Time to Embrace Cloud and Digital Technology?

There is a wide range of misconceptions about cloud technology. GDPR, data leaks, accidental wholesale loss of databases, pictures of you on holiday in your Speedos going viral…the list goes on. However, your data is one of your businesses most valuable commodities, so leaving it to fester on a laptop, CRM or in a filing cabinet is doing you and your business a major disservice.

Adam Rackham, Openview’s Operations Director commented: `Those who don’t get their head ‘in the cloud’ and use it to its fullest could be left behind by the competition, and missing out on time-saving efficiencies…’ 

The benefits of using cloud technology for agents are myriad. Done properly, it can put your database to work whilst you focus on other things. It can provide you access to real-time data insights whilst eliminating wastage and (crucially) keeping your data up to date.

It wasn’t too long ago that the industry relied solely on leaflets, door drops, boards and centrefold spreads in the local newspaper. All of these have a place in 2022, but remain completely unaccountable in terms of ROI and engagement. Arguably, these methodologies only serve to collect, rather than utilise, data. 

It’s now easier than ever to analyse the efficacy of communication via email open rates, click through rates and other engagement metrics across campaigns on social media accounts and from your own CRM. Consequently, this insight can help to deliver the right message to the right person at the right time. No more sending a boy out on a bike with 2000 leaflets - just engage the people that are most likely to use your services.

Here are three key benefits of cloud-based technology: 

• Big data insights. As key business decisions become increasingly data-driven, there is a requirement to analyse and implement key points to improve productivity, effectiveness and marketing results. To highlight its importance, a McKinsey survey claims 53% of the fastest growing organisations on the world market use analytics more effectively than their competitors. 

• API integrations pave the way for synergy with other data sources such as your website and give room for exporting data directly from your CRM to your tenants, applications, landlords and vendors in real-time. These integrations save a lot of time and make the processes slicker. 

• Disaster management. By storing information on a cloud, companies minimise the risk associated with the unexpected data losses occurring due to technical problems, corruption of files or device failure.