If you're in the apartment industry, you need to pay attention to what's coming out of the NMHC Operations and Technology Conference in Dallas this week. It's as simple as that.
Thanks to Twitter, you can follow along from the comfort of your own desk. A number of the attendees are tweeting tidbits from the sessions, using the hashtag #NHMCTech.
The topics have ranged from lead attribution and online reputation monitoring to cell phone coverage and electric car chargers. Here are some of the highlights from Day 2 of the conference:
Special Report: NMHC OpTech 2012 #nmhctech fb.me/2ghSijkQF
— Multi-Housing News(@MHNonline) November 13, 2012
So, here's what the "Age of the Platform" means for apartments: continuous evolution, coopetition, more data, more incentives. #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 12, 2012
Presentations from today's OpTech sessions have been posted.bit.ly/UDMpsp #NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Some of frustration is consolidation in the tech sector has resulted in products being stitched together as a single solution #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
Room Gh: Frustrations over the numb of integrations required to have good tech/mkt presence is big topic. #NMHCTech
— Melanie Stiles (@TheRealMStiles) November 13, 2012
#NMHCTech attendees vote on hottest tech topics: emerging technologies, digital leasing/evolving leasing office and business intelligence
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
Marketing and Lead Management
Udr: CL ads2nd highest source of leases behind Seo. #NMHCTech
— Melanie Stiles (@TheRealMStiles) November 13, 2012
Cool -- Waterton also tracking source performance through the renewal. #nmhctech
— Judith Hyatt Bellack (@JudyBellack) November 13, 2012
Greystar reporting a 274% average increase in lead capture since launching a lead management system. #NMHCTech
— Sara S. Graham (@sarasgraham) November 13, 2012
81% of leads come from the Web. #NMHCTech.
— Amanda Patterson (@awestpatterson) November 13, 2012
According to Gables, prospects use 5 to 7 lead sources before leasing #NMHCTech
— Brent Williams (@brentwilliams2) November 13, 2012
Waterton always looks at click thru rates from ILS to property website when assessing marketing spend. 35% YTD from ILS partners. #nmhctech
— Judith Hyatt Bellack (@JudyBellack) November 13, 2012
Waterton finds that phone leads converts to visits at the highest rates by far! #NMHCTech
— Allison Nesbitt (@AlliNesbittRL) November 13, 2012
Very cool social ROI slide from Waterton. #nmhctech twitter.com/JudyBellack/st…
— Judith Hyatt Bellack (@JudyBellack) November 13, 2012
Waterton online resident referral program.201 closed referral leases generated in 12 months- $400K in revenue.695% ROI.#NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Onsite Technology
Water Conservation, Efficient Lighting, Programmable Thermostat, Recycling Perks: 53% Renters~willing to pay 10% more for #Green. #NMHCTech
— Tamela Coval(@TamelaCoval) November 13, 2012
Females willing to pay more for green living #NMHCTech
— Melanie Stiles (@TheRealMStiles) November 13, 2012
The average apt resident has 5 internet-enabled devices. Wow. #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
Resident technology needs pushing dev costs up. One exec said avg bldg has $100K more in access control costs than 5 years ago. #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
50% of mobile usage is done at home. What does this mean for apartments? Wireless capacity is strained mostly at night after work #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
Things that can affect cell reception in apts (& annoy residents): low e-glass, wet trees, rebar, framing, competing cell towers #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
Solve your wireless access before you build.Consultants can predict likelihood of cell access problem before it's a retrofit. #NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
No/lo wireless annoys residents, complicates iPad leasing AND could violate fire code if no emergency responder radio access. #NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Reality check from #NMHCTech: 4G LTE won't solve wireless troubles in apt blds; resident wireless usage still eats up spectrum capacity
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
IT and Operations
When asked what mobile devices was his company using, Greg replied "Better question is 'what devices aren't we using?'" #NMHCTech
— Kimberly Mitchell (@Go_Hokies) November 13, 2012
Waterton uses PSI's SiteTablet, Carmel built a platform that works on all tablet/mobile browsers, and UDR uses VW's LeasingTablet. #NMHCTech
— Sara S. Graham (@sarasgraham) November 13, 2012
UDR: Costs of tablets is small considering the efficiency gains we have achieved. #NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Per Greg Lozniak w/Waterton -- 85% of ppl who pay online will pay online again next month = they pay!Great stat. #NMHCTech
— Kimberly Mitchell (@Go_Hokies) November 13, 2012
Interesting stat: If you can teach a resident how to pay their rent online, 85% will pay online the following month. #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
UDR gave maintenance smartphones, got them comfortable with the technology, THEN (separately) deployed a maintenance app. Smart. #NMHCTech
— Sara S. Graham (@sarasgraham) November 13, 2012
Waterton due diligence app for iPad saves 4-5 hour of manual labor keying in info, can include pictures and drives consistency #NMHCTech
— NMHC (@ApartmentWire) November 13, 2012
The Future - Will labor laws be affected due to "mobilization" of employees? Data security on mobile devices? Ergonomics issues? #NMHCTech
— Kimberly Mitchell (@Go_Hokies) November 13, 2012
Absolutely impressed w/integration of mobile into facets of res services, leasing, mtce, ACH, etc. Mobile is a necessity. #NMHCTech
— Kimberly Mitchell (@Go_Hokies) November 13, 2012
The office of tomorrow: Geolocation for clocking employees in and out. Whoa. #NMHCTech
— Sara S. Graham (@sarasgraham) November 13, 2012
Madison is deploying Yammer as an internal communication platform. #NMHCTech
— Sara S. Graham (@sarasgraham) November 13, 2012
iPad platforms for turning units during busy #studenthousing months. Streamline the turn process and reduce human error #NMHCTech #VTmash
— Colin Bixler (@ColinBixler) November 13, 2012
The data can be overwhelming, but Biz Intel when done right can compel you to act.If it doesn't, you aren't doing it right. #NMHCTech.
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Social Media and Online Reviews
25% of search results for leading brands are links to user-generated content.#NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Today's search is hugely impacted by social networking and reviews. #nmhctech
— Judith Hyatt Bellack (@JudyBellack) November 13, 2012
Straight from the mouth of Google: Leverage your negative reviews, don't remove them. #NMHCTech
— Sara S. Graham (@sarasgraham) November 13, 2012
Brilliant. RT @apartmentwire Sequoia's online reputation management plan: community.experiencesequoia.com/sequoia #NMHCTech
— Tamela Coval(@TamelaCoval) November 13, 2012
Automate rep. mgmt through your CRM.Even well intentioned customers are busy.Send them an email w/links and ask for reviews. #NMHCTech
— Kim Duty NMHC (@kdutyNMHC) November 13, 2012
Keep an eye on the hashtag as more insights from the conference are shared today. What are some the hot button topics that stick out to you?
