10 consumer tech trends for R.E. pros to look for in 2016 - by Richard Du

The world is changing. The internet continues to democratize information and bring people and communities together. The impact is local, national, and global. As real estate professionals, staying on top of consumer tech trends can help us improve business results. For instance, tech trend awareness may allow us to better our marketing and communication efforts. Inevitably, staying tech savvy will give us an edge over the competition in our increasingly technology-driven world! The real estate industry is built on personal relationships. Even acknowledging today’s technology, human relationships remain at the core of real estate and the real estate industry. Buyers and sellers are people. Leasors and renters are people (often with pets). Professionals and their clients are people. Therefore, connecting and building relationships between people is what is really critical in real estate. But interestingly, consumers everywhere are spending more of their time online and increasingly using the internet to make those personal connections. Online connections are, in large part, made possible by the proliferation and accelerated adoption of web-enabled devices. The growing availability and usage of web-enabled devices is also leading to consumers increased time and activity online. Thus, real estate professionals should take note and continue to bolster their online presence and expand their digital reach across portals, platforms, and similar resources. To better emphasize the point, let’s look at recent Pew Research Center findings regarding technology and the internet: • Today, 68% of U.S. adults have a smartphone, up from 35% in 2011, and tablet computer ownership has edged up to 45% among adults…. Smartphone ownership is nearing the saturation point with some groups: 86% of those ages 18-29 have a smartphone, as do 83% of those ages 30-49 and 87% of those living in households earning $75,000 and up annually. • ...66% of Americans own at least two digital devices – smartphone, desktop or laptop computer, or tablet – and 36% own all three. • As smartphones and other mobile devices have become more widespread, some 21% of Americans now report that they go online “almost constantly,”... Overall, 73% of Americans go online on a daily basis. Along with the 21% who go online almost constantly, 42% go online several times a day and 10% go online about once a day. Some 13% go online several times a week or less often…. 13% of adults say they do not use the internet at all.4 As you can see, building a strong digital presence is increasingly important for any business or brand looking to attract today’s connected consumer. Similarly, internet, technology and communication based consumers trends are what’s hot to watch for in 2016. In fact, the Swedish communication technology and services provider Ericsson recently released a report on the 10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2016. The report, conducted by Ericsson ConsumerLab, is the product of over 100,000 consumer interviews conducted across more than 40 countries. From a macro perspective, Ericsson identified three threads that stitch together the 10 consumer trends. First, the report found that almost all consumer trends involved the internet. Second, the significance of early adopters has waned now that technology changes so quickly. Finally, consumers are gaining market influence due to their numbers online and through empowering web tools and sounding boards. With that said, what did Ericsson find are the hot consumer trends for 2016? 1. The Lifestyle Network Effect - With diversifying online use, social effects like crowd intelligence and the sharing economy multiply 2. Streaming Natives - Teenagers watch more YouTube content daily than other age groups 3. AI Ends The Screen Age - Artificial Intelligence (AI) will enable interaction with objects without the need for a smartphone screen 4. Virtual Gets Real - Consumers want technology for everyday activities such as sports, and 3D food printing 5. Sensing Homes - Bricks used to build homes could include sensors that monitor mold, leaks and electricity issues 6. Smart Commuters - Commuters want to use their time meaningfully and not feel like passive objects in transit 7. Emergency Chat - Social networks may become the preferred way to contact emergency services 8. Internables - Internal sensors in our bodies that measure well-being may become the new wearables 9. Everything Gets Hacked - Most smartphone users believe hacking and viruses will continue to be an issue 10. Netizen Journalists - Consumers share more information than ever and believe it increases their influence in society In our networked society, the internet and technology are a growing force impacting how we live, work and connect with the people, products and services we need. Technology’s influence is, therefore, being felt across all industries, and real estate is no exception.  So, in 2016, challenge yourself to fall into real estate tech and be tech forward in thinking about how the web and online platforms and tools can help you take your business to the next level. Just think, with your skills and technology like Agorafy’s open real estate marketplace, you and your business will be trending in no time!!! Visit us at today at agorafy.com and start leading the real estate technology revolution! Richard Du is the founder and CEO of Agorafy, New York, N.Y.