Yardi’s expanding global user base was on display earlier this month as the company hosted user conferences in Sydney, Singapore and London with a record number of attendees at each conference. Yardi will host an additional annual user conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for its client base in the Middle East in March 2015. The Australia event was held at the Australian National Maritime Museum, in Sydney, over two days. Attendees participated in over a dozen sessions that covered a diverse range of topics including Yardi’s product roadmap together with breakout sessions focused on investment management, business intelligence, job cost, advanced accounting, budgeting, retail, mobility, facilities management, procurement, valuations and more. “We’re excited to host local user conferences across our international markets. These events allow us to strengthen the partnership with clients, allow attendees to network and provide an important channel for client feedback.” said Neal Gemassmer, Vice President, International. “And of course, it’s great to have some fun as well.” An evening social hour was hosted on the HMS Vampire, a retired Royal Navy Destroyer. The group enjoyed a special tour, light entertainment, sunset appetizers and beverages on the helipad of the ship with the Sydney skyline in the background. For more information on Yardi Australia, visit http://www.yardi.com.au A photo gallery of images from the event can be found below. Credit for all images goes to the ANZ User Conference Team especially Sham...
Conference Pro Tips
Best attendee practices
Conferences have become a booming business. Every year 1.8 million trade shows, conventions, expos, and other related meetings take place in the U.S. alone. A recent study observed the economic significance of meetings to the U.S. economy and the figures are staggering: 1.7 million jobs, $262 billion in spending, $60 billion in contribution to GDP, $60 billion in labor revenue, $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue, and $11.3 billion on state and local tax revenue. As we welcome our guests to the Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference, beginning next week in Washington, D.C. it’s worth asking: As an attendee, are you getting the most out of the conference experience? Before booking, make sure that you know why you’re attending and think strategically about how you’ll maximize the experience. The most common reasons are networking, finding leads, learning, and building your brand. The next thing to be considered is the administrative part. The sooner you book, the less you pay for plane tickets and hotel room, and if you start really early, chances are that you will find accommodation at the event hotel or within walking distance, thus avoiding hidden travel costs and inconveniences. You might even want to get there a day early, annulling jet lag and giving you time to explore. Before you leave for the trip, join the event’s social network and/or email list. Stock up on business cards and plan how to organize the ones you will collect. Know what season to expect and dress and pack accordingly. Comfortable shoes are a must, as are the portable battery packs for your mobile phone and chargers for all your devices. A personal Wi-Fi hotspot is priceless in a location where the devices outnumber the attendees. Make sure you stay hydrated, watch what you...
Tech Trends
Crittenden Multifamily Conference
Yardi will present an educational session on technology trends and business intelligence, “Getting the Big Data on Tech Trends,” at the Crittenden Multifamily Conference on March 16-18 in Dallas. With a focus on how evolving technology and innovation are helping companies of all sizes leverage their data to operate more effectively, the session will be led by industry experts John Pendergast, senior vice president of client services at Yardi; Ray Thornton, senior vice president of information technology at MAA; and Tom Bumpass, managing director and chief information officer for Greystar Realty Partners. Discussing new browser-based solutions and the future of cloud services, along with mobile tech trends for the “need it now” generation, the session leaders will guide attendees to a greater understanding of how business intelligence is quickly becoming a standard requirement for companies both large and small. “Yardi is committed to leading the industry with technology advancements that help our clients achieve 360-degree business intelligence and unprecedented mobility,” said Pendergast. “The tech trends session is designed to empower attendees with the information they need to build strong relationships with the new generation of residents and employees, while learning how to leverage their ‘big data’ to operate more efficiently and profitably.” Follow Yardi on Twitter (#MultiCon14) to keep current on conference events and to connect with sponsors, attendees and other speakers. About Crittenden Multifamily Conference Designed for multifamily professionals, the Crittenden Multifamily Conference is a 2 1/2-day event that includes educational sessions and several networking opportunities. Educational sessions cover a variety of multifamily management, finance, development and investment topics. Each session is facilitated by the industry’s leading executives. For more information, visit...
Fall YASC News
Conference highlights from Anaheim
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Kicking off Fall YASC 2013 at the Anaheim Hilton, Yardi Systems founder and CEO Anant Yardi delivered an insightful, engaging and humorous address to 1,450 Yardi clients about the future of technology and the habits of the multifamily industry’s newest renters – the Millennials. Encapsulating the larger trends in the technology marketplace – mobility, social media, business intelligence and cloud computing – Mr. Yardi stressed that the emphasis for Yardi is a continued balance between innovation and customer service. “We want to be known for technology innovation, as we have been for the last 30 years. But we want to maintain our customer focus, recognizing that there is a balancing act between innovation and customer service. Our focus is providing the right kind of service, and in that vein, we will be beefing up our customer service group even further,” Mr. Yardi said. With a track record of 31 years developing technology solutions for property management, clients have come to depend on Yardi to be ahead of the curve on new devices, delivery systems and platforms. Admitting that he doesn’t yet have a “phablet,” a larger smartphone or smaller tablet device, Mr. Yardi forecast that the current emphasis on mobility by consumers is only going to become more prevalent in the business environment. By 2017, 75 percent of technology purchases are expected to be tablets/phablets. Yardi clients are able to use tablets and smartphones to lease commercial and multifamily properties with Yardi Leasing Pad, convey and execute maintenance work orders, and now, with the latest version of Voyager 7S, all of the industry’s leading property management software functionality is available on any device or browser. “We love it. It’s awesome,” said one Yardi client from a Southern California-based multifamily firm who has already implemented the latest Voyager version. The ease of automatic updates, made possible by the cloud, have been one of the most positive aspects for their firm. As cloud computing becomes the dominant storage and business systems preference for companies of all kinds, Yardi will move more than 600 clients to Voyager 7S by the end of 2013, Mr. Yardi said. The security and convenience of the cloud provides multiple advantages, including a streamlined implementation process. The latest version of Voyager has been designed to display optimally on a smaller screen, so its ideal for mobile use. Other exciting new features include improved searchability, predictive search, smart data entry, smarter security and enhanced work flow capabilities. Multifamily and the Millennials It’s a brave new world for multifamily professionals as they rent to a new generation of renters – the Millennials. Mr. Yardi introduced the demographic with illuminating insight about their preferences and habits, including their reliance on online recommendations and reviews when making purchasing decisions. “These young folks are open to change. When they see something bad about your property on Yelp, you shouldn’t assume they will take it for granted. They want to see what you have to say about it. If you have a sincere response, they will factor that in,” Mr. Yardi said. Yardi offers multi-dimensional tools to help property managers manage their online reputations, social media presence and web-based marketing through the RentCafe platform, an end-to-end marketing and leasing solution. With a focus on the online connections offered by sites like Facebook, Mr. Yardi noted that the nature of the very word “social” has changed. It no longer means a face-to-face interaction, and companies have less time than ever to attract a potential residents’ attention. “Who are the Millennials? They are the people who are influencing all this change. If you can’t get their attention in 10 seconds, you may have lost them,” he said. Business Intelligence Always a priority for real estate companies that must deliver regular reports to owners, investors and shareholders, business intelligence is becoming more accessible and easier to use with Yardi’s latest products. “For the first...
YASC DC 2013 Recap
Pressing forward
As YASC DC 2013 draws to a close, clients depart with a greater understanding of what Yardi has to offer and much more. Longstanding clients connected with newcomers, providing mentorship opportunities and an unofficial forum for best practices. Clients connected with their Yardi contacts, building friendships and broadening lines of communication. Perhaps most importantly, though, clients from across the globe were able to give their feedback to Yardi developers, paving the way for products that are a reflection of clients’ needs. As one client participant told us during the conference: “I can’t reiterate how good it was to know that Yardi was listening to our suggestions and making changes to improve products. Does it get any better than making a good product better?” Yardi’s desire to listen and respond promotes better product development, but it also serves a greater purpose. Company receptivity builds client confidence. In turn, that confidence can result in the investments needed to trigger multiple facets of international business growth. This year’s conference experienced a 30 percent increase in attendance from 2012. It’s a glowing sign that businesses are gearing up for positive change and more efficient practices. As the economy recovers, multiple industries are seeing a surge in business, the long-awaited catalyst needed to propel growth. YASC has helped Yardi’s clients prepare for that wave of change and the success that follows in its wake. Across all of our diverse product lines, Yardi software prepares clients to press forward with the confidence that they need to ensure wise investments, adequate planning, and effortless organization across all levels. The fully integrated and highly configurable products take an individualized approach to business growth. This year, managing that growth has become easier than ever. Embracing the mobile age, clients are furnished with the...
NAA Recap
Takeaways from Boston
At last week’s National Apartment Association Conference and Exposition in Boston, there were tons of great vendors, networking opportunities with thousands of industry peers, interesting sessions and a few too many Red Sox jerseys, in this New Yorker’s opinion. Here are some take-aways from the conference. Accountability actually matters. In a session titled “Improving Performance Through Personal Accountability,” the speaker explained why accountability is crucial in the real estate industry. According to him, 49 percent of residents leave a community because of controllable property issues, such as maintenance problems. If property managers are accountable for their actions, and fix the problem, they will be able to reduce turnover. It costs six times more money to replace an existing resident then to keep him, so resident retention can end up saving thousands of dollars. I’m on Facebook at work. And you can’t stop me! In “HR in 2012: Rumors, Regs and Rights,” the speaker explained a lot of changes for employers to take note of, an interesting one being that social media rules in the office have changed, and employees are now allowed to access their social media sites at work. There are also new traps for employers to be aware of, including rigidly following policies regarding leaves of absences, automatic time deductions for meals and rest periods and overlooking Title VII claims by third parties. Real estate leaders no longer need to stuff real estate keywords into real estate titles on real estate websites. SEO is still important, but Google has changed its algorithm to check websites to see if they provide a good experience for your readers. Additionally, in the “Analyzing and Optimizing Your Online Marketing Tools” session, we learned the proper way to handle negative online reviews of a property: thank the reviewer, apologize, follow up regarding specific issues and keep the response as short as possible. Unsurprisingly, the Hulk would make a really bad manager. In “Did I Just Say That Out Loud,” the speakers discussed why it is important for managers to have a high emotional intelligence, or EQ. People with high EQs are in touch with their emotions and are able to control them. As one of the speakers said, “I think every property has that resident that just knows what buttons to push. That’s when you have to say, ‘I need to demonstrate self control here.’” “An email can never replace a first kiss.” That is a quote from Tom Brokaw during his general session keynote address. (Full quote: “No email will replace the first kiss. No Tweet will replace the whisper of ‘I love you’ in your ear.”) And it’s true—technology might be very important in today’s world, but it could never take the place of a real person-to-person connection, both for business and personal relationships. Jessica Fiur is the News Editor of Multi-Housing...
Why You Don’t Want to Miss AIM
Two words: Dance off!
The Apartment Internet Marketing conference takes place in Phoenix, Arizona April 25 – 27 and if you’ve been thinking ahead you’re already registered. But perhaps youthink your marketing is already fairly successful and there’s nothing going down at AIM that you couldn’t learn with a little time online. Well, consider: Google’s Head of Real Estate is attending. Fact: Google is the internet giant. As one of the only internet companies that is as popular in the US as it is around the world, they are obviously doing something right. Missing an opportunity to sit in a room and hear what their master of real estate has to say will put you behind. It might not be that big of a deal though, I’m sure not all of your competitors will attend, right? A Yelp VP is attending to sit on the Ratings & Reviews panel. As Chris Wood so eloquently put it, “the multifamily industry has been wrestling with ratings and review sites for some time.” Yelp hasn’t; they’ve been mastering it. In the last few years, social networking and marketing have become almost indistinguishable from each other – a major change. Google has rebuilt their search function around this, Facebook has changed their ad strategy, and your clients are leading the charge on sites like ApartmentRatings and RentAdvisor (recently renamed, formerly RentWiki). It’s time to embrace the change and who better to learn from than the experts? There’s going to be one heck of a dance party. You read it right. For the first time ever the AIM team has planned an evening event and Yardi is hosting it. What do we know about hosting a party? Quite a bit, actually. We have our own team of event professionals and they’ve been working round the clock with Steve’s event staff to make sure this sets the standard for all AIM conferences to come. Be sure to pack your boogie shoes! So could missing AIM be bad for business? Don’t wait to find out. Register for AIM 2012 – Customer First today....
NAA Goes to D.C.
Capitol Conference Mar. 11-14
Multifamily goes to Washington for the Capitol Conference this week, March 11 – 14. The National Apartment Association hosts this four day conference to allow the apartment industry to meet their members of Congress face-to-face and discuss how federal legislation could impact them and their businesses. This year’s theme is “Maximizing Our Advocacy ROI.” The premise is that investing your time to educate Congress on issues that affect our industry will bring benefits to your business as well as the national apartment industry. Donna Brazille and Dana Perino are sure to host a lively discussion during the Conference Kickoff on Monday morning. Follow the action using the official hashtag #CapCon. The schedule is packed full of options for you to fit your niche, including affordable, independent, and military events. It’s too late to register online but you can print the registration form on their website and bring it with you to the registration desk onsite. 10 Things I Learned from My First NAA Capitol...
MIPIM Cannes March 6-9...
International Real Estate
MIPIM France is up and running at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. As the “leading international real estate fair”, MIPIM sets a standard of excellence by bringing together top real estate experts with international economists, investors, builders, and government officials. MIPIM publicizes the event as 4 days, 60+ conferences, and 250 speakers so there’s no shortage of information or specificity for everyone. Each year MIPIM features a country of honor; this year that country is Germany so MIPIM will be welcoming former Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor of Germany, Joschka Fischer as the keynote speaker. Fischer will share his opinion on the global economy and the impact of the European financial crisis on real estate investments. Along with speakers like Olivier Seznec the CTO of Cisco France, Jean-Michel Six the Chief European Economist of Standard & Poor’s, and Bernhard Berg of IVG Institutional Funds there will be no shortage of information and networking taking place. If you can’t make it to Cannes this year, don’t worry, we did mention this being a “leading international” event, right? All you need to do is visit the blog to find updates and even videos; last year I had the pleasure of seeing the keynote speech by London Mayor Boris Johnson from the comfort of my own desk. You can also visit their Facebook page to vote for the People’s Choice Award and follow them on Twitter for more news and updates live from the show. If you will be in Cannes stop by and say hi to us in The London Pavilion – Stand...
YASC DC 2012
Learn, network, socialize
Registration for Yardi’s Advanced Solutions Conference, scheduled for May 22-24 in Washington, D.C., is underway. Yardi clients benefit greatly from the classes and training sessions offered at the biannual YASC events, held in the fall in Santa Barbara and in the spring in Washington. May’s lineup of events includes: showcase of new Voyager and Cloud Services offerings, extensive interaction with Yardi experts, peer roundtables, the CLASSIC user conference, networking opportunities, a hands-on lab where you can try out new SQL skills, exciting speakers and classes and much, much more. The conference venue is the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. Book a room at the hotel, and submit your YASC registration. We look forward to seeing you in our nation’s capital. By the way, if you are planning to attend the West Coast YASC in 2012, it’s scheduled for Oct. 17-19 in Santa Barbara,...
