Chris Haran

Midwest Real Estate Data

Chris Haran is chief technology officer of Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), a Chicagoland-area multiple listing service with over 45,000 real estate professional members.

MRED recently implemented the first two modules of Computer Vision in partnership with restb.AI, with plans for full implementation in the following months. This allows MRED users to upload photos that will be read by artificial intelligence (AI) to identify exteriors, room types and features within those rooms. Within seconds, the AI identifies and displays everything it “reads” in the photos. That will then be automatically added into listing input fields so agents no longer have to type or select fields manually.

“This is all being done in service of our strategic goal to reduce the pain of listing input by shortening the process through automation,” explains Haran. “It’s about giving back time to agents, the commodity that is becoming more and more rare for the practitioner. Some of that time given back will lead to more fields being completed, providing a more powerful, long-tail search experience for everyone. It will also increase accessibility to those with disabilities, providing alt-text for photos.

“AI will give us many different paths toward efficiency and accuracy, increasing the value of MLS data to agents, brokerages, partners and all consumers.”

After 12 years in residential brokerage holding various roles in marketing and operations, Haran joined MRED in 2018. He also chairs the Cross-Platform Interoperability Workgroup at RESO and is currently a mentor for NAR Reach and Moderne Ventures.