Professional Report

By: Matthew Smith, RealNex

is having on this once stodgy industry. The goal of these conferences is to chart a course for the future and continue to make life for commercial real estate professionals easier and more streamlined.

GOING MOBILE

Mobile devices remain the best way for professionals to carry and manage all their data, particularly for busy brokers who are onsite at a development or with a client. Now all the information and data you need is in the cloud – this kind of easy access to information was unheard of to previous generations. There can be hesitation with getting mobile technologies, especially for brokers who have been using the same phone for years. But the occasional upgrade of your phone may be the only way to stay ahead of the technology curve and there are easy tips to remember that will make the transition easier: • Organize contacts: separate into two groups, business and personal.

• Select a calendar that will work across all platforms.

• Organize all of your passwords and logins for easy access • Make a list of all of the apps you may want

ENHANCING WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE

Overall, there are several technological tools available that the industry is embracing, including property listing systems, real estate analysis software, customer relationship management systems, email marketing distribution system, lead generators – even comprehensive news sites and blogs to follow industry trends. But before investing in new technology, it’s important for brokers to see what they already have. A current device may be enhanced with just a few tweaks. Here are five ways to do just that: • CREATE A CUSTOM MOBILE EMAIL SIGNATURE: Mobile devices come with a pre-set signature, like “Sent from my iPad,” that goes out at the end of every message you send. CRE professionals should invest a few minutes in creating their own signature, with their name, contact information, logo and maybe even a personal note. That’s a way of reinforcing a brand with every email.