A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Realcomm.  Well it's here and I'm here with it.  And so is the iPad.  It's everywhere.  Ok, it makes sense that there would be iPads at a conference about technology, but what's really cool is what the folks (those in IT) who run technology for some of biggest owners and developers of real estate are doing.  They are working hand in hand with their leasing agents, brokers, property managers and the like to make the iPad more than just a device for showing photos, running email and accessing the web.  They're busy customizing the iPad (or in a few cases another tablet device) and building applications that are really useful.  They are working hard to talk the language of real estate.  Staying away from any terms that imply tech stuff, and instead really working to ask the right questions of the right people to make the iPad a "must have".

One of the best descriptions I heard was, "The iPad is best for people who need to use content, not the people who produce content."  Think about how smart that is.

The iPad is a visual joy.  It is best for viewing things.  And it's all about making communications better; communications that involve images, renderings, analytics, demographics, floor plans, lease schedules, and on and on.  While here, I saw an application that was built in about 4 weeks (getting ready for the recent ICSC- International Council of Shopping Centers conference) that enabled a professional in the field to have access to the company's entire portfolio of "pitch packages".  The database was easily (visually) searchable and made it a no-brainer to pull up the "packages" which were chuck full of property photos, competing property locations and data, spreadsheets, surrounding demographics and aerial views in Google Earth.  You name it and it was there, all in a lightweight mobile "pad".  Impressive?  Of course.  Useful? You better believe it.  Loveable?  Full of promise? Yep, like a newborn.

I seriously haven't seen this much excitement surrounding a "tool" in years and I've been coming to Realcomm since its beginning in 1999.  This year, like most, there is a lot to experience.  This is the only convergence of industry leaders discussing, demonstrating and sometimes having a healthy debate about the latest innovations impacting our industry.  The talent here is "the talent".  And this year, as we are slowly crawling our way out one of the worst markets most of us can remember (one which many of us are looking forward to forgetting); it's especially encouraging to see the industry have a tool that helps us in a big way.  I'm proud to be here among so many who are dedicated to helping the industry understand and put to use business solutions to make development, sales, leasing, management and operations of commercial real estate more profitable.  Not everyone "gets it", and so many companies and industry specialists aren't here.  They will get it at some point and the playing field will level a bit.  But for now, I know for sure that those who make the effort to use technology to streamline their processes, engage their employees, and excite their customers and prospects by producing results have an edge.  I hope some of my excitement about what's happening here at Realcomm comes through and you get motivated to "adopt" a new baby or two.

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