Surf’s up! Yardi’s user conference moves to San Diego this fall. The Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference, also known as YASC, will be hosted at The Bayfront Hilton on September 13-15, 2017. “We are excited to welcome guests to our new location in San Diego. The new venue is beautiful and we believe clients will really enjoy the expanded conference space and program we have in store,” said Tim Hoover, creative director for Yardi. With an anticipated attendance of almost 2,000 Yardi clients, this could be our biggest YASC ever. The new location offers ample space for expanded education sessions, in-depth training and great networking opportunities. As one past YASC attendee shared: “I had the sheer pleasure of meeting Mr. Yardi and some of the wonderful Yardi staff I communicate with. Yardi is a top notch and highly professional company that knows how to take care of their customers with hands-on training, great entertainment and wonderful customer service.”   Features of YASC San Diego include: A new conference app We’re excited to launch a new conference app that will offer a mobile and streamlined conference experience. Attendees can access conference information, venue maps, social networking and in-app messaging, and more on the Yardi Events app. It’s designed to enable attendees to custom-tailor their daily schedule with classes, demos, panels and roundtables, and to set up one-on-one meetings with Yardi staff. The Yardi Events app is available for download at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. A browser-based version, synced to the mobile app, will also be available, so attendees can access all these features from their desktop. User log-in details have been emailed to all registered YASC attendees. Questions? Email our team at [email protected]. One-on-one advice at Knowledge Central This is the new home of our Computer Lab...

London, United Kingdom will host the annual Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) on 15-16 November, 2016. The conference will be held at the Park Plaza Riverbank London hotel, located on the south bank of the River Thames overlooking the Houses of Parliament. This year, YASC will bring together an estimated 250 clients and 80 staff for two days of learning and networking with real estate professionals within the European commercial, residential and investment sectors. The conference focuses on advanced software training, product updates and exploring important industry topics. YASC will offer clients 84 unique classes and panels tailored for executives, product users and technology professionals. Attendees can look forward to a General Session with Yardi leadership on Tuesday, interactive client and expert panels throughout the conference, networking receptions, prize draws and the highly anticipated YASC Gala. New to 2016, the conference has been enhanced for expanded client learning and networking: Connect with the YASC App. Attendees can access conference information, maps, social networking and in-app messaging on the YASC App. Use the YASC App to view your daily schedule, explore YASC social media activity and to complete session evaluations. The YASC App is available for download at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Get social and win! This year, we are hosting Europe’s first YASC social media scavenger hunt. Complete all six tasks to be entered to win prizes during Wednesday’s Closing Remarks. Learn more about the scavenger hunt in your conference brochure. Connect and share your YASC experience on your favourite social network using our event hashtag, #YASC2016. Get hands-on experience from the experts. Reinforce newly acquired skills with hands-on experience in our on-site lab. Our expert account managers and technical staff will be on hand to walk you through advanced techniques and to answer your...

The Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) heads to Singapore on November 10, 2016. YASC offers comprehensive training and networking opportunities tailored for our clients in Asia. This year, over 100 clients and 30 staff will join us at the Amara Sanctuary Resort on Sentosa Island during the 1-day conference. The conference offers 20+ educational sessions, discussion panels, hands-on product training and a networking reception for clients within the commercial, investment and residential markets. Attendees can look forward to courses and panels tailored to the experience of product users, IT professionals, managers and executives. Throughout the conference, clients can meet one-on-one with Yardi product experts. The hands-on experience offered in the YASC Computer Lab will help reinforce newly acquired skills and offers assistance with all products, SQL scripting and reporting. In addition, YASC is hosting experts from Yardi’s Cloud Services team. Cloud Services will offer insight into the latest innovations in the Yardi Cloud environment and what we’re doing to keep your data protected. For Computer Lab and Cloud Services hours, refer to the conference overview. After classes conclude, clients can enjoy an evening of networking at YASC. The cocktail reception will be hosted in the Ballroom Foyer of the Amara Sanctuary from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Inspired by La Dolce Vita, the reception will feature traditional Italian and international cuisine, live music, prize giveaways, an Instagram printer to capture your conference memories, and more! The reception will allow guests to escape the busy city life to mix and mingle in our Italian-themed island oasis. For the first year, YASC will feature an interactive social media scavenger hunt. Learn more about the scavenger hunt and how you can win big at the YASC General Session. Attendees can stay updated on conference news and share their experience on social...

In less than one week, the 2016 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) kicks-off in Sydney, Australia. The annual user conference will be hosted on 25-26 October, 2016 at the Pier One Sydney Harbour Hotel, located near the picturesque Sydney Harbour Bridge. This year’s event has grown by 30 per cent, bringing together over 170 clients and 50 staff members to explore product training and topics facing the real estate sector in Australia and New Zealand. YASC will feature 40+ unique courses, modules and discussion groups tailored for commercial, investment, and residential portfolios. For the second year, YASC is hosting experts from Yardi’s Cloud Services team. Cloud Services will offer insight into the latest innovations in the Yardi Cloud environment and what we’re doing to keep your data protected. In addition, the Computer Lab is your opportunity to speak one-on-one with our product experts. The Lab is a great place to get hands-on experience with Yardi software and learn how to apply what was discussed in courses. Guests will be able to enjoy scheduled entertainment and networking at the YASC cocktail reception on Tuesday, 25th October. Inspired by Fellini’s iconic La Dolce Vita, the reception will feature traditional Italian and international cuisine, live music from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, internationally renowned magician Liam Power, an Instagram printer to capture your conference memories, and more! The reception will be sure to amaze and delight YASC attendees – you won’t want to miss it! A YASC first in Sydney, the conference will feature an interactive social media scavenger hunt. Learn more about the scavenger hunt and how you can win big here. YASC attendees can stay connected with conference news and share their experience on social media using the event hashtag,...

Each month, Yardi hosts the critically acclaimed Yardi eLearning ® User Forum. These interactive webinars give users valuable insights into product functionality, updates, and troubleshooting. Engaging. Practical. Smart. Each webinar focuses on topics selected by Yardi users, guaranteeing insights that are relevant and practical.  Sample Webinar Topics Include: Drive Student Focus to Training that Matters How to Partner with Your Yardi Voyager Account Manager Make a Great First Impression & Keep It Fresh All Year eLearning Fair Housing Release and Focus Group Hot to Get Management in Your Training Program Facilitators model User Forums after realistic conversations with clients. Co-hosts role-play as tech support specialists and clients. This arrangement creates a fun and informative atmosphere for attendees. Amy McKelvy, Software Implementation Coordinator at Holland Partner Group, attended her first User Forum this year. “The forum I attended was at the end of the second day, so the atmosphere was upbeat and exciting,” she begins. “Forums can be hit or miss, I’ve learned, and some clients use the forum to air grievances, but this one was not that at all. I think Patty [Evans] set the right tone at the start, and led to a very successful sharing time.” Sharing is one key to eLearning User Forum success. Rather than simply lecturing on these topics, facilitators showcase examples from Yardi clients’ eLearning Universities to illustrate each idea. Attendees receive real-life strategies from peers. This client-to-client interaction fosters a sense of community and networking among the Yardi eLearning training community. “I love to provide help and ideas as well as feedback to the eLearning team and other clients. The forum is a perfect opportunity to not only give help, but get other ideas as well,” says McKelvy. Solutions for the Real World In each meeting, facilitators...

If you are still conducting live training courses, you are missing out on the opportunity to save time, save money, and customize the learning experience for your employees. Why eLearning?  The 2014 State of the Industry report states that the real estate industry experienced a reduction in classroom training at 51%, down from 55 percent in 2013, and an increase in eLearning to 19%, up from 16 percent in 2009. This industry-wide shift away from costly classroom education in favor of eLearning is partially due to the perceived and calculated costs of live training courses. With Yardi eLearning, organizations can save on learning and development costs in four key areas: * Personnel This category includes the cost of all people involved in producing the training such as content designers, IT professionals, reviewers and approvers. eLearning software significantly reduces administrative costs through the introduction of technology. The software also allows users to eliminate travel and lodging expenses. * Technology The cost of the eLearning solutions, computers, web conference system, and any other technology involved in conducting the training are included in this category. These costs are the primary reason many companies choose to invest in eLearning. * Content This category includes the cost of content production and the cost of acquiring content from a vendor. By recording an instructor once and delivering the recorded course online, organizations can maximize the use of content and decrease costs associated with instructors. * Administrative Such factors are some of the most time-consuming and overlooked features of live training programs. Significant time is spent recording training activities, setting up training opportunities, and communicating with trainees and instructors before and after the event. Decreasing administrative costs offers benefits throughout the organization. In two recent polls conducted at Yardi’s bi-annual Training...

As 2016 begins, the new year will bring new training opportunities for Yardi clients. Yardi is expanding its event offerings to provide more opportunities for clients to learn about our products, address technical challenges, network and socialize. Of course, the extremely popular Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference, known as YASC, will return for another year of training, networking, and fun. With 16 years of success as a venue for client education, YASC is now global, with biannual events in North America and annual events in Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Learn more about the international conferences here. YASC events in North America will return to Washington, D.C. from June 1-3, and to Anaheim, Calif., from Sept. 21-23. These three day conferences will feature panels, expert speakers, and 200+ sessions on a variety of products and services for all markets. Drop-in labs will offer attendees one-on-one instruction from our product experts. Conference content will be tailored to many professional levels, including executives, IT professionals, accountants, marketers, trainers, and site level property managers. Early bird registration information and conference details for YASC in Washington, D.C. is available now, and can be found here. Details and registration information for YASC in Anaheim will be available soon. New for 2016, Yardi is pleased to launch Yardi Forums, which are smaller and more focused training sessions for specific market segments. Yardi Forums are an opportunity to dive deep into training about the software platform and solutions you use daily. The Yardi Forum events are two day events including sessions on the products and services available for featured markets. Attendees will hear from Yardi experts and industry leaders on ways to best utilize your Yardi software, enhance your business efficiency, and improve employee productivity. The Yardi Forums are designed...

With events in London, Sydney, and Singapore, Yardi’s continued expansion of its worldwide advanced software training offerings was well-received by clients in November 2015. The Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference, with a strong foundation of support from the company’s U.S.-based clientele, will continue to grow in 2016. “Offering YASC to our overseas clients is a product of our steady global growth and our desire to maintain leadership in software solutions for commercial, residential and investment management,” said Neal Gemassmer, vice president of international for Yardi. “YASC gives users the opportunity to refresh their familiarity with existing products, learn about new ones and build relationships with Yardi employees and each other.” In London on Nov. 7-9, 240 clients joined Yardi product experts for two days of training classes, product roadmap updates, dining and entertainment, one-on-one support, and more. YASC Europe was held at 8 Northumberland Avenue in London and focused on the European commercial, residential, and investment markets. In Sydney on Nov. 16-18, more 110 clients joined to attend 40 classes included advanced training on Yardi’s software suite, presentation of the forthcoming product roadmap, and insight into regional market trends. In Singapore on Nov. 23-24, more than 80 clients joined to attend 20 classes that were offered with similar themes. Classes were tailored for executives, product users, and technology professionals who could learn about Yardi solutions such as Orion Business Intelligence, COMMERCIALCafé, Commercial LeasingPad, and Advanced Budgeting and Forecasting. For the first time, the Yardi Lab, where clients can work one-on-one with technical experts to troubleshoot individual software issues, was offered at both #YASCANZ and #YASCAsia. Clients attending the event shared positive feedback on the programming, as well as the tasty breakfasts, buffet lunches, and tea breaks. With unique entertainment at each venue, the reception events...

According to the Association for Talent Development, American organizations spend an estimated $164 billion on employee training on each year. This ranges from 31.5 -56 hours of training per employee. This valuable time is spent simply learning how to optimize performance rather than putting those plans into action. Yardi client Brindley & Associates has cut those costs with the use of one, simple software solution. Accountant Carol Vandenberghe has worked with Brindley and Associates for thirteen years. Overtime, she has seen the company grow its presence in the southeast. To meet it’s more sophisticated needs, the firm recently upgraded to Voyager 7S. The combination of expansion and new software required a more efficient way to pursue employee training. “That was the main reason why we got eLearning,” begins Vandenberghe. “It really helped with the transition, plus we had just hired new employees as well.” Yardi eLearning has helped Brindley and Associates significantly cut costs on employee education and get the most out of Voyager upgrade. “We have so many properties in outlying areas,” Vandenberghe says. “Some of those properties are four hours away. It would take at least eight hours for the property managers to drive back and forth for training. Then to come by the office and have to sit there for two, eight hour days, maybe more.” Those hours are just a portion of the resources wasted on onsite training. “Training event preparation requires a lot of planning. I figure 40-50 hours. That’s an entire week right there,” Vandenberghe says. “Then we have to bring in all of the property managers, pay for their food and hotel, that kind of thing. Plus, it’s inconvenient for the property managers to have to leave when they’ve got tenants coming in to make payments. The...

Multifamily real estate development and management firm Simpson Housing LLLP® has streamlined its employee training by making Yardi eLearning™ the gateway to hundreds of company-sponsored online training classes. Simpson Housing uses Yardi eLearning to deliver webinars, in-person classes and on-demand self-study courses on various aspects of property management directly to employees. “We present about 400 classes at our property sites every year, and eLearning makes it very easy for the trainers to register attendees, track attendance and completion, and distribute course material beforehand,” said Cindy Sheahan, national trainer for Simpson Housing.  “We also use it to create specialized tracks that give management, maintenance employees, consultants and others the advanced knowledge they need to progress in their careers.” Yardi eLearning, which is accessible from any Web browser and mobile device, includes assessment tools, certification, post-training follow-up, and retraining activities.  Its multimedia format allows for a variety of content including HTML, documents, images, videos and podcasts. Yardi eLearning’s automated notification feature reduces manual labor for Simpson Housing’s training staff.  “Calling every person who’s attending every class would be too much for the staff, so it’s very helpful that every participant receives an Outlook calendar appointment for each class,” Sheahan said.  “There’s also a signup sheet function that helps the trainers determine how much material to bring when we visit the communities. “In addition to our own courses, we used eLearning to present a number of Yardi-designed modules to the entire company after we selected Yardi Voyager® as our property management and accounting platform in 2012.  Our employees become familiar with the dashboards, terms and everything else in Voyager, and this gave them a step up on the system even before the trainers arrived at the offices for advanced training.” “Having an organization’s entire training program in...