The Missing Glue!
An IDRC Reflection on Technology Issues
an article from the Technology Team @ SPACE.

Leading corporate real estate executives gathered in Seattle for the IDRC world congress. The congressional theme was "Leveraging Technology and Real Estate in an Internetworked Economy." Panels of industry pioneers offered the successes, the road maps and the lessons of their recent efforts to "Net Ready" their organizations. To summarize one and all, much has been accomplished and much more is left to do. Moreover, in the view of many presenters, while new technology introductions are prolific, the utopian solution is certainly evasive, if existent.

The problem: There doesn't appear to be a technology solution that covers the range of needs of a full-scale corporate real estate organization. The significant question is if and when some of the more ubiquitous programs are completed, must an organization then discard existing systems that serve the business well.

Can an organization afford to send all of its technology investments to the junk heap? Is it valid to leave behind the thousands of dollars invested to build lease management systems, purchase transaction management programs, train personnel on the ASP project management subscription service, implement a full scale work order program through an operations and maintenance outsource partner, and install a CAFM system for moves, adds, changes and other facility tracking purposes?

Is there an answer? Technology and integration skill sets actually exist that resolve the conundrum. There are ways to reach in, link, and "glue", through a customizable umbrella or front end with "on the fly" database linkage and communication elements. When deployed it will provide electronic dovetailing of disparate technologies and a tailored single communication filter for a "one user to all tools" connectivity interface. Similarly, the applications are easily connected to the enterprise system for true financial integration. You don't have to heed the technology peddler's mantra that "mature technology is dead technology". Sorry we've been a bit hush hush on this, but SPACE is working with a small group of clients on this process, but we will be able to be more public by the IDRC World Congress at Dallas in October…stay tuned.

Are more exciting breakthroughs on the way? You bet. However, one of the most insightful comments during the Seattle conference was that of Faye Manker, Sprint Vice President of Corporate Real Estate. "The project is not about putting in place some sort of technology overlay that is the solution, but rather seeing the process as an evolution in how we do business." These are exciting times in the world of corporate real estate. The opportunity has never been grander to truly create value for your company and for your company's customers from the corporate assets of which you are responsible. The larger more challenging question is who among us will move beyond leveraging technology and begin leveraging the knowledge resource that technology can deliver. As Prentice Knight III of IDRC put it, "If you love change, you are going to be a very happy person." Exciting times indeed!

Please join this dialogue by sending your thoughts, comments and insights to matthewh@workplayce.com. With your permission dialogue contributions will be published in the next SPACE Newsletter.

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For any questions please contact:  Jean Bellas at bellasj@workplayce.com
Hal Matthews at matthewh@workplayce.com.