You need to find commercial real estate software for your business. How can you make sure it's user-friendly?

Apple became a powerful company by keeping their devices and software simple. Do not overcomplicate the search by allowing a salesman to tell you about the bells and whistles that you don’t need. Before you start your search, define exactly what goals you need the software to achieve. Then, go and search for the best software that most specifically solves those goals in a simple way. You will know if the salesman can actually achieve your goals when you talk because they will be excited to show you how their software achieves your listed goals OR they will try to avoid the question by bringing up a bunch of other features that are going to be amazing for you (but, you don’t need).

Definieren Sie Ihre Ziele, bevor Sie sich mit kommerzieller Immobiliensoftware befassen. Identifizieren Sie die Problembereiche und Herausforderungen, die spezifisch für Ihr Immobiliengeschäft sind. Bestimmen Sie die wichtigsten Funktionen, die erforderlich sind, um Arbeitsabläufe zu optimieren, die Leistung zu verbessern und die Rentabilität zu steigern. Legen Sie klare Kennzahlen fest, um den Erfolg oder die Auswirkungen der Software-Tools zu messen.

Defining your goals is crucial before delving into commercial real estate software. Identify the pain points and challenges specific to your CRE business. Pinpoint the key features needed to streamline workflows, enhance performance, and boost profitability. Establish clear metrics for measuring the success or impact of the software tools.

I've seen many companies suffer from software bloat. There's always a new toy, a new promise that this one software will 10x your business, but the reality is that a tool is only as good as its application. You should first identify WHY you want the tool. If it's just to patch up a systemic problem, then you're just putting a band-aid on a festering wound. The core of any software should be this: what is the single most important activity for your business' success? Another way: what one thing moves the needle more than anything else? In real estate, this is often setting meetings with prospects or past clients. If you can free up time to do the "one thing" more or better, then buy it.

Understand what you want/need ... what are the quirks of your business? How varied is it? What do you need the software to do? How will that aid your efficiency? Etc.

Comparing platforms is a crucial step in finding the right commercial real estate software. Beyond price, functionality, compatibility, scalability, security, and support, prioritize user-friendliness. Consider the ease of installation, setup, and updates. Assess the intuitiveness of the interface and navigation. Explore the flexibility and customization options for settings and preferences.

Definitely do your research and compare different products. See which products work for you. Focus on what you need rather than the sales pitches from the software providers. Also research the after-care and customer support available if you go with a particular provider

When comparing platforms, make sure you are considering an industry leader that provides a robust onboarding process and has success supporting some of the largest managers in the industry. Your business likely has unique complexities that an established player in the partnership enablement space can support. Also consider whether you can leverage technology providers with in-house essential services like fund accounting to ensure a seamless experience.

I’m my experience the first thing should be to make a list of the best rated software and to compare them based on price, functionality, compatibility, scalability, security, support and the most important factor to consider is how user-friendly is. Asking your team for feedback is also a good idea.

Testing the software firsthand is key to determining its user-friendliness. Take advantage of free trials, demos, or walkthroughs provided by software providers. Explore the features in real scenarios and assess how the platform aligns with your goals. Engage with sales representatives or product experts to get live or recorded demonstrations. This hands-on approach allows you to ask questions, provide feedback, and request modifications, ensuring the software meets your specific needs.

Find a software that allows you to demo without making a commitment. You should utilize software services you feel comfortable with so you know that you can achieve work that is accurate in a timely manner. You should also ask a sales rep to walk you through demos, and make sure the software has a support team in case you come along questions after you commit to it. Allow those on your team to test the software and provide feedback. Try out at least three providers that meet your wants and needs and walk through your team's feedback on things such as usability and functionality so you can make an informed decision.

Testing is key. Not only does this enable you to see if it does what you want it to, but also to see how it integrates with your systems etc.

Team feedback is invaluable in assessing the user-friendliness of a software solution. Your team's daily use makes their opinions and experiences crucial. Encourage them to test the software or participate in group demos and training sessions. Solicit input on features, functions, problems, benefits, and drawbacks they observe. By involving your team, you ensure the software aligns with their expectations and requirements, fostering comfort and confidence in its usage

It is paramount that you listen to your team...if decision makers won't be using the software, or won't be the only users, then you must involve your team and get their feedback as that is crucial

Reviewing the results is the final step in ensuring the chosen software meets your needs. Evaluate how the solutions performed in terms of usability and functionality. Assess their impact on achieving goals, solving challenges, and improving workflows, performance, and profitability. Gauge the satisfaction levels of both you and your team.

This may be obvious but test the speed of the product on both sides of your firewall and VPN connection. No matter how pretty the product is, no one will use it if it's slow. I would also recommend requiring some representations in the contract regarding upload and download speeds. The product selection and implementation team should include stakeholders from multiple departments.