Realcomm 2007

A technology/convergence success story that was much discussed, implemented ten years ago and is now online. Bill Jacobs discuss their program to IP enable all digital, video and access controls across the networks to globally manage 440 locations and 17.5 million SF. Through centralized operation centers, the company saves $10 million/year on a recurring revenue basis. This has implemented greater business continuity and security applications. A peek at the future is also discussed.

As leaders in the business, ASP discusses how they are taking a holistic view of what is happening in the marketplace: oil crisis, energy and electric increases, etc. and proactively addressing these issues. With their smart buildings, they are working on creating awareness in corporate America to find smarter ways to work and run their businesses while balancing what is good for the environment.

With standards and technology changing, Henry Chamberlain discusses interoperability as the greatest change affecting the industry. It has certainly transformed the way they do business in regards to efficiency and relevancy. In ten years, he predicts that all operational information will be on somebody’s fingertips which will make the industry more effective and drive asset values.

Sheldon Pfeifer is seeing a couple of forces driving large industry trends today. He sees a focus and demand on operations software innovations to squeeze out efficiencies. The other is regulatory compliance including green building initiatives. Oracle offers a wide variety of products, but what’s next are solutions to manage of front lease end transactions from marketing to closing deals, document management automation and others.

In keeping with the conference day’s discussion on the merging of innovation and real estate, this is a dialogue with how GE Asset Management is working with their building partners to focus on the integration and intersection of technology. They are placing infrastructures on building systems that communicate to each other. Examples on how technology is applied to efficiently operate their buildings are cited.

A discussion on the acceleration of transactions of commercial properties online. It is currently at phase where contingent offers are already online but still facing the largest barrier of the actual physical inspection of the properties. As more information comes online, the ability increases to provide actionable items to get to a decision-making point (i.e. make an offer).

An exciting discussion into what OSCRE is working on now and what’s to come. For the past ten years, they have been working on standards for commercial information exchange which is moving property listings exchanged between various parties to make it easier to acquire and process information. This is now released and will be implemented by CBRE. Others in the works are space classification, GL locations, real property unique identifier standards, among others.

In regards to standards in data management, it will mean a tremendous amount for their membership. They get a lot of pressure from the regulators, rating agencies and clients to respond to them more efficiently. By adopting OSCRE standards, it will allow them to be more responsive, efficient., save time and money. Adoption rate is an increased awareness hat this is going to be a requirement.

OSCRE was started out of the commercial real estate sector based on the need to expand thee role of technology serving companies or service firms. A lot of progress was going to be needed and they recognized that standards was the oil to get the machine going. OSCRE focuses on best operations systems for the business, best practices, information management and technical standards. Its goal is to get the industry up to the 21st century standards.

The future technology standards is in the integrated workplace management systems space. The ability to integrate data sets and elements across the workplace landscape is where we are going, but the industry will not go there without standards. These can be implemented through: collaboration with OSCRE, dialogue with vendors to support and embrace itand evangelizing it to user groups.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

Just for fun! ;)

Discussing the standards in the global marketplace, Roger DeBoehmler has seen that the level of global investment traffic has increased dramatically, all of which is reliant on some very unstructured data. What OSCRE is all about structuring that data that so you can deliver real performance reporting on real estate investments. This will drive a complete new level of efficiency in the marketplace. As more transparent the industry becomes, the more confidence there is to invest and everyone benefits.

What is currently happening in the marketplace and also what Prudential is doing is looking at portfolio management systems, internet providers for content managers and international implementation that is multi-currency and multi-language. For Bob Murphy, he has now staff around the world, which in five years can raise the question of whether workers need to physically be at the office or work remotely.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

From the innovations standpoint, Scott Morey opines that for the last three to five years, we have been seeing the same things from most companies and not innovating as fast as we should. Fundamentally, it’s been more of the evolution of operating models with CEOs taking the lead. These includes initiatives in integrations of operations, IT and engineering; more above-the-line activities whether its expansion to new markets geographically; or other ways of further enhancing their ability to deliver services, both equally on the front and back-end systems.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

Mark Kingston discusses how standardization may not be the key to work in the global realm. Rather, by delivering accurate communications, value can be achieved. Challenges include each country’s local methods, regulations and processes for evaluation which limits transparency. This can be compounded further with language barrier. The key would focus on how to solve the various differences globally through a universal communicator between participants to create transparency.

This year, Realm acquired a number of companies which bolsters their already well-known software and reputation in the industry. These products are currently being integrated with the goal of extending the value of the software that their clients already own. Various benefits and innovations are discussed.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

Success stories and future innovations are discussed on how this CRE and technology company infuses technology in buildings to create next-generation workplaces and workspaces for future workers to get better tenants, higher rents, faster leasing process and higher retention.

An overview of how the real estate industry is rapidly changing as systems integrate i.e., marketing information being coordinated now with building information, as well as many different platforms communicating and working better. A discussion of a recent merger at the conference is discussed and how it will bring a national presence to and service the industry better.

In the expanding digital landscape, what Standard Vision does is attempt to integrate media and architecture and develop urban channels with a focus on content and design to maximize ROI. The goal is to develop in very specific landmark locations with exciting media environments while avoiding unnecessary installations and noise pollution.

A look at industry innovation and what’s next for CIOs. This year’s Realcomm attendees are three times as much as it was three years ago. Concepts that were out on the edge then, such as convergence on IP networks of building, equipment, machinery, lighting, life safety systems, it’s all coming and are unavoidable. Joel Manfredo welcomes it and thinks it’s about time. For CIOs, he predicts that what’s next for them is that they should understand the building automation area.

A discussion on the impact of the green building movement. Major companies are adopting their practices so buildings are run more efficiently, reduce their energy and carbon emissions. Technology is being adapted, especially with newer buildings, to primarily help assess how the buildings are being built, assess its performance and how green they are.

Virtual Premise focuses on providing lease administration, portfolio, transaction and project management solutions to the industry and service provider community. There is a continuous growing need for more information coming from a variety of locations. The company is focusing on integration of these systems to use in the optimum way to allow their clients to run their business efficiently. Ten years from now, things that seem to be harder to accomplish today will be assumed – systems and functionalities will integrate and flawlessly communicate.

Within Vornado, IT has played a traditional role but that is now shifting as it looks to leverage technology into managing their properties, previously managed by non-technologists, by trying to find solutions to bridge these gaps. Key interests are in-building wireless and energy management. Challenge has been to sell the building operations center concept to their internal management as a necessity utility to increase ROI.

The holy grail of investment software is discovered by Waterfall IRR! Formerly, when the deal is done, the state-of-the-art standard is to use Excel, which can be limiting and ungainly. As the closing process moves forward and gets more complex, this software is flexible, easy to model and structure to easily calculate “waterfalls” and IRR calculations.

There is an interesting transition happening in the industry regarding the platform of information delivery. Technology has created a marketplace innovation resulting in tangible dollar ROIs. With systems no longer dictating how one should run their businesses, companies can focus instead on logistics and efficient operations.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

What differentiates Akridge is that they are an innovative company that’s not afraid to try and implement new technologies to make their buildings energy efficient, green and smart. Tommy Russo also discusses their first and unprecedented implementation of a full coverage, neutral host in building wireless solutions in multi-tenant building and a host of other technological innovations.

The company was the first to build and implement a web-based solution in 1999 and today is the leading innovator in the lease administration industry. While paper may not completely go away, there is a movement to automation and accessibility of systems like AMT Director. Currently, they are expanding to international capabilities which will be available by end of year. To stay cutting edge, future innovations will be to add modules and expand portfolio and evolve to better serve their clients’ needs.

Today's energy issues, combined with new developments in technology, are affecting the commercial real estate sector very fast. There is already a tremendous push to accelerate energy efficiency by retrofitting existing structures. For new buildings, codes are changing rapidly and also accommodate green content . There is a good adoption rate from construction companies, developers and users as they recognize the financial benefits.

Mike Praeger notes that there has been an evolution in the last five years with real estate companies following other industries and getting comfortable with software as a service. The innovations are twofold: it is within the business process and automating it in a web based service environment and how quickly more people are adopting the service.

Boston Properties showcases their command center as an excellent example on how they are integrating technology and using new services coming online to manage their massive portfolios and add value to their properties. He also comments on the intelligent building for the future and why integration will be key. With hard materials changing, he believes that the ability to wire buildings to tie-in more services on IP protocol is what’s next.

With emerging technology, you are always trying to get a competitive edge, increase ROI, get the next investor, etc. The owners who get it are those who understand that they can get value with a limited investment in technology. This allows them to do more things efficiently and put them ahead of the curve. A peek into what BPG is doing next is also discussed.

A discussion on how as an immature user of IT, Brookfield faces numerous challenges to think of IT as an enabler and how the company can prioritize investing in IT. This momentum was increased with a recent acquisition that doubled the size of the company and how they are standardizing the information exchange.

One of the early adapters of OSCRE discusses the benefits of embracing this technology. Primarily it saves a lot of time for the busy executive. Instead of sitting in various meetings with different organizations, OSCRE rolls up the discussion in one group. The adaption and creation of well defined standards that actually works allows CBRE to drive integration, increase transparency that can invite a high level of investment and eliminate inefficiencies. While this technology benefits their competitors, it really benefits the entire industry.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

The biggest challenge that Dave Clute is facing is getting people to understand what they do and adopt it and find the business value. Groundbreaking technology – adoption of XML standards, middleware, webservices and moving to Web 2.0, are helping increase the adoption rate.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

At the 2007 Realcomm Conference in Boston, I interviewed more than 60 of the smartest people in the real estate industry over a two day period. I captured their insights and experience on how technology is affecting the commercial real estate industry.

There is too much information and not enough economic ways to gather it to be used. Today, there are technologies that can accumulate and present it to property managers in a valuable way. Services can be provided based on need versus leaving it to chance. This can result to better scheduling of their workforce, controlling utility costs and other advantages.

The evolution of the building wireless systems industry diminishes the clash between real estate companies and wireless service providers. Both are coming together today. For real estate companies, they clearly understand that they must provide their tenants, existing and prospective, a single infrastructure that includes voice, WiFi, building automations and other technologies to keep and attract them. For the wireless providers, they know that this is the next to continue generating revenue. From a functional standpoint, buildings are operating more efficiently.

DocClarity offers a twist in traditional document management in today’s digital world with the offering of SAS (software as a solution). They host content, manage hardware infrastructure, support and disaster recovery on a pay-as-you-go model. The key is co-purposing of a variety of documents as viewed by numerous lines of business.

A discussion on how there is a lot of excitement in the industry in Dubai. This company is focusing on telecomm service operators and city management services to stay ahead of the competition by ensuring that operations and buildings are running efficiently and seamlessly.

There is a new marketplace emerging with the explosion of green buildings. It is having a huge impact in the building industry. Envision Solar is one of the solution providers in this marketplace. Robert Noble discusses how they are participating and contributing with their customized solutions. Companies are rapidly adapting to this initiative – it’s not a question of why but how they will do it.

The new, emerging technology trends in commercial real estate today are creating revenue streams and reducing operating expenses through the use of technology strategies. This creates market differentiation and higher property values. The US is behind, but has an opportunity to catch up.

With its numerous assets, Forest City discusses how it maintains its competitive advantage in the industry by always staying at its cutting edge initiatives from sustainability, green designs to bringing state-of-the-art technology to their tenants.

In the automation industry, integration and convergence is happening. GridLogix wants to be the go-to solution provider to connect information to users. Challenge is to normalize huge amounts of information to actionable items with a goal of increasing ROI.