4 Ways Technology Is Changing Real Estate

Bisnow Media

Technology has been impacting real estate more and more in recent years, but the trend is only just beginning. Among those at the forefront of how tech intersects with real estate is WiredScore CEO Arie Barendrecht, who we caught up with to learn about four types of firms changing the industry through technology. Arie will be among the speakers at Bisnow's Future of Real Estate event on July 14 at the Ritz-Carlton Boston.

Arie Barendrecht of WiredScore
Bisnow

1) Simplifiers

Arie tells us these companies unlock value for landlords by taking complex ideas or activities and making them simple and transparent. He puts his company into this category, WiredScore's connectivity rating service helps building owners and leasing agency teams get a clear picture of the internet connectivity in their buildings.

Brokers are not always known for their technological prowess, so this creates a distinct advantage in helping them discuss connectivity smartly and efficiently with prospective tenants and brokers, and drive leasing.

2) Insight Drivers

Arie categorizes insight drivers as technologies that help to inform and improve real estate decision making. Real estate information databases such as Reonomy are a good example of this.

These platforms bring together many forms of disparate data as well as advanced analytics tools to help investors, lenders, developers (etc.) to reach smarter outcomes. Another example: as the category of Internet of Things products continues to expand, Arie believes the winning companies will be best at coupling sensor data with analytics to support better decision making.

Oculus Rift

3) Enablers

Arie tells us this category includes technologies that transform manual or painful activities that plague commercial real estate professionals and drive value by making those activities more efficient.

This usually involves automatizing tasks and supporting mobility. Successful firms such as VTS and Hightower could be considered enablers because of the efficiency they bring to the leasing process for brokers. In addition, a company like Honest Buildings would fit in this category, as it helps construction teams centralize procurement activities and evaluate project progress, generate reports, exchange documents and more.

4) Disruptors

These are the big innovators. These firms usually deliver technologies that are not just incrementally improving upon existing ideas but instead are creating an entirely new way of conducting all types of business. One of the most exciting technologies in this space is augmented reality.

Arie tells us if you haven’t tested an Oculus Rift or watched a Magic Leap demo, you should and you will understand just how big this is for the business as it directly impacts the way we interact with the built environment.

Hear more about how technology is impacting our industry from Arie and an all-star cast of panelists at Bisnow's Future of Real Estate on Thursday, July 14, at the Ritz-Carlton Boston. Sign up here.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Boston Newsletters
Related Stories

'Distress Is Finally Trading': Investors Chasing Big Discounts On Boston Office

140-Acre Attleboro Golf Course Hits Market, Pitched For Redevelopment

CoStar To Acquire Aerial Imagery Company For $730M

Alexandria Sells Stakes In Megacampuses To Weather Life Sciences Downturn

Nonprofit Developer Buys Mattapan Site For Affordable Housing: The Boston Deal Sheet

Downtown Office Tower Sells At Foreclosure Auction For $260M

JLL Sues Ex-Life Sciences Leader, Alleging Breach Of Noncompete

FoxRock Buys Quincy Office At 78% Discount After Luring Tenant Away

Development Constraints In Massachusetts Push More Investors To Southern New Hampshire

Liberty Mutual Plans New Office Project To Consolidate HQ: The Boston Deal Sheet

Copper Mill Sues Partners Over Collapsed Deal For 750-Unit Dorchester Project

Wu Secures Approval To Give Tax Breaks To 4 Big Multifamily Projects