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...
YASC ANZ
Join Yardi in Sydney
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,...
Airbnb + Apartments
Working out the Kinks
Airbnb announced the official launch of its multifamily housing program. The Friendly Buildings Program welcomes collaboration with apartment owners and addresses their apprehensions regarding transparency and accountability—that is what it attempts to do, at least. Nearly 35 percent of multifamily property owners are interested in a home-sharing program and 24 percent of owners were unsure, reports the new National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) home-sharing survey. Nearly 60 percent of multifamily property owners are open to the idea of Airbnb onsite. The market is a powerful growth opportunity for the company if it can overcome owners’ concerns. In the past, apartment owners routinely resisted the use of their properties for short-term rentals. The legalities of renter subleasing and inadequate insurance provisions topped the list of objections. Security and accountability trailed close behind. The Friendly Buildings Program proposes the following solutions: The program brings property owners into the loop of transactions. Owners can establish parameters for unit-sharing, including restrictions. Short-term rental provisions are made easy through lease addendums. Owners are notified of home sharing activity including reservation details and guest information. Owners receive regularly scheduled activity reports. The program protects against liability claims up to $1 million USD that occur in a listing as well as up to $1 million against third party claims of property damage or bodily injury. Kim Duty, Senior VP, Public Affairs & Industry Initiatives at NMHC summarized many owners’ thoughts on the insurance proposal, “A $1 million insurance policy is not close to enough to cover the potential risks.” Until more can be done to reduce liability, Airbnb faces a formidable obstacle. Most owners won’t move forward without a feasible insurance solution. Mark Stringer, executive Vice President at Avenue5 Residential took a quick survey of the room. More than 75 percent of...
YASC Heads to San Diego
New West Coast location for 2017
Real estate technology leader Yardi wrapped up its Fall 2016 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) with an exciting announcement: The West Coast event will move to San Diego for four years beginning in Fall 2017. Fall YASC is set for Wednesday to Friday, Sept. 13-15, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, a 4-star hotel property close to Balboa Park and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. “We are pleased to offer our client attendees an exceptional Southern California getaway in San Diego,” said Terri Dowen, senior vice president of sales for Yardi. “After outgrowing our Santa Barbara conference venue, many clients expressed the desire to be close to the beach again for this event. We listened, and selected an ideal new location in San Diego.” Yardi has hosted more than 1,500 clients at each of its Anaheim conferences, and expects to continue to grow the event in San Diego. Registration for Fall YASC 2017 will be available soon at http://www.yardi.com/events/conferences/. In other conference news, Yardi will continue its new Yardi Forum series with the Yardi Affordable Housing & PHA Forum in Atlanta, Nov. 17-18, 2016 followed by the Yardi Senior Living Forum in Santa Barbara, Calif. in Spring 2017. The next YASC event in North America will be the annual East Coast conference, set for the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. from May 23-25, 2017. Thank you to all of the #YASC2016 attendees who joined us in Anaheim this...
Roscoe Properties
Solutions for Growth + Efficiency
The semi-annual Yardi Advanced Solutions Conferences (YASC) take place on the West and East Coasts, providing clients with the opportunity to attend an event close to home. Each conference offers specialized courses on product features, networking opportunities, and one-on-one consultations with Yardi representatives. At YASC in Washington, D.C., Yardi sat down with Mariana Estrada, VP of Operations at Roscoe Properties. The company has had the opportunity to explore several products since joining the Yardi network in 2008. Estrada updated Yardi on her experiences with the software. Estrada began with Yardi Procure to Pay (P2P), a centralized platform that offers complete spend visibility, streamlined invoice processing, centralized MRO purchasing and vendor onboarding. “The concept of P2P is exactly what we believe in – a paperless, time-saving option. We have a decentralized payables process so our onsite teams are responsible for processing payables and expense management at the site level. The time they used to spend filing and processing paper invoices is now time they can spend serving current residents and attracting new residents,” says Estrada. “And now with the Marketplace, we’re gaining even more time savings and streamlining our purchasing process even further. We just implemented one of our major vendors and Yardi was able to create an online catalog for us.” Yardi Marketplace furnishes access to more than 1 million MRO products and building materials. The program also delivers the best available discounts from nationally recognized suppliers. “The Marketplace has an Amazon-like interface everyone knows how to use,” Estrada explains, “so there are virtually no issues with training our maintenance and site teams. A few mouse clicks and the PO is created and the order placed. Since the users don’t need to re-populate line item details, they are able to move invoices through the processing...
YASC Anaheim 2016
Learning, Networking & Fun
The Fall 2016 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) is heading to Anaheim, Calif. September 21-23, 2016. For the third time, Yardi’s West Coast annual user conference will be hosted at the Hilton Anaheim, located in Orange County near the Anaheim Convention Center and Disneyland. This year’s event will bring together an estimated 1,500 clients and 400 staff to explore advanced software training, product updates, and important industry topics. YASC will feature 300+ unique courses, panels, peer roundtables, and networking sessions tailored for IT professionals, executives, property managers, property owners, office staff, and trainers. “This year’s YASC in Anaheim has been re-imagined to offer more learning and networking opportunities for our clients. We’ve streamlined the conference format to offer more unique training sessions on the topics most important to attendees. Throughout the conference, we have added interactive networking activities meant to help clients meet peers and experts within their respective markets.” shares Tim Hoover, Manager of Creative Services and Client Conferences at Yardi. New to 2016, the conference schedule has been enhanced for expanded client learning and networking: Stay connected with the YASC App. Attendees can access conference information, maps, social networking, and in-app messaging on the YASC App. Custom tailor your daily schedule with up to 16 classes, demos, panels, and roundtables with the convenient in-app scheduling feature. The YASC App is available for download at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. A desktop version is also available here. Get hands-on help at the Computer Lab. Stations tailored to each vertical market will be set up for you to explore Yardi’s latest technology. Our experts will be on hand to walk you through advanced techniques and to answer your questions one-on-one. Shorter lunch lines and more learning. To improve your conference experience and reduce the wait time during lunches, lunch periods will be split into two sittings. Certain morning courses will be offered again during these lunch periods so you can get in one extra class! Find your fit at the Networking Lounge. The re-imagined Networking Lounge is a place for you to connect with industry peers in your area of interest. Visit this interactive space to get your social media questions answered, network with peers, and learn about our social media VIP experience and scavenger hunt. Connect and share on your favorite social network using our event hashtag, #YASC2016. Network with industry peers. During lunch sittings, look for table markers corresponding to your market or area of interest. Connect with fellow attendees to discuss the topics that interest you most. New to networking or need a refresher? Get started with the basics and set your action plan for success. Unwind over desserts and late-night eats at Thursday’s after-party. After dinner, enjoy time with colleagues and new friends in an atmosphere that matches your tempo. A variety of entertainment, including appetizers, drinks, music, and an open air photo booth, will keep the fun going all night. Whether you’re drawn to a lounge-style soiree or a pumped-up party, we’ve got something for everyone! Along with the YASC courses, general session, and scheduled entertainment, we wanted to share a few local attractions that may interest clients visiting Orange County. Whether this is your first visit to the West Coast, or your tenth, we hope these opportunities will enrich your experience while at YASC. For a full list of local attractions and points of interest, explore the Points of Interest tab in the YASC App. Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park Disneyland Park is celebrating 61 years of Disney magic. Fall is the perfect time to visit, as parts of the park will be in festive fall spirit. Explore a galaxy far, far away in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, featuring re-imagined Star Wars rides. Rediscover classic Disney favorites, like It’s a Small World and Jungle Cruise, and enjoy season-inspired rides (our favorite is Haunted Mansion Holiday). Disney’s California Adventure Park offers the attractions, dining, shopping, and...
YASC DC 2016
A look inside the event
Ever wondered why Yardi clients flock to the company’s two major user conferences each year? There are the obvious reasons, like the specialized courses on product features, the chance to network with other clients, and who doesn’t like to get out of the office for a few days? But a closer look at today’s YASC event in Washington DC demonstrates the true value this conference provides. Three sample sessions We started our morning with the Orion BI Experience: A User Perspective panel. Three clients, each representing a different real estate vertical, talked to a packed room about the exceptional functionality that Orion BI has brought to their businesses. While each client introduced Orion BI for different reasons, the results they have experienced were very similar: enhanced visibility into their own data, insight on key performance indicators, happier top-level executives and reduced time preparing for regular reporting meetings. Lisa Kolb, consultant/senior systems analyst for A.J. Dwoskin, said that her mixed portfolio client adopted Orion has part of a transition to a paperless office, but soon realized many additional benefits, including the fact that it greatly reduced “analysis paralysis.” Reports were created based on the KPI’s that the company truly wanted to hone in on. “It became part of our initiative to focus on KPI’s, and the drill down capabilities helped us focus on what really mattered,” Kolb said. Norma Soria, Management Systems Director for the Cesar Chavez Foundation, a California affordable housing provider, spoke enthusiastically about the time her team saved as a result of implementing Orion. “We have a weekly meeting with regional managers, and it had typically been four hours long. With Orion BI, it went down to two, and the time to prepare for it was also cut in half,” Soria said. ** Next up, we headed to a client round table called Developing Your Workforce: Creating a Culture of Learning, led by Yardi’s Manager of eLearning, Patty Evans. Training is a very hot topic with Yardi users and property management executives. Nearly 40 people joined the session to learn what best practices Patty had to share. Separated into small groups, clients had the chance to share their training challenges, which included dealing with employee turnover, how to motivate employees who aren’t interested in advancing their careers, ways to incorporate training into busy schedules, and how to take advantage of cutting edge digital training options. Motivating employees to train might take many different forms, Evans pointed out. Some may want to do it to advance their careers or earn a raise, others may need a more mandatory approach. But allowing staff to have some choices in their training programming can be empowering, she explained, especially for younger employees. “This is a new generation, a new learner. We need to trust how they problem solve,” Evans said. Clients closed out the session by brainstorming some ways to address training challenges and sharing their ideas with each other. Many were attending all of the classes in the Yardi eLearning programming track, a popular offering this spring. ** Next it was time for another client panel, this one focused on implementing Yardi Voyager 7S. Four clients, representing multifamily market rate housing, affordable housing, office and mixed-use, shared their thoughts. One of the major transitions made by many Yardi clients moving to Voyager 7S has been the switch to being hosted by Yardi rather than self-hosted. Heather Ferlin of Investco talked about that change. “Really, the biggest difference we have experienced was that now we have many less technical issues than when we were self-hosted,” Ferlin said, adding that her phone rings far less often now with complaints about server issues. “Our company is growing. We are building more units, and getting more (Yardi) users. We didn’t have the capacity to stay self-hosted.” Jeffrey Callan, CIO of major multifamily firm Morgan Properties, was another panel participant. He stressed the importance of...
YASC DC 2016
General session recap
In a speech focused on goals and giving back, Yardi CEO and founder Anant Yardi addressed the 1300 attendees of the 2016 Spring Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference in Washington, DC on Wednesday morning. Speaking to the clients across a variety of real estate verticals, Mr. Yardi talked about the company’s focus for the future: app-based technology that will enhance ease of use and push real estate software toward a model similar to Uber and Airbnb. “Our focus from here onwards will be mobile apps,” Mr. Yardi said. He demonstrated how apps already play a significant role for Yardi multifamily clients. Renters using the RentCafe Resident app have submitted thousands of work orders, which are processed using Yardi Maintenance mobile apps for property and maintenance managers. Additional apps for leasing, facilities management, and electronic health care record-keeping are already in use by Yardi clients. Mr. Yardi forecast that in the near future, apps will allow users to quickly and easily interface with their cloud-based Voyager platforms. 95 percent of Yardi clients are now cloud-hosted, he said. “That’s one of our goals – just one segment of our next pentathlon,” Mr. Yardi said. The general session opened with a video showcasing the marketing genius of pentathlete Mia Wentworth, Director of Marketing and Training at Monarch Investment and Management. Her focus on creating a “culture of achievement” at her company inspired Yardi’s remarks on bringing value to clients and breaking new ground. For the first time, Mr. Yardi also publicly acknowledged the company’s efforts to give back to the communities where the company has offices via corporate philanthropy and service. “In the past, we haven’t talked about it,” he said. “The thought was that if you talk about your giving, somehow it diminishes the essence of what...
Insiders Guide to SB
For Yardi Senior Forum Attendees
For our valued Yardi clients who will be coming to Santa Barbara for the Yardi Senior Living Forum this week, we are excited to share some of the most popular local options in dining and sightseeing that our beautiful city has to offer. While we know that your focus during your stay will be training on Yardi products and networking with other industry professionals, there should still be a little time to have fun. Perhaps you are even adding on a day or two to your stay to further enjoy one of Southern California’s favorite tourist destinations. If you are looking for additional recommendations on dining, sightseeing and recreational opportunities in Santa Barbara, please don’t hesitate to leave a question in the comments section. We’ll have an answer for you in no time. Sightseeing For a full guide to Santa Barbara’s many historic and artistic visitor destinations, check out these articles on some of our favorite Tourist Attractions from a popular local website. Within walking distance from the Fess Parker Doubletree you’ll find the Santa Barbara Zoo, acclaimed as one of the best small city zoos in America. You could also meander past the Zoo to the Andree Clark Bird Refuge, a scenic estuary with lots of wildlife. If you followed the story of reclusive NYC heiress Huguette Clark, who passed away in 2011 leaving numerous mansions behind, the refuge is named in honor of her sister. The Clark Estate, with its future still to be determined (Clark requested that it become a museum), is across the street from the bird refuge, but not open to the public. Santa Barbara’s best known places to visit include Mission Santa Barbara, its adjacent Rose Garden, and downtown’s architecturally impressive Courthouse. You might enjoy taking a short boat ride on the cute water taxi Lil’ Toot from Stearns Wharf to the harbor, where you’ll find the Maritime Museum. A longer tour on the amphibious Land Shark combines a short jaunt into the harbor as well as a driving tour. Or you might also just head for the beach and put your feet up, enjoying a short break from the office. Jogging/walking routes As we described above, an easy walk from the Fess Parker’s Doubletree is to head south (take a left out of the hotel, while facing the ocean) toward the Zoo and continue along the edge of the Clark Bird Refuge. If you’re looking for a longer trek, you can cross the street at the end of the refuge and take Channel Drive past the Santa Barbara Cemetery. Up a slight hill, you’ll reach a short bike and pedestrian path along the coastal edge that takes you to Butterfly Beach, the Four Seasons Biltmore, and the Coral Casino. (While on the bike path, look to your left to see the home of Beanie Baby mogul Ty Warner.) To lengthen your route, continue into Montecito and explore the lower Village or South Jameson Lane. Alternately, if you’d like to add a hill to your workout, head right along Cabrillo Blvd. after leaving the Doubletree. Paths on both sides of the street will take you through Chase Palm Park. You ‘ll pass the coastal hotel district, Santa Barbara Harbor, and Santa Barbara City College. Then you’ll climb up to Santa Barbara’s Mesa via Shoreline Drive, passing through Shoreline Park. Hiking trails Santa Barbara’s front country mountains offer extensive options for hiking on picturesque trails. Many are quite steep, so be prepared with proper shoes, supplies and fitness condition. The closest trailhead to the Doubletree is Montecito’s Cold Spring Trail. (You will need a vehicle to get to the trailhead, which is located on East Mountain Drive.) Find more details about Cold Spring and other local hiking options at the Santa Barbara Hikes website. Watersports From the Santa Barbara Harbor, you can rent stand up paddleboards, kayaks, and small sailboats at the Sailing Center....
2016: Yardi Training Events...
YASC & Forums
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...
Global YASC Events
Continued growth planned for 2016
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...
Global YASC Events
November 2015: YASC ANZ, YASC Asia
November is a busy month for our clients in Australia, New Zealand, and the rest of the Asia Pacific region. Yardi will be offering two Yardi Advanced Solutions Conferences to provide product training, learning opportunities, and networking for clients. The conferences will focus on clients with commercial and investment portfolios. At both YASC ANZ and YASC Asia, attendees can look forward to courses and panels tailored to the experience of product users, IT professionals, managers, and executives. As an added feature to the conferences, labs will be available for scheduling one-on-one demonstrations with Yardi product experts. For the first time, the conference will also offer peer roundtables on a variety of industry topics at YASC ANZ. YASC Australia/New Zealand starts November 16 in Sydney, Australia. All conference activities will be hosted at the Doltone House Hyde Park. This year, the conference has further expanded, providing attendees with four tracks of courses to choose from. In addition, guests will be able to enjoy scheduled entertainment and networking at the YASC ANZ reception on Wednesday, November 17. In less than two weeks, YASC Asia will come to Singapore, November 23-24. Conference events will be held at the Amara Sanctuary Resort on Sentosa Island. To better serve clients, YASC Asia has doubled the curriculum offered this year. The conference will feature four training tracks designed to offer clients specialised courses on Yardi software and services. Besides courses and panels, YASC Asia attendees can take advantage of discounted spa treatments at the host resort and the many networking opportunities available at the conference and cocktail reception. Follow Yardi’s social media channels for conference news, events, and information. You can follow Yardi on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google+. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with the YASC Australia/New Zealand event hashtag, #YASCANZ, and the YASC Asia event hashtag, #YASCAsia. About Yardi: Now in its fourth decade, Yardi® is committed to the design, development and support of software for real estate investment management and property management. With the Yardi Commercial Suite™, Yardi Residential Suite™, Yardi Investment Suite™ and Yardi Orion® Business Intelligence, the Yardi Voyager® platform is a complete real estate management solution. It includes operations, accounting and services with portfolio-wide business intelligence and platform-wide mobility. Yardi serves clients worldwide from offices in Australia, Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America. For more information, visit www.yardi.com/anz and...
YASC Europe
Join Yardi in London
Next week kicks off Yardi’s second annual Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) for clients with portfolios in Europe. The conference will be hosted at 8 Northumberland Avenue, centrally located in London, England. YASC will bring together 200+ clients within the European commercial, residential, and investment markets. In its second year, YASC Europe has expanded from client user groups to a robust two-day conference of learning and networking. The conference focuses on advanced software training, product updates, and exploring important industry topics. YASC will offer clients 50+ classes to choose from, including courses 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, giveaways, a photo booth, and the highly anticipated YASC Gala. At YASC, clients can also learn more about Yardi’s diverse offering of products and solutions, such as Orion Business Intelligence, COMMERCIALCafé, Commercial LeasingPad, RentCafe, and Advanced Budgeting and Forecasting. Learn more about how Yardi can help optimize your business operations at the Advanced Solutions Lab at the conference. In addition to YASC courses, sessions, and entertainment, there are an array of local attractions clients may enjoy while visiting London. Many are just a few minutes from the venue! Trafalgar Square: The official center of London and a landmark heritage site, this bustling square is host to many restaurants, cafes, historic buildings, and foreign embassies. It is a short walk from the hotel and accessible by a variety of transportation options. The National Gallery: A national treasure, The National Gallery is home to a diverse assortment of paintings, dating as far back as the thirteenth century. Guests can tour the gallery free of charge and view work from artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Rembrandt. Located in Trafalgar Square. British Museum: This popular local attraction houses over two million years of world history and culture. Famous artifacts on display include the Rosetta Stone, Parthenon sculptures, and Egyptian mummies. Experience the history of the world while in London. Admission is free and the museum offers guided tours daily. YASC attendees can find the full conference schedule, courses, and information in the YASC app. The app is available in the Google Play store and the Apple App store. Follow our social media channels for conference news, events, and information. Be sure to tag your photos on social media with the YASC Europe event hashtag, #YASCEurope! About Yardi Now in its fourth decade, Yardi® is committed to the design, development and support of software for real estate investment management and property management. With the Yardi Commercial Suite™, Yardi Residential Suite™, Yardi Investment Suite™ and Yardi Orion® Business Intelligence, the Yardi Voyager® platform is a complete real estate management solution. It includes operations, accounting and services with portfolio-wide business intelligence and platform-wide mobility. Yardi serves clients worldwide from offices in Europe, Middle East, Australia, Asia, and North America. For more information, visit ...
Looking Back
YASC Gala Fun in Anaheim
The Fall 2015 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference, or YASC for short, was successfully held in Anaheim October 7-9, 2015. For the third consecutive year, the Fall 2015 YASC was hosted at the Hilton Anaheim, located in Orange County near the Anaheim Convention Center. YASC Anaheim drew 1,800 clients and 300 staff to Southern California for three days of advanced software training, product updates, learning, and networking. In addition to the 200+ courses, general sessions, and panels, guests enjoyed the YASC Gala on October 9. Attendees danced and sang along to 1930’s jazz-inspired Gala entertainment. The Hilton’s largest ballroom was transformed with lush topiaries, lamp posts, waterfalls, and the iconic sound and energy of New Orleans. We captured some of the evening’s festivities at the Gala photo booth. Enjoy a glimpse of the fun!...
Magic Kingdom
Disneyesque real estate
The Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference is being held in Anaheim, Calif. this week, just down the street from the Happiest Place on Earth. Yes, we’re talking about Disneyland. If you grew up in Southern California or are raising a family here, chances are you may have had occasion to visit the flagship Disney theme park a time or two. Now that I’m older and more interested in mergers and acquisitions than Minnie Mouse, Disneyland doesn’t hold the same thrall over me that it once did. But as I thought about the many memories there, the unique sense of place fostered by the park’s attractions was on my mind. Could you find a Sleeping Beauty Castle on the real estate market? How about a Tom Sawyer Island? Even a Haunted Mansion? I went looking for the comparable properties to some of my favorite Disneyland spots. Here’s what I found. Sleeping Beauty Castle Fit for a princess, Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle is like a life size Barbie dream house. When I was growing up, it wasn’t open to go inside – apparently it’s now open to visitors for walking tours, though some reviewers complain that there’s not much to do in there. Well, Sleeping Beauty was asleep, after all.. I found a castle for sale in Burgundy, France that might fit the bill of a modern princess (Kim Kardashian?). Two hours from Paris, the 9-bedroom, 7-bathroom home comes with its own lake, two guesthouses, a barn and a stables. But it wasn’t owned by a fairy tale character – French biologist Louis Pasteur, who made milk safe to store with his pasteurization technique, was the original proprietor. Price is available from international real estate firm Moulin upon request. Tom Sawyer Island You don’t have...
Fun in Anaheim
YASC Fall 2015
The Fall 2015 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference, or YASC for short, is coming to Anaheim October 7-9, 2015. For the third consecutive year, the Fall 2015 YASC will be hosted at the Hilton Anaheim, located in Orange County near the Anaheim Convention Center. YASC Anaheim is projected to be one of the largest conferences to date, with an estimated 1,800 clients and 300 staff in attendance. The conference focuses on advanced software training, product updates, and exploring important industry topics. This year YASC will offer clients 200+ courses to choose from including courses tailored for IT professionals, executives, property managers, property owners, office staff, and trainers. Along with the YASC courses, general sessions, and scheduled entertainment, we wanted to share a few local attractions that may interest clients visiting Orange County. Whether this is your first visit to the West Coast, or your tenth, we hope these opportunities will enrich your experience while at YASC. Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park Disneyland Park is celebrating its Diamond 60th Anniversary in style. You won’t want to miss Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, which has been transformed into a Diamond-studded classic. The year-long celebration features special parades, programs, and a dazzling fireworks display in the evening. In addition to celebrating its 60th Anniversary, parts of the park will be in festive fall spirit. Special events, including family-friendly Halloween events, happen throughout the park in the month of October. Head over to the Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain to experience spooky and fun seasonal activities. Disney’s California Adventure Park offers the attractions, dining, shopping, and entertainment of Disneyland, but with extended park hours. The new Cars Land area is a fun and interactive part of the park where guests can race into the world of Pixar’s Cars movie....
YASC DC 2015
Annual East Coast Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yardi’s largest ever Advanced Solutions Conference launched Tuesday, May 19 at the Washington Hilton. Nearly 1,500 clients are attending the three-day event, which continues through May 21. Remarks from Yardi founder and CEO Anant Yardi began the day. “Clients are at the heart of what we do,” Mr. Yardi said. “Our focus is your success. And there are two guiding principles for us: Customer service and innovation.” Since 1984, California-based Yardi Systems has become a global real estate technology leader, with 36 offices, clients in 80 countries, 10 data centers, and software platforms serving more than a dozen real estate verticals. “We started in Europe 10 years ago, and that growth has really continued,” said Rob Teel, senior vice president, global solutions. The company will soon add additional data centers in Dubai and Singapore. Yardi also provides an array of strong ancillary service products, nationwide real estate market data, and real estate focused digital media. Over a period of strong growth for the company during the last decade, Mr. Yardi has placed the focus on customer service and support. The semi-annual YASC conferences, now expanded beyond the U.S. to include regional events in Australia, the UK, and Singapore, is first and foremost an opportunity for clients to dialogue with Yardi personnel. The feedback they provide on Yardi products is vital to ongoing upgrades and enhancements to the software. Mentioning sharing economy successes Airbnb and Uber, Mr. Yardi said that the company’s focus in the coming months and years will be to continue to streamline and simplify its products and platforms. “You might say, what do (Airbnb and Uber) have to do with real estate? But it’s interesting to note that both of them simplify transactions we do on a daily basis...
Attend YASC DC
Early bird rate ends soon
Each May, hundreds of professionals who use Yardi products as part of their daily work gather in Washington, D.C., for the company’s annual East Coast Advanced Solutions Conference – better known as YASC. The three day event, filled with opportunities to learn how to better utilize your company’s existing Yardi technology or enhance your software platform with complementary products, is held at the Washington Hilton. This year’s event is set for May 19-21. The 2015 schedule will include expert panel discussions, open laboratory opportunities, and over 200 in-depth classroom sessions. An early bird registration rate is now available, but will end on February 5. Register at this link. A general schedule of events can be found here. YASC attendees typically vary in professional specialty, but real estate professionals who benefit from the conference include executives, marketers, IT and finance professionals, trainers, and site level property managers. Whether you use Yardi to do your job or manage employees who do, there will be myriad benefits to attendance at YASC. The Washington Hilton is a centrally located hotel, and clients typically enjoy dining and sightseeing in Washington in addition to attending the conference and earning continuing education credits. For clients who normally attend the Fall YASC session, Yardi’s West Coast conference for 2015 is set for Anaheim, Calif., from Oct....
YASCSB 2014 Photos
Memorable moments
It’s bittersweet to look over these images of our last Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference in Santa Barbara. However, we are looking forward to hosting YASC next fall in a larger location to accommodate more attendees. Thanks to all of the clients and Yardi staff who made this year’s event one of our most memorable. Find registration information for upcoming conferences on...
YASC Highlights
Santa Barbara, Fall 2014
Friday, Oct. 10 – The Fall 2014 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference concluded Friday with a final half day of classes and panel discussions, covering everything from advanced report writing techniques to the advantages of choosing a single solution stack for property management. Representing both the commercial and multifamily industries, clients from Post Properties, Tribridge Residential and Arcadia Management Group spoke positively about the benefits realized when they transitioned from a disparate, multiple vendor approach to a Yardi technology stack. “We replaced our numerous different vendors and eliminated the hassles that came along with that,” said Dan Ma Gill, Director of Information Technology for Atlanta-based Tribridge Residential. “It has been a really good experience.” The switch made it possible for Tribridge to achieve a paperless business model, seamlessly access data housed in the Yardi Voyager 7S database, and achieve myriad other business efficiencies. Single sign-on, ease of implementation, and eliminating integration headaches were among the benefits Ma Gill singled out. For Gary Shaw, President/Owner of Phoenix-based Arcadia Management Group, a commercial fee manager, mobility, enhanced reporting capability, and efficiency have been the major benefits of moving to a single solution stack for the 6.5 million square feet of retail real estate his company cares for. “In 2013, I had an epiphany at YASC. I realized I was using maybe 1 percent of the software capability that Yardi offered me,” he said of his reasons for moving forward with new products. “(The change) has consolidated a bunch of different processes.”‘ Shaw uses Yardi’s CommercialCafe to allow tenants to make online rent payments and markets available properties using the CommercialCafe ILS. He’s a big fan of Yardi PAYScan and estimates that it has reduced the cost of paying an invoice to a vendor from $3 to $5 per transaction to just 70 cents. And being able to approve payables using a mobile app? Well, that’s practically priceless, in his view. “It gives you the ability to be out in the world, and not be tethered to your desk,” he said, providing an example of how just the day before, he had quickly reviewed and approved an urgent invoice for one of his staff members back in Arizona. At Post Properties, an Atlanta-based company with 22,000 units of multifamily real estate, Janet Ham and her team moved to the single solution stack after conducting a comprehensive review of their digital strategy. “I had 40-plus products, pieces of middleware, and tasks that someone had to make sure were running correctly every day. All it took was one system upgrade, and it was time to check on every other piece to make sure they were still going to work,” Ham said of the pre-Yardi software landscape. The company’s technology stack includes Voyager 7S, Yardi Procure to Pay, PAYScan, RENTCafé (online leasing/resident services), Yardi Payment Processing, LeasingPad CRM, Yardi Energy Services, ResidentShield insurance, Maintenance for Mobile, Inspection, and VendorCafé. Since the product suite has been implemented, “I’ve done the happy dance around the office about 10 times,” Ham said. Both Ham and Ma Gill said that using a single solution stack has allowed them to eliminate drop boxes for rent checks and automate late fees when payment aren’t received on time. At Post, residents began signing up to pay rent online even before an official announcement of the service’s availability was sent out. “Whether you have an A, B or C class property, the residents want to have electronic communication with the leasing staff,” Ma Gill noted. Opening Session Wednesday, Oct. 8 – Fall YASC 2014 kicked off with a full house for Wednesday morning’s general session at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara, Calif. Founder and CEO Anant Yardi announced, admittedly “with a little remorse,” that 16 years after its inception here, the conference is the company’s last to be held in its corporate hometown. Requests to attend YASC have outgrown the capacity...
Welcome to YASC
Learn, Connect, Share
Yardi would like to welcome our valued clients to our fall Advanced Solutions Conference in our hometown of Santa Barbara, Calif. We hope you enjoy your stay in our beautiful beachfront city, but more importantly, we hope that the conference is a valuable learning experience for you. This morning, the day begins with Anant Yardi’s General Session remarks at 8:30 a.m. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from our CEO and one of the industry’s most respected technology innovators. The General Session will be immediately followed by the Spotlight Sessions, market-specific overviews for Commercial and Investment Management, Multifamily, Public Housing, Affordable Housing, and Marketing. Here are a few brief reminders about resources and things to remember during your stay. Should you have questions or need assistance with anything during your stay, simply ask a Yardi staff member wearing a blue polo shirt, or contact us at the Hospitality Desk. We’re happy to help. To connect with us on social media during the event, please visit our YASC Page. Here you’ll find access to all of our social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and of course, this blog. Don’t forget to tag your tweets and posts with #YASCSB so they can be seen by everyone looking for conference observations and insights. This year, course materials and handouts will be available for you to download and save electronically. Follow along in class on your tablet or laptop, and save to share with your coworkers when you get back to the home office. Find all of those items right here. You can also find them after the event on Client Central. And finally, looking for fun things to do outside of the conference venue? Find our locals tips for Santa Barbara right here. Thank you...
Tips from the Teachers
YASC DC 2014
The Spring 2014 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference will take place in Washington, D.C. on May 28-30. The conference offers engaging sessions led by Yardi experts who provide clients with the opportunity to enhance their understanding of Yardi’s software and services, participate in panel discussions with industry leaders and peers, and get helpful solutions at one-on-one computer labs. The Balance Sheet presents a quick primer on this spring’s conference. Tips from Teachers invites you to discover the hottest classes, gain insights from instructors, and explore the best features of DC. Meet a few of Yardi’s instructors and moderators. We hope you’ll have the chance to check out their classes! Blair Kramer, Implementation Training Specialist, PopCard What are you teaching at YASC DC 2014? Basics of PopCard Usage Why are you a strong teacher/moderator? I am genuinely passionate about PopCard. Prior to joining Yardi, I worked in the multi-family industry for 10 years and I understand the importance of lead management. I work very hard to ensure that my classes are not only educational but entertaining as well. Which class(es) do you think will be the most popular at YASC DC 2014? Introduction to Voyager 7S. 7S is our newest release and there are many advantages to upgrading. Voyager 7S boasts browser agnostic capabilities, AJAX, a full mobile platform, and expanded search features. What value does YASC offers for clients? YASC attendees don’t just have the opportunity to attend a myriad of classes, they are able to network with fellow Yardi users and employees to discuss ways that they can more efficiently utilize their current Yardi products as well as learn about Yardi’s newest solutions. What do you enjoy most about teaching at YASC? I love meeting our clients face to face, hearing success stories, and working with clients that are facing challenges to ensure that they get the information that they need to be successful. What’s your favorite thing about DC? Georgetown is just beautiful! You can have dinner and drinks on the waterfront, tour historic homes, and shop the Book Hill area for fun antiques! ### Christi Duffey, Team Leader, Affordable Housing What are you teaching at YASC DC 2014? Affordable Tenant Ledger Clean Up, AR Tie Out Part 1 and 2, as well as the Affordable GPR Journal Entry Why are you a strong teacher/moderator? I believe in telling the audience what I am going to tell them, tell them, and then telling them what I told them again is key to presenting an informative and effective class. I also like to present the information in a way that fits each audience. Which class(es) do you think will be the most popular at YASC DC 2014? Affordable Tips and Tricks and Affordable New Features What do you enjoy most about teaching at YASC? Meeting the clients! What’s your favorite thing about DC? I enjoy the architecture and history. The monuments are beautiful and I like being in DuPont Circle. The brownstone buildings are my favorite. ### Heather Ishmael McArthur, HousingCafe QA Specialist Programming / Development Which class(es) do you think will be the most popular at YASC DC 2014? HousingCafe for Affordable and PHA What value does YASC offers for clients? It is a great opportunity to get an overview of all of the products that Yardi offers, as well as in-depth knowledge about the parts of the software an individual uses on a daily basis. What do you enjoy most about YASC? Conferences are a lot of fun. For me, they are a great experience for getting to know the clients. In the general sessions, I met some really fun clients and we had a great time conversing and dancing. We made sure to find each other for meal times to catch up on the day. ### Matthew Scott, Technical Account Manager, Payment Processing What are you teaching at YASC DC 2014? CheckScan Payment Processing...
YASC Spring 2014
Real Estate Technology Insight in Washington, D.C.
The biannual Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) offers attendees fantastic tutorials, exciting technology developments and insightful Q&A sessions. Learn how your organization can optimize the value of your Yardi products and services. The East Coast conference will return to the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C on May 28-30, 2014. This year’s event will feature more than 250 sessions led by Yardi experts, providing clients with the inside scoop on the industry’s premiere business solutions. Empower your organization with the tools needed to automate daily tasks for improved efficiency, generate reports at the touch of a button, customize marketing to generate better leads, and more. For years clients have enjoyed Yardi’s software for property management, leasing, accounting, investments, and marketing. Now, discover how you can take your business to the next level with Yardi’s Mobile Solutions, perfect for your fast-paced lifestyle. Our browser-agnostic tools offer complete functionality between popular devices and operating systems such as iOS, Android and BlackBerry. Additional conference highlights include demos of our latest technology, including Yardi Procure to Pay™, Yardi Orion Business Intelligence™, Yardi Leasing Pad™, Yardi Advanced Budgeting & Forecasting™, RentCafe™, HOUSINGCafé™, and COMMERCIALCafé™. YASC DC is the ideal opportunity to expand your knowledge of Yardi’s extensive line of products and services. There is something for everyone at the conference: Executives — Learn about our latest technology from Anant Yardi himself, and discover how these solutions will help your organization meet its unique business objectives. Marketing Professionals — Collaborate with other marketing professionals in the real estate industry during educational courses that highlight how Yardi tools can improve your marketing performance. Property Managers — Learn how to automate and optimize operations so you can focus on higher-value tasks. IT Professionals — Gain a thorough understanding of system requirements and functionality directly from the Yardi professionals behind the products. Trainers — Increase your knowledge of Yardi products and services exponentially by learning from the source. Register today and earn 18 CRP credits for your conference attendance. The Balance Sheet will deliver daily updates, client features, and conference highlights. Guests are also welcomed to connect with to-the-minute updates via Facebook and...
Spring YASC
Early bird rate extended
Due to extreme weather on the East Coast, we’re extending the early bird rates for the spring Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) in Washington, D.C. Register by February 26 for $100 off the regular price. We hope to see you in Washington this spring. Why YASC? YASC is your opportunity to learn about Yardi products and services directly from our expert staff and alongside your colleagues in the real estate industry. With over 200 classroom sessions, featured speakers, and product demos, YASC is designed with the user in mind. We want you to get the most from your Yardi products and services. You will walk away with a fuller understanding of how our software provides a single solution for your property management, investment management, accounting, marketing and leasing needs, all on a mobile-enabled, browser-agnostic platform. Find highlights from our most recent YASC in Anaheim, California, right here. Join us on the East Coast in Washington, D.C., this spring Spring YASC will take place at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., from May 28–30. Book early and save on registration; the early bird rate of $995 US ($1,042 CAD) increases by $100 after February 26. Who should attend YASC? Executives —Learn about our latest technology from Anant Yardi himself, and discover how these solutions will help your organization meet its unique business objectives. Marketing Professionals — Collaborate with other marketing professionals in the real estate industry during educational courses that highlight how Yardi tools can improve your marketing performance. Property Managers — Learn how to automate and optimize operations so you can focus on higher-value tasks. IT Professionals — Gain a thorough understanding of system requirements and functionality directly from the Yardi professionals behind the products. Trainers — Increase your knowledge of Yardi products and services exponentially by learning from the source. Visit Yardi.com for more information or to register for YASC spring 2014. Or, come to our home town on the West Coast this fall This year YASC is returning to Santa Barbara, CA, on October 8-10, 2014. As space is limited for the fall conference, we are accepting a maximum of 6 attendees from each client company, and will cap the total number of participants. Registration for fall YASC opens in February at the early bird rate of $1,095 US ($1,171 CAD). Keep an eye on your email and don’t delay—this event is expected to sell out quickly. We hope to see you in Washington or Santa Barbara in...
A Home Run
YASC contest winner Steve Schutz
Steve Schutz would have come to the Fall 2013 Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) no matter what – as a 12-year user of Yardi products, he recognizes the value of the event to educate and inform him about developments and solutions for the software he uses daily. “I do everything from training, document writing, help desk, troubleshooting, setting up properties, setting up menus, just about anything and everything,” said the Yardi Director for Trade Street Residential, an East Coast multifamily management firm. A free entry to the conference (valued at $995), $500 VISA gift card and VIP seating at the conference gala event managed to put a smile on his face and new baseball jersey in his closet. Steve’s name was drawn at random from hundreds of entry forms. Oh, and he learned a few cool things about the new Voyager 7S, too. Trade Street will upgrade to the new Voyager version in November. In addition to its device and browser agnosticism, two things that piqued Steve’s interest in 7S are its search capabilities – it features global and predictive search – and overall look. “The search functions are great. As the help desk person, I often get the phone call: ‘Where can I find this report?’ And now, users can type a key word in there and find it themselves,” he said. A veteran of five YASC events, his favorite parts of the conference include networking and the opportunity to work through trouble spots in the lab. “I’ve learned a lot, just being in the lab,” he noted. Schutz is based in Florida. He’s worked in residential, commercial, affordable and military property management for the last 12 years. That new baseball jersey, though, wasn’t for a Chicago Cubs player – he probably already...