Coldwell Banker Canada Rises to the Surface
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a4273i_K2k[/youtube]
Coldwell Banker Canada launched a new real estate application customized for Microsoft’s Surface technology today.
Coldwell Banker leveraged the unique interface and capabilities of Microsoft Surface to develop a home search application that will provide a new interactive and intuitive way to explore real estate listings and neighbourhoods. Over the course of the roll-out, the following features are scheduled to be released:
Explore. Home listings from across Canada and around the world can be viewed via area maps, specific search criteria such as city, province and price, and by standard number of bedrooms and bathrooms. With a simple touch of the screen, users expand or contract the search area and locate listings, Coldwell Banker offices and area amenities including restaurants, hospitals, schools – gauging the distance between them.
Learn. Details of a particular property listing are displayed and arranged by screen touches. Images of the home are easily accessed, enlarged and moved by hand movements.
Interact. File listings by “grabbing” content with their hands from the display and “dropping” it into the appropriate folder, thus creating an itinerary that they can email to a sales representative.
As you can see in the video, Surface’s multi-touch technology is put to pretty good use to highlight the experience of searching for real estate (I’d love to see even more, however). A couple of years ago I wrote that this sort of thing could be a way for real estate brokerages to move into more of an experiential marketing environment (see Surface Technology Could Save Full Service Brokers).
But, the Notorious ROB writes that “It Ain’t the Technology.” While I see his point, ultimately I have to disagree. It is about the technology. It is about experimenting and trying new things.
Sure – using Coldwell Banker web site on a Surface table is kind of goofy. But it’s a first step. And an important one. Future iterations of this type of experience will no doubt transform the way we interact with real estate data in the real world some day in the future (see Navigating a Virtual World).
Technology forces us to experiment. To try and yes, perhaps even fail. But kudos to CB for taking that step and continuing to push the industry forward.
Marilyn Wilson | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
I like what Coldwell-Banker is doing here. The key is to be sure that the program takes full advantage of the touch screen technology and does not simply translate a web-based, mouse-driven tool to a new format.
I worked on this technology a bit in its early stages and it has a ton of potential. It started out as a game table and has evolved into a whole lot more than that.
I love the idea of inviting a customer into the office with a nice cup of coffee or herbal tea and casually taking them through searches as the agent learns more about their needs in a relaxed, casual environment. It would be great in areas with luxury buyers of second homes where you can create a stepped level of luxury service.
Way to go Coldwell-Banker. We love to see companies trying to leverage new technologies in an exciting new way to increase the level of service for their customers.
“
Galen | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
Did CB get a freebie from Microsoft on the table and coding? Seems like a pretty unnecessary expense otherwise.
Rob Hahn | Mar 31, 2009 | Reply
Sup Joel!
Look, I can appreciate that CB Canada was experimenting with Surface. And I suppose if you take the broadminded approach (which you’re better at than I ever will be), then we can sort of be cool with their gizmo as a “first step” towards something really cool.
But two things about that.
One, if yer gonna do it, for cryin’ out loud, do it right. You’re Coldwell Banker Canada! The implementation they showed (which you’ve embedded) is frankly embarrassing after what we’ve seen from Jeff Han and others.
Two, is this really the right time to be investing dollars into what is essentially a PR play? If you were a CB Canada agent, paying your 6% in royalties to them, would you be happy that’s where your money went?
I’m thinking no.
That, to me, is going tech-crazy, instead of thinking about what technology is helpful right now, right here, in this market for realtors. And doing experiments with those technologies, y’know?
Anyhoo… cya on Twitter?
-rsh
clare | Apr 1, 2009 | Reply
That is an awesome interface, I think that will really help people to get a good idea on the properties available. I am surprised that the software has been developed for something that usually doesn’t have advances in technology
shubh | May 2, 2009 | Reply
It is indeed a great news. The present period is seeing by the estate specialists as the best period to invest, so this was the best time to launch this. I wish it will become popular soon.