Growth in web use and how to manage the mass of information available will be the main themes of this year’s computer show for the property industry, PCS2000. By Simon Jack
Many in the property industry have been dragged kicking and screaming into the digital age. But now, as the benefits of IT become clear, there is strong interest in a wide range of technologies – something that will be reflected at this year’s Property Computer Show.
Among the major themes at this year’s event, to be held at London’s Barbican Exhibition Halls on 17 and 18 October, will be the increasing use of web-based systems and a strong emphasis on managing the vast amounts of information that most firms now routinely collect but sometimes find difficult to use to best effect.
There are also a number of practical tools such as hand-held devices and voice recognition systems on show, along with a programme of conference sessions and seminars that respond to many of the main themes of the exhibition.
Expanding market for ASPs
The internet has already had a huge effect on the way property firms operate, but the rate of change is unlikely to slow just yet. One growing area is likely to be application service provider – ASP – products, which allow firms to use computer programs online rather than installing them on their own computers.
Bob Rosen, a director of the show’s organiser, VCM Communications, says: “Much hyped in the press, ASP solutions will be well represented at this year’s show.”
GVA Software, for example, will be showing its REAL Online service (stand 103), which went live earlier this year and is already being used by Oxfam. In return for a monthly fee, users can access products online, as GVA Software’s sales marketing manager, Kyron Keogh, explains.
“Customers will be able to register for the product on the internet and access our suite of products without the need for upfront licence and hardware costs,” he says.
Existing products upgraded
Some well-established IT products are being upgraded. Shown for the first time at the show will be an updated version of Estates Gazette’s sister web site, EGi, which has been redesigned and had a much more sophisticated search capability added.
The show will also include a new version of Raindrop Group’s Manhattan property management system (stand 9), which can be used on an ASP basis or through a property company’s own intranet.
Raindrop’s managing director, Steve Vatidis, believes that such technology will make it much easier for property firms to deploy systems throughout the organisation.
“With proper security provisions, it will also be possible for multinationals to access the application from any part of the world – without having to execute local implementation,” he says.
Other features of the new version of Manhattan include a system for meeting the “best value” requirements set out by local authorities for the management of their property assets, as well as a new rating module and features for those in the investment, retail occupier and facilities-management sectors. One user of the system is King Sturge, whose Tanya Willcocks says: “As it is a multi-lingual, modular system, it offers us lots of flexibility.”
VCM’s Rosen says that this year will also see an unprecedented amount of activity in e-commerce: “The property industry has been quite slow when compared with other industries in launching e-business products. However, PCS2000 will see a number of new solutions.”
Web-based trading platofrm
These will include a web-based trading platform for investment properties from Propex (stand 156) and an online system for the complete process of buying and selling a house from the Live Organisation (stand 226). There will also be a seminar presented by Nigel Grice of groundbreakers.net on gaining property advice online (Oct 17, 1.30pm).
Another key technology that is likely to prove increasingly influential in property over the next few years is virtual reality, which will enable people to tour both commercial and residential properties from the comfort of their own computer screens.
VCM’s Rosen says: “As agents look to differentiate their clients’ properties when viewed on the internet, many are turning to virtual tours. These tours are becoming increasingly sophisticated and a number of exhibitors will be demonstrating the latest advancements in this technology.”
There will be a joint 15-minute presentation by the University of Salford and ehouse (stand 204), a company that provides virtual tours in the form of moving 360-degree images from key vantage points in a property. Others involved in providing virtual tour products include FlashVisit (stand 215) and iPIX (stand 124).
Virtual reality is also covered in the conference programme, and Terry Wyatt of Hoare Lea will discuss how the technology could encompass new features such as sound levels and illumination (October 17, 11.15am).
As well as embracing new technologies, another important issue for property firms is how to make better use of the vast amounts of data collected. A seminar presented by CGT, “Profiting from knowledge management” (October 18, 1.30pm), will also demonstrate CGT’s Osiris software (stand 134). Director Anne Mcgreal believes more property firms are beginning to realise that they need to form a knowledge-management strategy.
“Resources are utilised more efficiently, knowledge is shared more effectively and solutions provided to the client are more innovative and more cost-effective to the organisation,” she says. “The client, after all, expects more than mere confirmation of what he already knows.”
The need for effective information has prompted many companies to upgrade their property-management products, and Fraser Williams Commercial Systems will be showing an improved, web-enabled version of its Horizon Real Estate Solutions system – formerly known as Skyline (stand 6) – as well as announcing a rebranding programme.
More from map-based systems
Another theme in the show is the broader services now being offered by map-based systems. Experian (stand 106) will be showing a range of digital Goad reports, which include detailed demographic information, that have been developed in addition to its traditional, paper-based retail maps. Imass (stand 50) will be showing its Chartis system, which offers features including a property database.
As well as providing strategic benefits, IT is proving important for more practical processes. The Speech Recognition Co (stand 222) will be showing a number of systems that have been tailored towards surveyors, allowing them to enter data straight into a database or document by speaking.
VCM’s Rosen says that such systems are likely to become more and more popular. “Huge strides have been taken in the past few years to ensure that the solutions are more usable and robust than those produced in the late 1980s,” he explains.
He says that these earlier models often required one word to be repeated 10 times or more before it was recognised.
Pocket PCs will also feature at the show. GVA Software will show a specially developed version of its Real Survey product. And, for the residential market, Survey Supplies (stand 150) will demonstrate its Pocket Property Surveyor, which is used for preparing homebuyers’ reports.
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PCS2000 – who’ll be there |
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More than 100 companies will exhibit at London’s Barbican on 17-18 October |
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Exhibitor |
Stand |
Exhibitor |
Stand |
|
Wealth Management Software |
1 |
Gerald Eve Property Systems |
27 |
|
Circle Systems |
3 |
Prodat Systems |
28 |
|
Amco Technical Services |
4 |
Core Systems |
30 |
|
Grosvenor Systems |
5 |
Commercial Property Database |
31 |
|
Fraser Williams |
6 |
FRS (Design IT) |
32 |
|
EGi |
7 |
Argus in the Realm |
33 |
|
FOCUS |
8 |
CTI in the Realm |
33 |
|
Raindrop Information Systems |
9 |
R-Cam |
35 |
|
Trace Solutions |
10 |
Thames Group |
36 |
|
APB |
11 |
Tornado Property Systems |
38 |
|
Craft Computer Systems |
12 |
GMW Systems |
39 |
|
CALdes BOE |
13 |
Service Works |
40 |
|
Solex Computer Systems |
14 |
Pericom |
41 |
|
Management Reports International |
16 |
Kel Computing |
42 |
|
J D Edwards (UK) |
24 |
PropertyWorld (Internet) |
43 |
|
Minolta QMS |
25 |
Business Computer Projects |
45 |
|
Rutherford Johnson |
26 |
Imass |
50 |
|
Brand X 2000 |
26a |
DeCAL 132 |
|
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Estate Computer Systems |
101 |
ihavemoved.com 133 |
|
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Hexagon Software |
102 |
Collaborative Groupware Technologies |
134 |
|
GVA Software |
103 |
Documedia |
135 |
|
National Association of Estate Agents |
104 |
Kubix |
136 |
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propertyfinder.co.uk |
105 |
UCT |
138 |
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Experian Goad |
106 |
Prosoft Property Solutions |
139 |
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Financial & Property Software |
107 |
Teramedia |
140 |
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Multi-User Systems |
108 |
DVE |
141 |
|
COUNTYweb |
110 |
Moneyextra homes (Homepages) |
141 |
|
CAPS Solutions |
111 |
Homes On-line |
142 |
|
Interproperty Systems |
112 |
Smart Estates |
145 |
|
Thirlby Consulting |
112A |
MSP Butler Sherborn |
150 |
|
Demesne Management Systems |
113 |
Survey Supplies |
150 |
|
Pear Technology Services |
113 |
Fish4 |
151 |
|
Technology Blueprint |
114 |
Dezrez.com |
152 |
|
Systemslink3 |
115 |
Phoenix |
152A |
|
Pavilion IT |
120 |
Big Hand |
153 |
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KPMG |
122 |
DPI |
154 |
|
R&A Software |
123 |
Hewlett Packard |
154 |
|
iPIX Europe |
124 |
Kodak |
154 |
|
Rentman |
125 |
CFP Software |
155 |
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T&H Computers |
130 |
Property Investment Exchange |
156 |
|
Kinetic Technologies |
131 |
Internet Telecom |
157 |
|
ehouse |
204 |
Provecta Online 213 |
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08004homes.com |
205 |
FlashVisit.com 215 |
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GGP Systems |
206 |
Infotech Enterprises Europe (Dataview) |
216 |
|
Logotech Systems |
206 |
High Symons |
221 |
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Eurolink Technology |
207 |
Speech Recognition Co |
222 |
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Prototec Software |
208 |
Ordnance Survey |
224 |
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Intelligent Addressing |
210 |
Wildgoose Publications |
225 |
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The House Hunter 211 |
The Live Organisation |
226 |
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Direct Communications Software |
212 |
Xerox OPB |
228 |
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Touchwood Software Design |
212 |
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