Business Specialties Technology
Hard-Working Web Site
Oct 14, 2009
Odds are your company recently launched its second- or third-generation Web site, or is in the process of gearing up to do it. As the Internet enters adulthood, the time is now to apply lessons learned, leverage new technology and continue to evolve your company’s online brand and marketing presence.
Developing Issues
Oct 14, 2009
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Q: We're refurbishing an existing building. What are the most important technological considerations today?
A: Whether you're involved in a new development or upgrading an existing structure, several issues arise.
Streamlining Management & Accounting
Oct 14, 2009
Florida-based commercial and residential property developer and managerTobin Properties stands as a compelling example of how a centralized,integrated property management and accounting database can streamlinefinancial reporting and simplify key property management activities.
The Growth of BIM
Oct 14, 2009
The growth of Building Information Modeling can easily be seen in the increased amount of discussion on the subject. Over the past couple of years BIM has worked its way into most AEC professionals’ vocabulary, but there hasn’t been too much quantifiable data regarding its success or use--until now.
Building Technology Done Right
Oct 14, 2009
Bright lights and loud music are integral to a person’s experience at anightclub. Their appeal is lost, however, when you want to conduct abusiness meeting, have a quiet conversation or get a good night’ssleep. Watching your team on a large screen at a sports bar isentertaining, yet when you want to enjoy a romantic dinner at arestaurant, a blaring television in the adjacent bar can ruin the mood.How do you ensure that the technology installed in your building spaceenhances, rather than detracts from, the experience of its occupants?The solution is threefold.
Pew Center Offers Tips from Top Companies on Going Green
Oct 01, 2009
Companies looking to go green now have another resource to consult. This week, the
Pew Center on Global Climate Change unveiled the Corporate Energy
Efficiency Web Portal, which aims to provide research and information for companies
looking to improve their sustainability or learn from others that have.
Better Business Through Twitter, Part 2
Sep 10, 2009
If you recall, I was looking at taking the plunge into social media via Twitter. I already was on Facebook and LinkedIn, but as I did more research and talked to other brokers, I could see that Twitter would give me another way to communicate about my company’s business with other brokers, possible clients and the media. Not only that, I could see that it would allow me to keep abreast of real estate and political news that could impact my business and keep me educated as well. In a way, it was like getting a constant news feed in 140 characters or less.
U.S. Architecture Firms Increase International Work, Embrace BIM
Sep 10, 2009
Conducted periodically over the past 20 years, the AIA Firm Survey report includes a wealth of information about firm composition and business trends at AIA member-owned architectural firms. The soon-to-be-released 2009 report, based on 2008 data, is reflective of the boom that the industry experienced prior to the recent downturn.
Automating Investment Management
Sep 10, 2009
Facing demands for bottom-line results and return on investment, intensified competition for capital, numerous regulatory requirements and an increasing need for transparent reporting, real estate investment managers are finding solutions through technology. And new automation capabilities promise a better, more efficient way to manage real estate investments than traditional spreadsheets.
Do Silicon Valley and Sustainability Mix?
Sep 10, 2009
Much to the dismay of many of my colleagues in the world of information technology, only a few years ago, metrics such as DCiE (Data Center Infrastructure Efficiency = Total Energy for IT Equipment/Total Energy for Data Center) or its inverse, Power Utilization Effectiveness or PUE (=1/DCiE), did not exist. These metrics now for the first time put the IT director and their equipment selection in the spotlight. But these same metrics somehow have been used against the managing agent. How did this happen so fast?
PDAs: Must-Have Tools, Not Just Techno-Gadgets
Sep 10, 2009
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Q: What are the best new PDA and smartphone options today for business and is there anything coming up that’s worth waiting for?
A: Over the past few years, PDAs have shifted from being techno-gadgets to a must-have tool in business. For a while, PDA users fell into distinct tribes: the early-adopter Palm/Treo users, the buttoned-down corporate Blackberry users and others, including Windows mobile, Motorola Q and so forth.
The iPhone was the first PDA to successfully break into the Palm/Blackberry duopoly, and has overtaken Palm in market share.
Software Expedites Energy Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting Process for CRE
Sep 10, 2009
Energy conservation, which can provide immediate and long-term savings, oftentimes at relatively low costs, has become a focal point in the widespread effort to achieve greater sustainability. That's where a new software program called BuildingAdvice comes in. a product of Portland,Ore.-based firm AirAdvice, the platform is a wireless building performance diagnostic system that monitors, assesses and produces reports on a building's energy performance.
Better Business Through Twitter
Aug 12, 2009
No matter what you may think about social media, one thing is certain:This form of “interaction” is becoming more of a necessity in business.Commercial real estate is no exception. And while Facebook and, in morecases, Linkedin have already been used by the business community tosome extent to generate a network, it’s the new kid on the block,Twitter, that seems to be getting the biggest spotlight.
Glimpsing New Efficiencies Through Portals
Aug 12, 2009
Portals--secure, seamless conduits between Web sites and operating databases--can help commercial real estate tenants and other stakeholders gain real-time access to crucial business information and online services. At the same time, they can provide commercial managers with the opportunity to increase efficiencies through dynamic integration between property Web sites and property management documents and data.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Aug 12, 2009
While the Verizon theme has become a catch-phrase capturing the
frustration and challenges of spotty cellular connections, like most
annoyances in our world today, they are something we seem to adapt to
and accept. But as a commercial property owner, you’d do well to pay
attention to your tenants’ or visitors’ connectivity requirements. What
was an annoyance yesterday could mean lost leases, revenue or traffic
today. And depending on your property, solving this problem can even be
a revenue source.
Social Media Use Growing Despite RE Industry Struggles
Aug 12, 2009
Social media have been in the news a fair amount lately, and not necessarily for good reasons, with the hacking of Twitter last week and the recent banning of Facebook and the like by the U.S. Armed Forces.Previously considered aspects of juvenile cyberculture, social media have hit the mainstream.
Technology Crunch
Aug 12, 2009
We have the technology to solve not only the most complex pro-forma calculations or building performance models but also the mundane tasks that previously required for most a few conventions in order to keep our ideas in line. As a generation of leaders and professionals begin to head into the workplace, management should be vigilant of the pace at which they replace the seasoned mentors these young people will need.
The Truth Behind Internet Security
Jul 10, 2009
How effective are Internet security tools these days and what
new tools or processes should I be using to protect electronic access
to my business records and communications?
Online Auction Platform Aims to Improve Bidding
Jul 10, 2009
Taking advantage of a new platform to create more interest from buyers
in auction-sold properties, Sperry Van Ness/Guardian launched the
MarketMaker auction platform to sell REO, bank ordered and developer
close-out properties.
SCIwatch Program Boosts Energy Efficiency for Clients Like Santa Clara County
Jul 10, 2009
The commercial property sector has been increasingly concerned with
energy efficiency for some years now. With ever-dwindling and
nonrenewable resources being consumed at faster rates than ever, the
industry has been among the leaders in efforts to increase efficiency.
And the current economic downturn has only served to render efficiency
even more vital to property owners’ bottom lines. Aiming to serve the
growing demand, Scientific Conservation Inc. has just launched a
software program that it says will enable owners to save up to 25
percent on energy costs. And for clients such as Santa Clara County in
California, that savings is more important now than ever.
Green Building in a Changing Economic Environment
Jul 10, 2009
Currently, buildings contribute the largest single source of emissions
to our environment. Approximately 40 percent of all carbon emissions
come from buildings, and these are the places where you live, work and
play. At the American Institute of Architects, we are approaching
sustainability and green buildings with a solutions-based approach that
embraces technological change and incorporates the business case for
green buildings, which has become immeasurably stronger during the past
decade, as prices for green materials have decreased and knowledge of
green design has increased.
The 5 Hot Buttons of Videoconference Space Design
Jul 10, 2009
As the economic slowdown continues and non-critical business travel
budgets are reduced, videoconferencing is becoming an acceptable
alternative. But if the facilities aren’t designed appropriately, what
could have been a productive meeting ends up as a technological
nightmare. Although it seems easy just to set up a camera and monitor
display in a conference room, there are five key areas that should all
receive attention to create a successful videoconference room with a
high-quality experience for all participants.
Core Platform Anchors Enhanced Capabilities
Jul 10, 2009
Imagine it’s 1990. You’ve moved into a sparkling new office. On the
surface, it’s perfect: spacious, modern furnishings, convenient
parking. But the dynamism of the commercial real estate industry soon
exposes its shortcomings.
Define Your Digital Rights
Jun 11, 2009
Ask yourself this one simplequestion: Can you afford to give out confidential information without theability to control it?
Technology's Collaborative Power
Jun 11, 2009
Collaboration is a fundamental requirement of integration. Research from the Construction Industry Institute has shown that collaborative projects have fewer claims, shorter schedules and more job satisfaction. Anyone considering putting a team together should consider the benefits of integration and how it can further enhance a team’s performance and outcome when delivering their project.
Data System Allows Colonial to Produce Reports with Ease, Accuracy
Jun 11, 2009
In today’s market, financial reporting and recordkeeping are more important than ever. But it can often be a laborious and time-consuming process. And for a firm the size of Colonial Properties Trust—which has ownership interests in more than 250 multi-family, office and retail properties nationwide—that task can be even tougher.
TransUnion, RentBureau Affiliation Will Benefit M-F Owners, Renters
Jun 11, 2009
Facing increasing vacancy levels induced by
economic unrest, apartment owners are eager to attract tenants--responsible
tenants--in order to bolster their bottom line. To that end, owners using
TransUnion's rental screening platform have a new tool for evaluating tenants'
reliability now that the credit bureau has decided to incorporate RentBureau's
proprietary rental payment database as a new feature for vetting prospective
renters.
Data Centers' New Age
Jun 11, 2009
With the new administration trying to tackle America’s dependency on energy abroad, data centers, as spearheaded by the Department of Energy, are once again becoming the focus of the industry in its effort to reduce energy consumption.
Using Technology to Think-and Act-Globally
Jun 11, 2009
One challenge that arises when a real estate company seeks new opportunities in the international arena is managing an ever-expanding domain as one coherent, unified enterprise. Industry leader Cushman & Wakefield offers a compelling example of the benefits of using an open-architecture platform to centralize widely dispersed operations. Open architecture offers the promise of virtually unlimited efficiencies for real estate companies whose operations cross national borders.
The Case of the Disappearing Web Site
Jun 11, 2009
As companies rely more and more on their Web sites, hosted email servers and other outsourced IT services, a new threat has slowly emerged: the disappearing Web site. Traditional factors usually involve money: The Web hosting bill wasn't paid or the designer wasn't paid or there's a dispute between the client and the designer. If you have questions maintaining your disaster recovery policies and procedures, find out what you can do.
An Integrated Approach
May 14, 2009
Today's commercial real estate market presents an extraordinary challenge but also an excellent opportunity for firms large and small to increase market share. Using an integrated marketing approach to communications will boost your firm's visibility with buyers and sellers who will once again become active. And it doesn't have to cost a lot of money to be successful.
Economic Stimulus & Data Center Construction
May 14, 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as it is technically titled, has allocated roughly $19 billion for the deployment of electronic medical records. What exactly does that mean?
As Mortgage Pool Shrinks, Lender Turns to LoanMarq for Leg Up
May 14, 2009
With the mortgage industry still in a state of tumult, lenders and investors are on the lookout for new and innovative methods to increase profits and make every aspect of the mortgage process run as smoothly as possible. Such was the goal of Mortgage Solutions, a Knoxville, Tenn.-based lender, when the firm turned to Sthenia Solutions and its LoanMarq software program.
Upgrades for Easier Contract Management
May 14, 2009
On April 30, the AIA released an updated version of AIA Contract
Documents® software, making it better and easier to use. Guided by
extensive input from hundreds of contractor, owner, architect and
attorney users of AIA Contract Documents, the updated software saves
time and money by offering easier project and document management and
document completion.
New CRE Website Combines 3D Mapping, Property Data for NYC, NJ
May 14, 2009
Taking real estate expertise and combining it with technology has given birth to REonomy.com, a real estate information Web site designed to serve a range of professionals, from investors to brokers, by providing integrated parcel data, MLS and comprehensive property research tools in one location.
Business First Aid
May 14, 2009
Having a data recovery and business continuity plan ready for
activation following a disruptive event—localized building fires and
floods as well as widespread disasters—can minimize down time and allow
companies to collect rent, execute leases and perform other essential
functions virtually uninterrupted.
Sustainable Path to Efficiency
Apr 09, 2009
Much more than a catchy slogan, "Going Green" can provide a path for property managers that allows them to shed wasteful inefficiencies and reduce costs. Among the possible procedures involved are paperless invoice processing and centralized, Web-based procurement, environmentally friendly real estate practices that are also setting new industry standards for efficiency and cost effectiveness.
The Latest Commercial Real Estate Technology Strategies
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