How can PropTech be made easier for agents? Key debat...

Today’s long-awaited debate staged by fledgling PropTech platform Best Agent will address the issue of how the agency industry can most effectively use technology in the future - with the added spice of a leading speaker from Google.

Google UK’s Head of Property, Duncan Watts, will be presenting what the organisers describe as “unique insights from Google into user behaviour, use of mobile, and discussing online marketplaces.”

Best Agent is a PropTech startup, founded by high profile industry software entrepreneur Charlie Wright. He wants the platform next year to serve as “a department store where any agent will be able to order, buy or sign up to any particular product or service.”

His aim is to create a platform enabling small operators to access the sort of technology now found on large-scale services such as Jupix and EstatesIT.

Wright already has a large number of companies on board including When You Move, Viewber, Agency Express, Agent Wow, BriefYourMarket, Inventory Base, View My Chain, The Depositary, Feefo, GrowthTrack, Legal for Landlords, ResiAnalytics, Signable, The ValPal Network - which is also the publisher of Estate Agent Today and Letting Agent Today - Yomdel, Hey Landlord, Kremer Signs, Lonsdale Insurance, Good2Rent and Power Agent.

Over 50 industry figures and suppliers are expected at today’s debate which will include representatives from NAEA Propertymark and The Guild of Property Professionals.

”Agents are currently under-served by the PropTech community, not because there aren’t great products out there but because they don’t talk to each other. This means agents can’t currently get all the tools they need in one place” claims Wright.

“This translates into frustrating data-entry duplication, slowing down attempts to streamline their businesses. There are some first class products out there, which add real value for agents, but too many of them are still stand-alone and require a separate log-in. If CRMs and suppliers work together towards one single PropTech standard, it would benefit everyone involved, best of all including the home-moving consumer.”