Process versus technology is a hard distinction for a lot of people. Humans are programmed to think very simply about tools. The process that goes with “hammer” is “hit.” The process that goes with “spear” is “stab.” As tools get more complicated, the associated process gets more complicated. Sewing machines, cars, etc have multi-step processes….
The Art of #CRE Technology
Real estate technology is a new and developing field still. It’s filled with mix of legacy systems and companies (CoStar, Tririga, Manhattan, Archibus, LeaseHarbor, etc) and a mix of up-and-coming companies that haven’t quite established themselves yet (42floors, HonestBuildings, Qube, CompStack, etc). That’s not to say that the up-and-comers aren’t already successful but they still…
Sometimes letting things go is the best way to get something done.
It goes against most of natures to let projects fail – even just one part. We will often go to great lengths to make sure that everything works and comes together for the best result possible. Even if it means ridiculous hours, crazy processes and recruiting as many people to help as needed. Saving the world…
Spending 5 minutes on basic graphics has an immediate ROI.
The way we convey information is just as important as the information being conveyed. Thinking about how it is displayed and interpreted is critical to the communication process. Without good communication a great result can be turned into something bad. Without good information conveyance there is a good chance at pure confusion. Many people think…
Culture is what you do, not what you say.
Culture may be the single biggest factor in the success or failure of a small business. Some cultures allow an idea to thrive, cultivate and grow. Others can cause an otherwise great idea to die on the vine. The difficulty is that the same cultures do not work the same in all situations. Even in…
Prioritizing in the land of 25 emergencies.
Talking to a number of people this past week, a common theme arose – having more than 10 priorities to work on bit each will take more than 3 days to complete. This on top of project work. How can someone succeed in the face of this? There has been lots written on this topic…
A clean inbox is a happy inbox.
One of the downsides of the last month is that I have had an inbox that is spiraling out of control. Normally I’m able to keep up on things fairly well but lately it’s been getting a bit tougher. It’s not that I’m receiving that many more emails than before, more that I’m finding them…
Workflow – the devil of technology systems.
I hate all discussions that involve technology workflow processes. Hate them. If you want to get me riled up just bring it up. Everyone thinks they need it and knows exactly what they think they need. But rarely do they really understand the complexities that they are introducing to their business processes. The great thing…
Do your users really use your CRE systems?
I’ve been spending a lot of time over the past month looking at usage patterns and system functionality. One truism has held for every system I’ve looked at – every business overestimates the number of users that actively use their systems. Every one of them. Every system. Why does it matter? Because when it comes time…
Art of the Tech Headquarters
Uber’s new headquarters plans are making the round in all of the tech/cre circles….and for good reason. Between Google, Apple, Uber and others there are a lot of statement buildings being constructed. The natural question for these high growth companies is why they are investing in statement locations. The big reason is recruitment and retention….