Perhaps the most compelling piece of theatre in recent real estate history, Gary Keller’s interview at the Inman Connect Conference laid out his argument around the future of the industry. Keller’s approach is to own his own data and develop a software platform unique to Keller Williams, and a number of other franchises are buying up technology companies in order to build their own exclusive data platforms. But is this obsession with technology and controlling the data distracting brokerages and franchisors from what really matters?
Rob and Greg are on the line to discuss real estate technology and data ownership. Greg explains W+R’s focus on creating a kickass experience for agents and consumers alike and describes the company’s approach to aggregating data rather than trying to build a proprietary platform.
Rob and Greg cover the growing competition in real estate software and address who is responsible for providing agents with a technology suite. They debate the merits of designing an exclusive platform versus integrating franchise data with a particular software package to create a custom data solution. Listen in for insight around the US vs. THEM mindset around building technology and learn why Rob and Greg are calling for a renewed focus on agents—and giving them the tools to shine!
What’s Discussed:
The overarching theme of the 2018 Inman Connect conference
Gary Keller’s aim to create his own ‘platform for innovation’
How W+R seeks to democratize the iBuyer experience
The role of AI and machine learning in a technology platform
W+R’s approach to making data useful for the end user
Greg’s take on the notion of data ownership
How Zillow has evolved to generate its own data
W+R’s focus on improving an agent’s listing presentation
Cloud Investor Connect’s value prop for investors
- High intent, high volume
Who is responsible for providing agents with a tech platform
The consistent improvement of real estate software
The opportunity to integrate software with franchise data
The MLSs role as a tech platform vs. data provider
The definition of a technology platform as an end-to-end solution
Rob’s insight around focusing on the agent rather than technology
Sponsors:
Resources:
Inman Connect—San Francisco 2018
Brad Inman’s Tech Platform Opinion Piece
Connect with Rob and Greg: