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Concrete Analysis | Property agents must adopt digital tools to thrive in the post Covid-19 world

  • Agencies that fail to adopt new technologies and data-driven approaches risk lagging behind others and losing significant market share, warns CEO of Property Raptor
  • Data is the ‘new superpower of the property realm’, says CEO Justin Lau

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Pedestrians pass a store covered in posters for property agents in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Photo: K. Y. Cheng
We are living in unprecedented times in which the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for all businesses to adapt to a new normal. The property sector is no different.
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Now, more than ever before, real estate industry players need to transform their business models to tackle the inherent inefficiencies throughout the purchase and rental processes.

Although these flaws were previously superficially hidden by the actively growing housing market, they have become more apparent as a result of a contracting economy with shrinking transactions. Buyers are delaying viewings and reducing face-to-face communications, while many sellers are reluctant to list their homes due to social distancing measures. Agencies need to equip themselves with the right skill sets and digital tools to deal with the ever-changing challenges.

While some real estate professionals have successfully used 3D virtual viewings to nurture interested leads, the digital transformation opportunities in the property sector extend far beyond virtual tours. Data is the new superpower of the property realm that can upend traditional business models through real-time analytics and advanced AI technologies. These tools generate invaluable insights that inform vital real estate decisions for agents and agencies – how to price a for-rent residence, how to maximise reach to buyers, and most importantly how to understand and serve clients’ needs more efficiently and effectively.

But the abundance of data alone is not enough to turn insight into action. Data sanitisation and cleansing are of paramount importance when implementing data-driven strategies to inform and enhance enterprise-wide decision making. The combination of sophisticated AI algorithms and clean data intelligence can help generate smarter, more accurate listing recommendations to buyers and renters. According to market research, 50 per cent of clients end up buying a property that does not match their initial requirements.

Through advanced web portal tracking capabilities, leads’ interactions are captured on every single digital touchpoint. This includes data such as browsing history, client feedback, and time spent on listings, that are fed into an advanced AI engine to curate hyper-personalised journeys for prospects. This means higher conversion rates and more satisfied customers.

The tide of technological advancement is irreversible. More than 85 per cent of property professionals believe that real estate technology adoption will continue to accelerate during the rest of 2020. The fusion of data, AI, and automation will minimise the inefficiencies stemming from day-to-day operations of real estate agents.

With the help of automated workflows and robust customer relationship management (CRM), employees can better detail their property opportunities and accurately document the different stages of the transaction process.

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Comprehensive digital solutions also provide features specifically for new-build projects. From reserving a listing to selling the property to documenting the post-sale exchanges of the listing, agents can aggregate all the documents and information related to projects in one centralised place.

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