Those attending PCS were keen on its e-business theme but wanted a clearer view of where the technology was heading. Adam Tinworth reports
In the year since the last Property Computer Show in London, e-business has risen to the forefront of many property firms’ strategic thinking. So the show’s organiser, VCM Communications, decided to give PCS, which is traditionally dominated by property management systems and other workstation-orientated IT solutions, an e-business theme this year.
One of the main changes made in terms of e-volving the show was the introduction of a series of seminars and a morning conference on e-business issues. The speakers ranged from Nigel Grice of online property-advice website groundbreaker.net to Chris Reilly, a director of US listing website Loopnet.
Phillip Ross, chief executive of cordlessconsultants.com, kicked off the conference by introducing the potential benefits of wireless technology to a generally interested and appreciative audience. “The sessions on Bluetooth and wireless technology developments were interesting,” says David Lyall, web information manager at DTZ Debenham Tie Leung.
Terry Wyatt of Hoare Lee led a presentation on how three-dimensional modelling of a building can solve all manner of occupational problems, including analysing the airflow within individual rooms.
Melita Thomas, of Ernst & Young’s real estate group, then outlined the ways in which the internet can be applied directly to property business. She led the audience through the concepts of intranets and extranets, and introduced the main categories of websites that are already trading.
Board challenge
The audience’s response was one of interest and frustration. Several audience members asked for guidance in trying to sell the idea of e-commerce to a board that did not use computers themselves.
“It’s better for you to keep pushing the idea now, rather than have a board member come to you in a few months’ time and say ‘I was talking to someone who is saving 70% by e-procurement. Have we looked at that?’,” says Thomas.
While the conference outlined many of the ways e-business could help property companies, implementations of the concepts seemed to be few and far between. “What struck me is how little the technological opportunities have been seized,” says Carolyn Clarke of Knight Frank.
Equally, the exhibitors at the show seemed to have failed to capitalise on the buzz that the seminars and conference were generating. “I didn’t find anything exactly new,” says Clarke. “Each product or service seemed to be cloned several times over, with variations.”
Still, dominating the central area of the show were two major commercial property websites, both of which had relaunched.
Estates Gazette’s sister website, EGi, was showing off its new look. Improved navigation throughout the site, more detailed and cross-referenced searching, and a filing cabinet allowing users to save searches are key improvements.
Rival information provider Focus, placed right next to EGi, was hard at work promoting its own relaunch. The commercial property information site has, in good Blairite fashion, recreated itself as New Focus and was promoting its enhanced speed and growing range of information resources.
The stands showing virtual reality systems for internet sites also attracted attention. “I enjoyed the FlashVisit.com stand,” says Lyall.
Tim Waring, head of residential at Carter Jonas, cites e-house as the most interesting product he saw at the show. This system, along with FlashVisit and iPix, presents ways of photographing properties so the user can manipulate the online image, allowing him to “look” all around the room or building.
Residential websites were at the conference in force, with 10 different sites exhibiting at the show. SmartEstates chose to launch its software package Smart Agency Plus. The system allows users to upload property details to multiple sites simultaneously. It also produces letters, particulars and window cards based on templates set up by the user.
Exclusivity out of favour
The residential market was further examined in the Great E-Debate on Tuesday lunchtime. A packed conference room bounced around issues including exclusivity and ownership of particulars data. Many of the agents present felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of companies touting for business. However, many felt that an exclusive agreement with any one site was against their customers’ interest – they’d want their homes to be advertised on as many sites as possible.
The one recurring theme was that no-one believed the current proliferation of sites will still be around in such numbers in a year’s time. Mergers and acquisitions – and failures – were seen as inevitable.
However, despite the improved focus on the internet, many attendees felt more needs to be done. “Generally, the show catered more for companies taking their first steps on the internet ladder rather than those at the cutting edge,” says Lyall.
Knight Frank’s Clarke agrees. “What was missing was a new way of thinking – some clearer view of how the new technology will impact upon the agent business, not just how we run our offices or how we do business at the moment.”
Some complaints were more prosaic. “My only criticism is the layout of stands,” says Howard Woollaston, head of asset and facilities management at Knight Frank. “The venue is probably not ideal.”
“What the shows needs is a venue where all the stands can display together,” agrees Carter Jonas’s Waring.
Anyone who had similar problems navigating through the Barbican Exhibition Halls will be cheered to hear that next year the show is moving to the new ExCeL building in London’s Docklands.
