screens. A tablet type PC would finally allow people in the field, sitting at an airport or train station, or walking around a new property doing a BOV and condition assessment, to do their work more quickly and efficiently on a device easily carried in a briefcase or handbag. More >
