Harcourts is the fastest growing real estate group in Australasia, with more than 180 branch offices and almost 2,000 sales consultants throughout New Zealand.

Working with Telecom, the company introduced custom-made software Mobile Agent to provide its consultants with secure access to central databases of property and customer information while they’re on the move.

Using Telecom PDAs connected to high speed Mobile Broadband, consultants can quickly download the latest information on properties including location, vendors, rates, values and photographs.

“A consultant can be out with a client and use their Apache or Harrier PDA to search properties based on price, location or even the number of bedrooms,” says Harcourts chief technology officer Jason Wills.

“If the client sees something they like, the vendor’s contact details are included so all they need to do is click on a link to make a call or send an email.

“There’s no rekeying of phone numbers or heading back to the office to send an email because everything they need is in the palm of their hand.”

Fresh information
The freshness of the information is also an advantage. “Previously consultants carried about massive piles of documents which became out-of-date almost as soon as they were printed. Now they have the latest information available,” says Jason.

Sales consultants are also updating their property and customer records on the move, rather than having to go back to the office, saving each an estimated four to five hours a week in administration.

“They hardly need to come into the office because they have their desktop in their hand and that has the potential to create savings in office space and equipment.”

Recruitment incentive
Harcourts is finding the technology is also a recruitment incentive for new consultants. “People are really impressed that we’ve introduced something so leading edge and they can see how it can help them make more sales,” Wills says.

Trans-Tasman reach
The technology has been so popular in New Zealand, Harcourts has introduced Mobile Agent to its Australian operation to give sales consultants there the same flexibility.

Harcourts in Australia uses the same central databases so it was simply a matter of extending the reach of the application trans-Tasman. “We worked closely with Telecom and AAPT in Australia throughout the process and they made the transition very straightforward.”

Given that Harcourts’ five central servers hold information vital to both Australian and New Zealand operations, Wills opted to have them housed and managed by Telecom in Christchurch.

“The servers are monitored 24/7 by Telecom which also manages firewall and antivirus protection. That means I can focus on other projects to help develop the business with greater peace-of-mind,” says Wills.

In the future Harcourts will also install telehoused servers in Australia which will be an added back up for the New Zealand operation. Wills says the closeness of the relationship with Telecom has been an advantage for the business. “I often sit down with my account manager, tell him what I’m thinking about and he will go away and see how Telecom can make it happen for me.”

“Telecom also attends our annual Australasian conference so they understand in what direction the company is headed and the Telecom dealers also regularly attend meetings with the sales team. We’ve developed a strong relationship which works well.”

For more information
Telecom New Zealand
www.telecom.co.nz

September 2006