If you’ve been in the Property Management business for any length of time, then you’ve heard the adage that as an industry, our technology is about twenty years behind every other industry. And yet for those of us tasked with managing technology within our organizations, it seems that just about the only thing outdated about PM industry tech anymore is this saying.
These days, PMCs are being challenged to embrace new technologies on every front, from our tech-savvy Millennial and Gen Z renters to our sophisticated institutional clients, to our ambitious and tech-engaged workforce, we’re surrounded by those hungry for tech-based solutions to their every problem. Add to that the proliferation and aggressive marketing of VC-backed PropTech start-ups promising the next big thing, and you have a truly undeniable movement. We as an industry can no longer justify our use of antiquated tools and technologies, but rather must challenge ourselves to join the technological vanguard; a feat made no less impressive (and intimidating) by how far behind we were just a few short years ago.
I imagine that there are a few readers out there who would count your organization among those in the category of reluctant adopters. Not to worry; the first step, which is admitting you have a technology problem, is invariably the hardest. But next is deciding where to start. Below are my top three tips for tackling your technology trepidation and kicking off your next major initiative.
Start by Getting Started
Looking at your organization, there are likely a few areas that you could consider “low hanging fruit.” Did the boss’s nephew design the corporate website for a school project? Ok, it may not be that obvious. In that case, it’s a good idea to fall back on a tried and true gap analysis. Talk to people and understand their pain points, at the corporate and the onsite levels. If you have an internal help desk ticketing system, pull data to demonstrate where the teams are spending their time and the processes that Training is consistently revisiting with them.