DocuSign’s Transaction Rooms pave the way to increased productivity
Company growth does not happen overnight. It takes dedication, focus and a strong team to prosper, and in today’s digital age, it often takes the right technology, too. “As a locally-owned and -operated independent brokerage, our goal is not to be the biggest, but to be the best real estate company in the Pacific Northwest,” says Melissa Peterson, director of Agent Services and Technology with Hasson Company, REALTORS®. With an average $10.7 million in sales and 20 transaction sides per agent, Peterson notes that the firm ranked No. 5 nationally for average sales volume per agent in 2016, according to RISMedia’s Power Broker Report.
To achieve this type of productivity, teams need to work like a well-oiled machine, with a sharp focus on efficiency and a suite of technology tools to assist along the way. This is where Peterson comes in. In addition to working with agent service reps and transaction coordinators, it’s Peterson’s job to research and develop the technology tools the firm offers its agents—from proprietary programs to third-party technologies.
For Peterson, DocuSign’s Transaction Rooms (DTR)—a digital transaction management platform—has made the largest wave in improving the brokerage’s efficiency. More than a simple electronic signature solution, DTR is a platform that helps brokerages go completely digital.
“For us, transaction management is a virtual file that will take our agents, clients and the company from pre-listing to listing and through the close of a transaction, all in one place,” says Peterson, who notes that DocuSign’s Transaction Rooms provides all parties a singular location for all transactional documents and correspondences, like a one-stop shop for the entire transaction.
Peterson began her search for a transaction-management tool back in 2012, and quickly realized that not all platforms are built the same. “While many options were primarily focused on company needs instead of agent usability, we wanted a tool that was easy for our agents to use, knowing that we could adapt and alter our process to make it work for the company, as well.”
According to Peterson, easy access to files—for both agents and the company—is one of the biggest benefits provided by DocuSign’s Transaction Rooms. “We’ve become much more efficient as the review process can be completed by multiple employees in different locations,” she says. “Gone are the stacks of files moving from desk to desk. If one employee is overloaded, they can call on the help of others. The task lists ensure all items are completed and submitted as required, providing a quick and easy way for agents to know what’s missing.”
Compliance has also improved around the office, as the DocuSign Transaction Rooms centralized system ensures documents are reviewed in a timely fashion, and are well documented. “We’ve encouraged the use of sharing documents through DTR to create a virtual history of all activities,” says Peterson. “This is a significant risk management benefit that’s already been put to use and will continue to help agents and the company alike.”
And how about those seasoned agents who may be a little less tech-savvy? “Our Agent Services department continues to provide ongoing training to all agents as needed,” notes Peterson. DocuSign assists with evolution and growth, as well, by hosting monthly conference calls that create an atmosphere of collaboration between its users to help their products improve and evolve. “As each week goes by, we see the products become more and more integrated into the way agents do business,” says Peterson.
And from a consumer standpoint, DocuSign is incredibly user-friendly as an eSignature platform. “We want the system to not only be easy for our agents to use, but for their clients to use, as well.”
For more information, please visit www.docusign.com.
Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia’s senior content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at zoe@rismedia.com. For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.
