Technology is becoming increasingly important to the way that we run our businesses—there is simply no avoiding it.
The way we manage finances, collaborate, plan, and meet are all now largely technology driven.
Yet in the property sector, the way we access our data has largely remained unchanged for many years.
Several of the most regularly used platforms are desktop based and look much the same as the pre-smart device era in which they were designed.
In some cases, head office controls the data access or a dedicated research team by way of taking requests.
While this process works, it is inefficient and expensive in terms of both time and money.
Surely it is possible to provide faster, reliable and effective access to essential real estate and property databases?
These are the questions that proptech start-up Search Commercial have turned their attention to.
Chief Executive Joel Taylor, who also co-founded the firm, advised that a range of principles guided their thinking on this seemingly simple question.
“Firstly, we needed access to great data—that’s a given—so initially we focussed on securing the right integration partners. This included groups such as MetroMap, Pricefinder, Think Economics and Ethos Urban,” he commented.
“To be a modern solution, we felt that the application had to be user friendly on any device and offer good value for money.
“These principles are basically where we started.
“Now two years on, the development of the Search Commercial application has come a long way. You can easily access powerful property databases and online reports. Within minutes you can review locations and identify opportunities.”
Search Commercial this year has been steadily growing in popularity with several large real estate, development and quick-service retail groups adopting the application.
Key features of the app include high-resolution aerial imagery (historical and contemporary), site search and measurement tools, real estate data, and a range of market insights from leading urbanists and property economists.
“We have been pleased with the quality insights provided by our national data partners” Taylor said.
“The variety of information is amazing. Everything from sector-based investment hotspots to areas with high rates of online shopping.
“Our vision is to continue to expand these insights and the range of partners we work with.”
For property developers and others in acquisition due diligence, an advantage with Search Commercial is the advanced site finding tool—locations can be targeted based on specific criteria nation-wide.
“Our team manages a large geo-spatial database that tags land parcels with a range of unique attributes such as proximity measures, frontage, road types and many more. It sounds technical, but the use case is simple,” Taylor said.
“For example, if you are in the market for a main road site with a particular size and frontage, we can highlight your options immediately.
“Our customers can even search across property listings to see what is available to buy or lease. They can also overlay demography and other key drivers of growth.”
The advantage for our clients is that this technology allows for professionals of all sectors to access data at any time, effectively and make on the spot decisions—reducing the many limitations encountered by all professionals through existing processes.
Once sites are located for a more detailed review, a range of property reports can be generated to save time and money.
With three report types available, Search Commercial has everything that is required to aid your decision making.
A focus for Search Commercial is continuing to improve our platform through our updates and provide greater value for our clients.
“Having undertaken countless online demonstrations during the lock-downs, I feel a great connection with our customers, and we learn from them daily,” Taylor said.
“Property is a resilient sector, and it is hard to imagine a group more passionate about innovation and what they do.”
Click here to request a demo.
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