Today, I am talking with Mark Smukler of Bixby about property management and technology. Bixby is a building amenity platform/tenant portal app that helps management be more efficient by streamlining communication, work order management, payments, document storage, and any other component of tenant-related activities. Also, it’s a virtual/mobile concierge for tenants to find services, such as housekeeping, dry cleaning, moving, storage, and public transportation. It’s a win-win for everybody!

You'll Learn...

[06:40] Bixby’s end-user interface aggregates different tools into a single platform that costs less and is specific to the real estate business. [08:35] Bixby is modular and flexible with features that you can turn on or off. [10:08] Bixby’s development principle is that it doesn’t build anything that it’s not asked to build; every single thing in its product was a direct request from a customer. [11:10] Bixby integrates with smart home devices and creates a world where property managers and tenants have one central hub, instead of multiple apps for a property [12:25] Bixby enhances the property management business, it doesn’t disrupt it. [13:08] New generations are comfortable with new technology, but older ones still use old technology; Bixby works with your current system - if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. [14:20] Manage more with less; it’s difficult to gain economies of scale in property management because it is a high-touch, maintenance-oriented business. [15:25] Bixby cuts down the number of phone calls and time spent communicating with tenants, collecting rent payments, and locating documents. [16:08] Real estate assets can be monetized beyond rental income; providing housekeeping, dry cleaning, and other services to tenants generates revenue. [18:52] Set Up a Bixby Account: Go to livebixby.co/signup; Bixby costs $1 per apartment per month, or, if you have fewer than 20 units, it’s free to use. [20:44] Bixby Branded Application: White-labeled with a client’s logo, color palette, subdomain, hosting, and name. [22:35] Bixby partners with other businesses, including Coord to let tenants find, reserve, and pay for parking, and TransitScreen for information on public transportation.

Tweetables

Manage more with less

Integration is key; Bixby integrates different features into one platform

Bixby is much more of an enhancement than a disruption

Resources

Bixby

Buildium

Rent Manager

RealPage’s ActiveBuilding

Zendesk

Property Meld

Tenant Turner

QuickPay

PayLease

Coord

TransitScreen

DoorGrowClub Facebook Group

DoorGrow Live