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Takeaways:
- Competition breeds environment of first adopters.
- Business technology is real estate technology.
- Complex concepts are being made simple via new advances in data collection.
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about 9 real estate tech terms you should stop using.
Now I have a few you should start using.
This list is not specific to real estate, but will be soon. Therefore, it will help to at least have a rudimentary sense of what it entails.
1. Bootstrap
Bootstrap is the name of the most common open-source framework for making software function in mobile environments. It empowers developers to build software and websites that function as well on your smartphone as they do when deployed on twin 42-inch monitors.
You’ll most often hear it used when someone is showing you a website or software. “This is completely bootstrapped, ready for any device.”
Yes, it’s already a verb.
2. Mobile-first
This is why Bootstrap has become so useful.
Mobile-first describes the approach more software developers are taking when creating new solutions. The static desktop browser is losing ground, especially as tablet/phone hybrid form factor inches toward widespread adoption. Think about every handheld being the size of the iPhone 6.
As agents shoot for new websites or custom apps, don’t settle for responsive. Be mobile-first.
3. Social selling
After several years of figuring out ways to quantitatively integrate social media, industry is now at the point where it can leverage social on deeper levels than celebrating retweets.
Big data is making social selling possible. How we interact with online content and how companies integrate our engagement habits is making its way into high-level strategy.
Agents should look for tools and platforms that combine productivity features with outward-facing forms of customer interaction.
4. Wearables
Many of you may already be striding to work accessorized with a Fitbit or Apple Watch, happily immune to their far-from-accurate calorie burn counters.
Sure, you’re a first adopter. You’re also rapidly merging into the matrix.
Devices are being embedded with omnipotent chips and sensors that read much more than our email.
Data on every step we take can be integrated into larger, more sophisticated systems.
Think about the reach of wearables in construction safety (worker stress levels and biometric readings), consumerism (biological reactions to product displays or digital price tags that change with shopper income level) and, soon, real estate.
What ideas do you have for wearables?
5. Internet of Things
This is where things become really connected, especially in the home.
Wi-Fi-enabled appliances have been on the market for a few years. However, things get interesting when the appliances start chatting.
You may also hear “machine-to-machine” in this context, or M2M. Think about Waze alerting your car to impending slowdowns so it can adjust to eco-mode automatically. Maybe your bathroom scale can signal your refrigerator to flash a light on the vegetable crisper. You know, as a little reminder.
Because real estate touches so many other industries, expect the brains behind making these technologies marketable to seek ways to reach agents.
Collectively, your line of work opens a wide, fast freeway to all levels of consumer. Put another way, agents are ideal first adopters.
I advise buckling up for the ride. It’s going to get fun.
Unless you’re in eco-mode.
What do you think? Do you want a scale that insults you? Leave a comment and let us know!
Have a technology product you would like to discuss? Email Craig Rowe.