Real estate brokerages large and small face an assortment of challenges every day. The key to tackling each challenge is to target each one and eliminate it quickly. Many pain points can easily be resolved with technology and automation. The solutions available today offer many proven processes right out of the box with the ability to customize according to any brokerage’s current workflow.
As many brokerages already know, consistency is key with training, process implementation, compliance and record maintenance. Technology helps create company-wide consistency for any brokerage large or small. This article covers solutions that will drive consistency and help make 2015 a memorable year. Some items discussed may already be available to you through your state or local association.
Education and Training
Agent education and training is key when running a successful brokerage. This is especially critical for large firms that constantly hire and train new brokers. Using multiple technologies or platforms means more work for trainers and trainees. You could save time and resources by connecting and consolidating platforms. Software companies should also be able to provide a strong library of training resources, minimizing the burden put on a brokerage’s team. With zipLogix’s zipForm® Plus, many technology tools are available within one interface and other industry solutions are available with integration.
Record Keeping
A critical component to real estate risk management, efficiency and compliance is record keeping. Providing proper forms and efficient tools are vital to establishing this process. Technology helps create the digital paper trail for all steps in a transaction—for the firm and their clients. This is why zipLogix created zipVault®— to keep all of your important documents safe, secure and ready at a moment’s notice. Deep integration with zipForm® Plus also maintains a digital history for transactions, keeping the transaction record up to date. Most are automatic.
Risk Management
Proper risk management comes down to properly executed processes, from setting up templates to tracking document changes and approvals. The right tools ensure that these steps are executed correctly every time, alleviating the pressure for both brokers and agents. Often, smaller brokerages do not use a complete transaction management system, which is why zipLogix has updated the transaction history functionality of zipForm® Plus. The transaction history offers a thorough record, ensuring documents and processes can be tracked, audited and monitored at a glance.
Collaboration
An important characteristic of successful brokerage firms is their ability to collaborate. Connecting agents, brokers and customers is crucial to close a transaction in a timely manner. Technology is the tool that powers the processes to enable efficient collaboration. These tools provide the oversight brokers and agents need, and combined with automatic notifications, they can exceed client expectations. zipLogix offers consumer-friendly tools such as digital signatures with zipLogix Digital Ink® and zipLogix Community that power online transaction collaboration, keeping customer communication the focus.
There’s no question that the right digital tools can help brokers and agents do their jobs more efficiently and more effectively. Make sure you’re taking advantage of the available tools today.
Lisa Mihelcich is COO of zipLogix.
For more information, visit www.ziplogix.com.
