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Page 2 — Property Management Quarterly — July 2017
Letter from the Editor
T here’s no way to avoid the
intermingling of our lives with
technology. From our smart-
phones to our smart homes,
most of us spend our first wak-
ing moments and last minutes before
bed connected to
our devices.
In our workplac-
es, the programs
and uses are even
more ubiquitous.
In property man-
agement, techno-
logical advances
saturate every
sphere of respon-
sibility. The goal of most of these
programs is to make work easier,
more efficient and better con-
nected. We want technologies to
streamline systems and enhance
reliability. The problem is, with so
many options out there, how do
you know what programs are worth
your time?
This is no easy task as programs
run the spectrum from single-pur-
pose applications, such as tracking
maintenance requests, to colossal
system that require major infra-
structure overhaul, such as the new
parking management systems.
There also is a balancing act
of not being left behind, but not
investing too much time as a
guinea pig to the latest-and-great-
est, untested programs – not to
mention, balancing your client’s
expectations and acceptance of
something new. As a whole, people
often require a little bit of coax-
ing to accept something new. Case
in point: a new parking system
that deploys technology to aid and
assist, but comes with the trade off
of new costs. In the long run, these
systems typically are embraced but,
in the short term, the complaints
and negative publicity that comes
with the adjustment period is not
fun to manage.
When customer service is a key
component to the job, technology
can hinder as much as it helps. For
example, the importance of in-per-
son interactions with tenants can
go a long way in tenant retention.
On the other hand, tenants may
enjoy greater flexibility and opera-
tional efficiencies, such as automat-
ed locker systems for deliveries.
I’m using this column as a call of
information. In the next issue I plan
to highlight some of property man-
agers’ favorite technologies to learn
what lives up to expectation and
what falls short.
Please share your favorite appli-
cations and programs that make
managing your buildings easier.
I’m interested to learn about any
program that you implemented
that you now could not live with-
out. I’d also like to hear about the
programs you tried that didn’t work
as intended. And finally, I’d like to
hear about the problems and tasks
you’re still waiting to see new tech-
nology address. I look forward to
receiving your input.
303-623-1148, Ext. 104
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Dan Simpson, Director of Management Services
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Newmark Knight Frank has built a reputation for delivering superior
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and worldwide. We have expansive expertise in trophy office building
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