What is automation, specifically in property management?

You may be wondering what exactly is automation?

How does it work in property management software?

What is it supposed to do for an agency?

Or does using automation mean I am less valuable in my role?

Read on to find out.

What is automation?

Automation comes from the Greek word meaning “acting of oneself”. This can be simply broken down to ‘actions performed without something close by to run it’. All automations are based on a set of rules that are given to a program. 

Software automation is a tool that has revolutionised the way businesses operate. In simple terms, software automation is a process of using software to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up valuable time and resources that can be used for better things. Let’s be real, there are never enough hours in the day!

Automation can increase productivity and efficiency, and this is especially true in the property management industry. So, for this context, let’s talk about automation in property management software specifically.

Does using automation mean I am less valuable in my role?

With software automation, property managers can streamline their work and improve their overall productivity.

So no, it doesn’t mean you're less valuable!

It means your value can be put to the tasks that require all your energy and time.

For example, automating tasks such as rent collection, maintenance requests, and lease renewals can save property managers hours of time each week. We’ll go into other benefits of automation a tad later. But saving time is certainly one of them.

Automations have been around for many years, however giving the control, aka the driver’s seat, to you the user of the software may feel daunting.

But let us reassure you, it’s not that at all! In fact once you get the hang of setting your automation rules up, you will most certainly start realising the value automation brings to your agency and your role as an individual. It’s our job to make sure you can steer the ship per say, with a very powerful mothership that has your back.

That’s what we have built into Console Cloud. We have 8 complete Workflows that are actually automations. They function across essential aspects of property management to take repetitive tasks out of your hands. Why? We spent a lot of time understanding how busy property management can be, and the workload required is A LOT. So your software should help you in your role. 

With our Workflows, we ensure you have the space in your days needed for the things that really require all your attention, focus and time. 

What does automation do for an agency?

I’m so glad you asked. Let's take a look at a few examples:

1. Rent Collection: Rent collection is a crucial task in property management, and software automation can help streamline the process. There are a lot of moving parts that go into this one task. With automatic rent reminders, property managers can ensure that rent is collected on time, reducing the risk of missed payments and improving the overall cash flow of the business. So what if there are missed payments? Well that brings us to the next point.

2. Arrears Management: Arrears…it happens. BUT there is a way to improve your arrears management process. Setting up a series of ‘events’ you want to occur and how you want them to occur, can nudge tenants to not only pay their bills, but also pay them on time in future to avoid this occurring again. It also safeguards your agency with a record of communications you attempted in order to collect rent, if your Owners come knocking. It’s a bit of insurance for your agency. Also here is a sneaky fact - Our Arrears Workflow turned on can assist up to, drum roll, halving your agency arrears within 6 months. That’s insanely good for your bottom line, right!

3. Maintenance Requests: Maintenance requests can be a time-consuming task, properties need tweaks all the time, but software automation can help streamline that repetitive process too. With automatic maintenance requests, property managers can ensure they are processed quickly and efficiently, reducing the risk of delays and improving the overall maintenance process. It also helps improve how your customers feel about your agency. They will feel heard and looked after. Positive vibes all round.

4. Lease Renewals: Lease renewals are a vital part of property management, and software automation can, you got it, help streamline that process too. With automatic lease renewals, property managers can ensure that leases are renewed on time, reducing the stress for tenants and owners, reducing the risk of missed renewals and making space for other valuable tasks.

How does automation work in property management software?

We can only speak for ourselves, but we can definitely give you a tip to look for in searching for a property management software that says they do automations. Make sure it actually does true automation, and isn’t just a task reminder. You know, like how you set your phone alarm to ding at 7am in the morning? But you have to actually do the task of well, waking up. That my friend, is just a task reminder. 

If your property management software sends you these task reminders, it’s effectively just that and nothing else. Automation does so much more, eg - sends the email, waits a few days and sends a text, receipts the tenant, marks them as complete and resets the process to rock and roll the following week. 

Our automated workflows go the whole 9 yards. We give you the power to customise each and every workflow to suit your agency and how you like to work. They can be seen as basically your trusted digital best friend. 

So there you have it, automation in property management software. In a nutshell, is there to be your assistant, process tasks much faster and with fewer errors, reducing the risk of mistakes and increasing overall efficiency. It allows for more time and resources to put into other tasks, can save your agency $$, and also safeguards your agency with timelines of events. 

This leads to a more efficient and effective property management process, which in turn, results in a more satisfied client base. Happy you, happy them, happy us!

Why not read on about how automation can reduce your agency arrears by 50%. How Arrears Automation Saves You Time And Money

Alternatively see automation in action with a live demo! See what the power of automation can do in your property management agency.