Real Estate Technology, Asset Management
Article | May 10, 2023
The construction industry, whether operating at the building level, infrastructure level, or city level, has undergone significant changes over the past decade, and the pace of change has only intensified in the past year. Opaque operating models are giving way to digitalization and transparency in every aspect of the industry, leading to better accountability of the business stakeholder ecosystem and better experience and quality of life for the end customers.
The value realization for the sector is coming in three different ways, each with its set of technologies, tools, systems, and processes that lead to specific value maximization.
1. Connected Stakeholder Ecosystems
Every stakeholder and their interactions and service provision to building and construction has been digitalized and automated.
Architects, urban planners, designers have long been using tools and technologies. The use of 3D modeling and visualization, AR/VR platforms, and drone mapping are creating intuitive means to fast-track the design iteration process and reduce errors. Innovation has been happening in building materials and technologies for smart logistics and inventory management, which is digitalizing the procure to pay cycles and reducing the cost and sustainability footprint of the industry. Infratech is being included into civil construction, and information, communication, and operational tech hardware and software solutions are being integrated at the design stage itself.
The industry uses the services of a network of internal and external third party providers and managers. The combination of mobile and enterprise applications, connectivity, and internet of things devices and variables is connecting these people together. Unified frameworks and digital and AI/ML tools allow seamless construction, management, and optimization of built spaces. The sales process is becoming highly digital with the use of customer relationship management platforms, channel management applications, and digital sales aids that blend AR/VR, 3D visualization, audio, video, and digital.
The governance and financial mechanisms have evolved as well. Government bodies have digitalized and permissions, access rights, and payment mechanisms are increasingly digital. Regulators are moving towards real time sensor based monitoring and centralized digital reporting on effluents and emissions, aiming to improve sustainability metrics. An array of digital and cloud financial management tools, systems, and dashboards allow every aspect of the financial flow to and from entities to be managed, monitored, and optimized.
The users, in both the customer and citizen persona, have become digitally savvy and experiential. The connected and sentient building, infrastructure, and city ecosystem increasingly allows for connected living where many services can already be accessed digitally.
2. Connected Lifecycle Management
The construction industry is using digital and automation technologies at every stage of projects – from design to monetization of building, infrastructure, or city systems. Ingredient technologies such as internet of things, artificial intelligence, block chain, distributed computing, edge and mesh intelligence, cloud computing, big data analytics, and data visualization are allowing the industry to plan better and act predictively.
The Design phase, in addition to using design and planning tools and technologies, is increasingly adopting concepts of wellness, biophilia, and blue-green integrations to blend technology and architecture.
The Build phase has significantly transformed through innovative construction materials and methods, as well as digital, cloud, and sensor based solutions to monitor staff, progress, audits, and errors in construction. The entire land records management system in the country has been digitalized, and plans are underway to use drone based mapping to catalogue all assets and sites at a national level.
The Sell phase is using technologies and platforms that have disintermediated some ecosystem partners and aggregated others, increasing the flow of information, communication, validations, and transactions. From marketing to site visits to legal documentation and commercial transactions, every step has been digitally transformed through a combination of AR/VR, AI/ML, digital, and cloud technologies.
The Operate phase is seeing newer models of maintenance and management of assets over the long term. Tech enabled metering and monitoring allows for discretization of pay per use type of commercial arrangements, which can be digitally contracted and managed. This allows multi-stakeholder and multi-user assets to operate seamlessly. Multiple automation and real time monitoring systems and solutions – whether fully integrated or point solutions, are enhancing visibility and improving efficiency of operational performance.
The Experience phase ensures an interplay of operational and service related systems and technologies allow the users to better access services at building, infrastructure, or city level. There is a lot of emphasis on enhancing customer experience by reducing wait times, improving service levels, creating areas and systems for interaction and engagement, and delivering a better quality of work or life to the end user.
The Monetization phase is increasingly at the top of mind of administrators, owners, and operators of construction assets. Long return on investment cycles and complex modes of deployment of public and private capital predicate focus on easing the flow of money and identifying multiple modes of monetization to ensure that projects can succeed. Value added services through retail, advertising, data, or service based use cases are allowing for recurring revenues to be generated. Many of these services can be digitally conceptualized, delivered, and managed.
3. Connected Systems and Services
Buildings and infrastructure spaces are increasingly envisioning themselves as an interconnected system of functions, utilities and services, all managed centrally and digitally through a building level control room or an infrastructure or city level integrated control and command center.
The set of technologies first adopted for smart cities - such as networking and connectivity; smart management of water, waste, lighting, power, sewage, air quality and emissions; smart access to services and retail; interconnected mobility, parking, and traffic management; and managing request-response systems and on-demand servicing and issues management - are increasingly becoming important for buildings and infrastructure projects. Transport hubs are reimagining themselves as microcities. Road assets are creating logistics hubs and multiple digital monetization channels. Buildings are transforming into mixed use spaces that are accessed and managed digitally. On-demand, surge, discounted pricing mechanisms rely on complex algorithms and predictive forecasts.
Multiple indices and standard comparative metrics are being considered by users, governments, regulators, and financiers of patient long-term capital. At the building level, Green ratings and Well Building standards are being measured and reported, and creating methods of differentiating premium and non-premium buildings. Global Infrastructure rankings rate countries in the quality and density and access of road, transport, utilities, and other major infrastructure systems and projects. Ease of Living Index and Sustainable Development Goals create the benchmarks to measure and monitor the performance and impact of city systems. Increasingly, gamification through Swachh Survekshan, Municipal Performance Index, and other city, state, and national level assessments is creating awareness and improving service levels. The indices themselves rely on a set on technology inclusion within projects and technology systems to aid performance measurement.
Read More
Real Estate Investment, Asset Management
Article | May 5, 2023
Effective digital asset management is crucial in real estate. The solutions enhance accessibility, security, and productivity and help professionals navigate the challenges of managing digital assets.
Contents
1 Effective Digital Real Estate Asset Management
2 Five Key Challenges in Digital Asset Management
2.1 Lack of Centralized System for Digital Assets
2.2 Limited Access in Remote Work Environment
2.3 Difficulty in Managing Large Volume of Assets
2.4 Inadequate Protection for Digital Assets
2.5 Disparate Asset Management Systems
3 Top Solutions to Overcome Digital Asset Management Challenges
3.1 Cloud-based Storage for Centralized System
3.2 Virtual Private Network (VPN) to Expand Accessibility
3.3 Automation Tools for Large Volume Asset Management
3.4 Data Encryption to Protect Digital Asset
3.5 Application Programming Interfaces to Connect Disparate Systems
4 Transforming Businesses with Effective Digital Asset Management
1. Effective Digital Real Estate Asset Management
Digital real estate asset management is crucial for businesses from creation to distribution and archiving. Effective digital asset management provides a centralized source for data with tags and unique information fields for correct usage resulting in workflow improvement and enabling seamless collaboration. Real estate digital asset management in comparison to property management ensures effective sharing and routing of files, allowing immediate access to updated files. Digital asset management systems are essential for effective real estate marketing, providing streamlined workflows, enhanced collaboration, and better asset organization and management. The ability to quickly and efficiently access and manage digital assets can provide a competitive advantage for real estate firms, ultimately leading to increased sales and revenue. Along with the benefits of digital asset management in real estate, there are challenges that businesses face; so, it is essential to overcome the digital asset management challenges using the right solutions.
2. Five Key Challenges in Digital Asset Management
Managing digital assets in real estate has been a task for the managers and professionals in the industry to streamline the process and for efficient operations; knowing the significant challenges in advance and getting prepared in advance is necessary.
2.1 Lack of Centralized System for Digital Assets
The lack of a centralized system for digital assets can pose significant challenges for real estate businesses. When digital assets are scattered across various devices, cloud storage accounts, and platforms, it becomes difficult for team members to access and utilize the support needed, further leading to delays in project timelines, errors in asset usage, and a lack of consistency in brand representation.
2.2 Limited Access in Remote Work Environment
With the rapid switch towards a remote work environment, real estate professionals face the challenge of limited access to digital assets stored on local servers or company networks. It results in a struggle to access vital information, leading to productivity issues and hindering the real estate business’ ability to serve clients efficiently. Without access to essential files, team members may face delays in responding to client requests, creating a negative impact on client satisfaction and, ultimately, the affecting business’ bottom line.
2.3 Difficulty in Managing Large Volume of Assets
Managing large volumes of assets becomes a daunting task as the real estate industry continues to rely on digital assets for marketing and communication purposes. Organizing and maintaining digital assets gets challenging and time-consuming without adequate latest real estate marketing tools like digital asset management systems. As the volume of assets grows, managing them manually becomes increasingly complex, leading to errors, duplication of effort, wasted resources, and affecting profitability.
2.4 Inadequate Protection for Digital Assets
As real estate asset management operations turn into virtual functions, cybersecurity threats become a more significant concern, that includes the loss of digital assets, especially those containing sensitive information such as financials, strategies, and prospect contacts. Real estate businesses that fail to protect their digital assets adequately damage their reputation and face legal as well as financial consequences.
2.5 Disparate Asset Management Systems
Using diverse asset management systems across various departments or teams can lead to confusion, miscommunication, and errors in asset usage. The back and forth caused by miscommunication slows down team operations. Businesses and team members without digital asset management systems fail to provide context to files like adding descriptions, collaborators, or connections to specific projects, resulting in misinterpretation about asset placement and potential obstacles in achieving desired outcomes.
3. Top Solutions to Overcome Digital Asset Management Challenges
Digital asset management is a crucial aspect of modern businesses. However, it comes with challenges, and leveraging the latest tools and solutions helps overcome challenges and transform how businesses operate.
3.1 Cloud-based Storage for Centralized System
Cloud-based storage can overcome the lack of a centralized system challenge for digital asset management by providing a secure, centralized location for all digital assets. With cloud-based storage, real estate professionals can access their digital assets at one centralized location. It eliminates the necessity for physical storage devices or multiple cloud storage accounts, making it easier for team members to quickly find and access the assets they need. Additionally, cloud-based storage provides more significant flexibility in managing and organizing digital assets, enabling the use of tags and metadata for easy searching and categorization.
3.2 Virtual Private Network to Expand Accessibility
Virtual Private Network (VPN) helps in expanding accessibility for large volume digital assets. By using a VPN, real estate professionals can securely access a cloud-based storage system from anywhere with an internet connection, enabling them to upload, download, and manage digital assets remotely. This can increase productivity and reduce errors and duplication of effort, thereby positively impacting the real estate business' profitability. VPNs also provide added security, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive digital assets and resulting in improved business efficiency.
3.3 Automation Tools for Large Volume Asset Management
Automation tools can help real estate businesses overcome the challenge of managing a large volume of assets by streamlining the management process. Automation tools like content recognition software, AI-powered asset management systems, and metadata management tools help complete tasks quickly and accurately, reducing errors and minimizing the risk of duplication of effort that was once done manually. In addition, automation can be used to set up workflows and approvals, ensuring that assets are reviewed and approved before use, improving quality control.
3.4 Data Encryption to Protect Digital Assets
Data encryption involves converting the data into an unreadable format only deciphered by those with the encryption key. This process ensures that even if the data is intercepted or stolen, unauthorized parties cannot access it. In the real estate industry, data encryption can be applied to sensitive client information, financial records, and other critical data to prevent cybercrime, protect the company's reputation, and comply with regulatory requirements. Real estate businesses can ensure digital assets are secure and protected from cyber threats by implementing data encryption.
3.5 Application Programming Interfaces to Connect Disparate Systems
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) help to connect disparate systems in digital asset management by providing a common language for communication between systems. APIs allow different software applications to exchange data and functionality, enabling digital asset management systems for real estate businesses to integrate with other business systems like CRM or ERP. The integration can further automate workflows, reduce duplication of effort, and increase efficiency by allowing data to flow seamlessly between systems.
4. Transforming Businesses with Effective Digital Asset Management
Successful digital asset management in the real estate industry improves both internal efficiency and client service quality. Real estate agents can more effectively market their listings to prospective buyers and renters by keeping digital assets for a property up-to-date and easy to access. Furthermore, future real estate transactions will be conducted digitally, with seamless residential and commercial property purchases and sales. Major stakeholders will benefit from increased transaction speed, lower transaction costs, and increased data availability by utilizing digitalization in real estate.
Read More
Real Estate Investment, Asset Management
Article | May 25, 2023
It has already been approximately one month since the COVID-19 pandemic thrust the commercial real estate industry in Canada into chaos. Landlords and tenants alike continue to face a litany of issues not previously seen in modern times. Many tenants are fighting for their continued survival, with some jurisdictions in Canada reporting that as many as half of the businesses closed will not re-open once this crisis is over. Landlords are grappling with how to keep their projects viable with so many vacancies looming and cash flow becoming increasingly restricted. How the industry addresses and emerges from the recent events will determine not only the immediate future, but also the long-term evolution of our industry.So how do commercial landlords and tenants proceed in these uncertain times? Below are some key considerations for both landlords and tenants alike.
Read More
Real Estate Investment, Asset Management
Article | May 5, 2023
Improve real estate portfolio performance by analyzing various investment optimization strategies anddiscoveringthe subtle differences between asset management and property management.
Contents
1 Introduction
2 Contrasts between Asset Management and Property Management
2.1 Key Differences based on Scope, Objectives, and Activities
2.2 Interconnectedness of Asset and Property Management
3 Asset Management Techniques
4 Property Management Techniques
5 Clarifying Misconceptions about Asset and Property Management
1. Introduction
Asset management and property management are both integral components of real estate management. Precisely, property management pertains to managing the daily operations of a particular property, which includes overseeing the property and the tasks around it. On the other hand, asset management caters to investors seeking to purchase and manage numerous investment properties. It is essential to note that property management is generally intended for property owners who want to delegate the management function to competent professionals.
An asset manager is responsible for managing various types of assets and overseeing portfolios. In contrast, a portfolio manager primarily handles the financial assets of their clients. The main objective of property managers is to manage and improve the value of a property while maximizing the return on investment for the owner. They analyze the real estate market and decide whether to continue investing in a property or divest it.
2. Asset Management Vs Property Management
When it comes to asset management versus property management, people frequently experience confusion. Although both concepts are essential to the ownership and management of real estate, they are distinct. Recognizing the difference between the two overlapping cores of real estate management and comprehending how the two interact is vital.
2.1 Key Differences Based on Scope, Objectives and Activities
Property management is operational, while asset management is strategic and focused on the big picture.
Asset management involves a broader scope of responsibilities as it encompasses the management of multiple properties within a portfolio, including analyzing and evaluating the financial performance of each property, monitoring market trends and changes, and making informed decisions about buying, selling, or holding assets. On the other hand, property management in real estate has a more limited scope and primarily focuses on managing the regular operations of a single property, including overseeing tenant relations, collecting rent, scheduling maintenance and repairs, and assuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
The primary objective of asset management is to develop and implement a strategy to maximize the return on investment, including identifying and acquiring properties that align with the owner's investment objectives, and developing long-term strategies to improve the performance of the portfolio as a whole. On the primary objective of property management in real estate is to ensure that a particular property is profitable and maintained to a high standard, create and implement effective marketing strategies to reach potential clients, and also handle the screening and selection process to ensure that clients are reliable and trustworthy.
Asset managers are responsible for creating and implementing long-term strategies to improve portfolio performance and hiring the personnel on an investor's team, including real estate agents, property managers, and leasing agents. Property managers are responsible for maintaining property value, ensuring it remains profitable for the owner, and hiring employees like cleaners, security guards, and contractors.
2.2 Interconnectedness of Asset and Property Management
Asset management and property management are closely interconnected, despite their different scopes and objectives. Effective communication and collaboration between asset and property managers are essential for a successful real estate investment portfolio. Asset managers rely on property managers to ensure individual properties are well-maintained and profitable. Property managers depend on asset managers to monitor investment strategy, market analysis, and portfolio optimization. The two roles combined can identify opportunities to increase the value of properties and achieve greater returns for investors.
3. Asset Management Techniques
Asset management is a highly technical position involving finances and investments to a significant degree. In the real estate industry, clients place a great deal of trust in asset managers to purchase and sell valuable properties.
Cash Flow Analysis: The real estate asset management technique, cash flow analysis is used to analyze cash transactions generated by a property to determine its profitability and potential returns. It helps asset managers assess its profitability and potential returns, guiding decision-making in investment, asset maintenance, and renovation.
Debt and Equity Financing: The technique of financing debt and equity is about understanding and utilizing various financing options to fund real estate investments. Asset managers can choose the best financing strategy for their real estate investments using this technique.
Property Valuation: The process of determining the value of a property based on factors like its location, condition, and potential rental income is simplified by property valuation techniques. Determining the property's current market value, setting a sale price or rental rate, and negotiating with potential buyers or tenants benefit an asset manager to identify the property value effectively.
Financial Modeling: Developing the future cash flow projection and understanding the investment returns for future decision-making is vital. Using economic modeling for asset management, real estate asset managers can identify potential risks and opportunities and make informed decisions about investment strategies.
4. Property Management Techniques
Property management is a service-oriented profession that involves hands-on knowledge of a property's operational aspects. Most of a property manager's duties revolve around techniques that ensure smooth property management and meeting the residents' needs and expectations.
Budgeting and Financial Planning: Monitoring expenses related to real estate property management, such as utilities, insurance & maintenance, and finding ways to reduce costs without sacrificing quality using the budgeting and financial planning technique will help property managers make informed decisions about property investments and identify areas for cost-saving measures.
Lease Negotiations: Maintaining accurate and up-to-date lease agreements, renewals, and terminations, enforcing lease terms, and resolving any disputes that may arise using the lease negotiation skills result in favorable lease terms for property owners, ultimately leading to better profitability.
Tenant Screening and Retention: Conducting comprehensive background checks on prospective tenants to ensure trustworthiness, accountability, and implementing retention techniques to hold current tenants can help reduce vacancies and turnover, and ultimately increase profits.
Effective Marketing and Advertising: To attract new tenants and help maintain high occupancy rates implementing effective real estate marketing and advertising techniques, including listing, signage, and social media, helps property managers with improved visibility and attractiveness of a property, leading to high rental income.
5. Clarifying Misconceptions about Asset and Property Management
Real estate asset management and property management are two distinct roles that are often misunderstood. One common misunderstanding is that asset management is solely for prominent investors, whereas property management is exclusively for small-scale landlords. However, it is crucial to recognize that both roles are intertwined and can benefit from techniques utilized in both areas. Real estate decision-makers should comprehensively understand asset and property management techniques to make well-informed decisions that can optimize profitability and value. Real estate professionals can create an efficient and effective management approach for their properties by dispelling misconceptions and capitalizing on the strengths of both roles.
Read More