Another week, another round-up of tech news and analysis from Halo, EG’s tech and innovation arm.
It has been a week of people moves, programme launches and more (much-needed) guidance on data collection and use. All proof that, while times are undeniably changing, technology within real estate remains very much at the forefront as the industry and the wider world continue to adapt.
Let’s delve into the data first. The pandemic has not sparked a new requirement for guiding principles around data collection and use, it has simply sped up a pre-existing trend. Now has never been a more important time for real estate to consider how data is responsibly gathered, stored and used.
Dan Hughes, founder of the Real Estate Data Foundation, considers this topic in a piece on the future of data collection. “We are gathering increasing amounts of data about buildings and the people within them, and using more and more data from new sources to inform decision-making,” he says. “But as the volume, velocity, variety, veracity and value of data grows, we must take responsibility for what we collect and how we use it.”
Expert advice
Also this week, a big announcement for residential landlord Grainger as it hires a chief information officer from Hewlett-Packard to lead its technological transformation. The group has appointed Paul Glibbery, who has more than 20 years’ experience leading the delivery of global technology and digital business transformation programmes for brands including Hewlett-Packard, Airbus and Fujitsu, in a significant move for a residential real estate company.
For more on exactly what Glibbery will be responsible for in his new role and to find out why digital transformation and the launch of a PRS tech platform was a “Covid lifesaver” for Grainger, check out our interview with group chief financial officer Vanessa Simms.
In other news, and in case you missed the stories, WeWork launched a programme to accelerate diversity in tech and BT has outlined plans to end two-thirds of its 5,600 telephone exchange leases with owner Telereal Trillium.
Click here for more tech news and analysis including podcasts and profiles on EG’s tech and innovation arm, Halo.
To send feedback, e-mail emily.wright@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmilyW_9 or @estatesgazette
