Real estate firms are improving the effectiveness of their long-term strategies by implementing the managed IT services Houston businesses of all sizes use to make them function on an equivalent level of other enterprises. Real estate brokers realize failure to implement advanced technological improvements reduces their competitive edge, which is reflected in the loss of business and stagnated growth.
Forbes reports that there are certain innovations and trends in technology that most real estate firms should benefit from, which are:
- Artificial Intelligence: These next-generation tools help real estate agents with customer lead generation, prospecting for new listings, and managing customer service. Artificial intelligence (AI) software, cloud-based support services, and data mining are rapidly becoming a powerful and cost-effective way to improve a real estate company’s performance. Real estate agents can have AI working for them to search and process data in useful ways that integrate with customer resource management. This helps real estate companies become more efficient and improves the overall customer experience.
- Fintech Innovations: The application of technology solutions in the financial industry (fintech) is advancing at a rapid pace. Deal management platforms deliver enterprise-wide risk management capabilities along with improvements in the underwriting processes that reduce mistakes and increase process efficiency.
- Improved Lending Transactions: Borrowers and real estate brokers benefit from improved information access from fintech-driven companies that provide real estate loans. Real-time access to detailed, accurate loan information improves the speed and the process of closing a lending transaction.
- Virtual Reality (VR): VR technology is becoming more important because clients and real estate agents can save time reviewing listings through VR walk-throughs and VR fly-arounds, without having to physically visit so many properties. Less time is wasted showing properties. This results in faster closings.
- Automated Valuation Models (AVM): AVM technology allows real estate investment companies to rapidly decide which deals meet acquisition criteria and find those that are worth pursuing.
- Mobile Platforms: The move towards mobile solutions means that real estate agents and their customers are able to do almost everything from any location that has an Internet connection. Just two available online mobile tools are libraries of training videos and webinars. There are also online contract-signing tools, online notarization, performance tracking software, and marketing tools. The convenience of mobile access to data at any time from anywhere brings along with it the need for enhanced IT security in order to avoid the potential damages from a data breach.
Outsourced IT Services Houston
Real estate firms benefit from working with an IT specialist that implements technology innovations, and also conducts a cybersecurity review and makes recommendations for improved security on a regular basis. Implementing the technology innovations that improve workflows and customer acquisition are critical path needs for real estate firms that want to stay competitive.
Most real estate companies benefit from outsourcing IT management of these services:
- Cybersecurity: The goal of cybersecurity is to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. An IT security review is conducted on a regular basis to check for vulnerabilities. Penetration testing is used to determine if a hacker can gain access to the private network and database files. Good cybersecurity includes securing files with encryption, physical security to protect equipment, a robust system of user identification for authorization, and employee training in security protocols.
- Real-Time Continuous Network Monitoring: One of the main benefits from outsourcing IT services is that there is continuous 24-hour, 365-days-per-year monitoring of the network. Technicians monitor the network at all times and watch for any unauthorized intrusion attempts as well as proactively manage any other network problems.
- Data Backup and Disaster Recovery: Every real estate firm needs to rapidly recover from a disaster that affects data systems. This could be a natural disaster that causes an electrical failure, a data breach, or a hacker attack. Recovery is aided by maintaining regular off-site backups of the data in redundant ways, which create a copy of the files that can be used for recovery in the case of a disaster.
- Cloud Computing and Data Mining: A compelling trend is to move data storage and processing to cloud-based services. The advantages of this are that there are automatic updates to reduce security risks and there is no need to maintain an expensive in-house IT staff and computer server equipment.
- Virtual Reality Support: This support allows seamless integration of VR presentations of the property listings with the marketing efforts on a company’s website and on social media.
- Email and Spam Protection: Managing email includes reducing spam, blocking phishing attempts (using a fake website to capture private information), and removing viruses delivered as an email attachment.
- Smartphone and Mobile Device Security: Smartphone and mobile device communications are secured with point-to-point encryption protocols. In a secured system, if lost or stolen, these devices can be easily deactivated. This makes unauthorized use more difficult.
Flat Rate IT Service Programs
Real estate firms benefit from working with an IT specialist to implement technology innovations that also conducts a cybersecurity review and makes recommendations for improved security on a regular basis. It is more cost-effective to contract for IT services on a flat-rate monthly program than to pay an hourly rate for technical assistance.
Expertise in IT Services Houston
SMB Integrations manages the IT services Houston real estate firms rely on to help their business become more profitable and more efficient with improved staff morale. Other goals include managing IT solutions that help real estate firms foster better communications with clients and to leverage technology in order to provide higher levels of customer satisfaction.
Why outsource IT work?
Round the clock 24-hour monitoring and support for a monthly flat price is a comprehensive solution for real estate companies. This allows them to focus on what they do best, which is to help clients with real estate. Managed IT technology provides all the support needed for real estate agents to be most effective.
By outsourcing IT work, a company’s owner(s) can rest easy that there is state-of-the-art protection against cybersecurity risks. Businesses that already have some in-house IT support can augment their IT solutions by partially outsourcing some of the IT work in ways that are more cost-effective.
Can Real Estate brokers trust an outsourced IT process?
The risks of neglecting to take adequate steps to protect again cybersecurity breaches, when relying only on a limited in-house IT staff, are far greater than relying on an outsourced IT. The outsourced team concentrates on IT security constantly and usually has more expertise than in-house staff.
It is wise to regularly consult with a highly-qualified IT professional regarding the technology implementations that are beneficial for a real estate firm and those that can improve IT security. Outsourcing, in general, is a good idea. However, it is also important to work with a local firm, not some company far away. A qualified local firm can also assist with any hardware equipment repairs and network system upgrades that are needed.
Summary
Houston real estate companies rely upon SMB Integrations for technology installations, upgrades, and IT services in order to implement the newest innovations and best manage cybersecurity risks.
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