Made Snappy 360 helps agents grow their market share
Ways Estate Agents can stop wasting time on viewings
Following recent analysis, MadeSnappy 360 has found that time-poor agencies often struggle in a fast moving property marketplace. Estate agents and lettings agents often find themselves bogged down by the time-consuming task of conducting viewings for buyers or prospective tenants who aren’t serious or ready to make a decision. This not only wastes valuable time but also detracts from focusing on more promising prospects.
In 2024, the average number of viewings to agree a sale is 17, with 50% of these viewings taking place in the first fortnight of listing. This means that an average agency, just on the residential sales side does over a thousand viewings a year. Add to this viewings for a lettings department and you are getting to a large number of viewings and time expended.
So, how can agents streamline their efforts and minimise time wasted on unproductive viewings? Here are a few steps to consider:
Pre-Qualify Buyers Early On
One of the most effective ways to cut down on unnecessary viewings is to pre-qualify clients. This involves understanding their financial situation and their seriousness about purchasing before scheduling a viewing. A simple pre-viewing conversation or questionnaire can provide insights into their purchasing position, such as if they have a mortgage in principle or are in a position to buy immediately.
Utilise Virtual Tours for Pre-Screening
Another powerful tool agents can use is virtual tours. Virtual tours allow potential buyers to explore properties in detail from the comfort of their homes, without needing to attend an in-person viewing. This technology can act as a pre-screening mechanism, giving buyers the chance to see if the property genuinely meets their requirements. If they are still interested after a virtual tour, it’s a strong indication that an in-person viewing will be worthwhile.
Prioritise Serious Buyers or Tenants
Agents should prioritise their time on serious buyers, or tenants, especially in a competitive market. By focusing on buyers who have already gone through financial vetting and shown a clear interest in purchasing, agents can ensure that their time is spent effectively.
Ascendix analysis on AI Consulting Firms. Industry overview of the expert guides for AI implementation.
Kateryna Mamchych from Ascendix Technologies gives her expert opinion regarding best practitioners to lead companies through the AI transisition which all companies are now finding themselves caught up in,
‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a pervasive buzzword, with concepts like machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision taking center stage in many industries. However, the intricacies of AI can still be confusing, leaving businesses unsure of how to effectively adopt and integrate these technologies. This is where AI consulting firms come into play, acting as expert guides to help companies navigate the complexities of AI and achieve smooth digital transformation.
AI consulting firms offer a range of specialized services, including advisory, strategic planning, and custom AI solutions. Their primary role is to assess a company’s specific needs, recommend appropriate AI solutions, and develop comprehensive AI strategies. These firms help businesses with everything from creating roadmaps for AI implementation to ensuring smooth transitions and supporting change management, all while facilitating a seamless integration of AI technologies into existing workflows.
Several top AI consulting firms are leading the way in helping businesses undergo this transformation
One such company is Ascendix Technologies, which has been at the forefront of technological innovation since its founding in 1996. Based in Dallas, Texas, Ascendix has built a solid reputation over the years, first with CRM consulting and now with cutting-edge AI services. The company’s expertise spans machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and predictive analytics, making it a go-to partner for businesses seeking to integrate AI solutions into their operations. Ascendix offers a full range of services, including AI readiness assessments, roadmap development, team training, and ongoing support, all underpinned by a strong commitment to data governance and ethical AI practices.
Deeper Insights, based in London and founded in 2014, is another prominent AI consulting firm. With a decade of experience, Deeper Insights has worked across various industries such as healthcare, real estate, and aviation. The company has earned a reputation for its expertise in AI consulting, data management, and custom AI development, particularly in natural language processing. Their work in healthcare, where they’ve helped optimize AI modules for mental health platforms, demonstrates their proficiency in delivering tailored AI solutions.
While Deeper Insights is well-established, AI Superior, founded in 2019 in Darmstadt, Germany, has quickly made its mark in the AI consulting landscape. The company’s strengths lie in AI research and development, particularly in geospatial AI. They offer off-the-shelf AI solutions and serve industries ranging from real estate and finance to government and space exploration, with a focus on delivering innovative, research-driven AI tools.
A more seasoned player, QuantumBlack, the AI arm of McKinsey & Company, brings significant expertise to the table with its extensive global reach and over 1,000 AI practitioners. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in London, QuantumBlack is known for its emphasis on data science and machine learning optimization, helping businesses develop hybrid intelligence solutions that combine human and AI capabilities.
Cognizant, founded in 1994 in New Jersey, is a Fortune 500 company that has gained the trust of global businesses across various sectors, including life sciences, retail, and healthcare. The company’s AI consulting services are integral to its broader digital strategy efforts, which focus on automating business workflows through AI.
India’s Infosys, established in 1981, is another major player in the AI consulting space. With over 300,000 employees worldwide, Infosys emphasizes ethical AI adoption through its “Responsible AI” framework, ensuring that businesses can leverage AI technologies with transparency, oversight, and purpose.
88% of top global banks failing to protect themselves from climate-related disruptions
Most of the largest commercial banks in the world are lagging behind in implementing effective measures to climate-proof their operations and those of the businesses they finance, according to a new ranking which assesses how well banks are responding to escalating climate risks. Despite growing awareness of climate adaptation, the ranking reveals that only seven of the world’s top 50 banks are meeting more than half of the climate adaptation criteria, and none meet all of them.
The Top 50 Banks in the World Tackling Adaptation (2024) report from Climate X (a leader in climate risk data analytics) in collaboration with Climate Proof found that European and UK banks performed relatively better than their counterparts in the US, Canada, and Australia, driven by stricter climate policies and frameworks in the region. The leading institutions in the ranking include Standard Chartered, Banco Santander, and UniCredit, all of which demonstrated more advanced engagement with climate adaptation strategies.
Top ranked global banks by climate adaptation maturity:
- Standard Chartered PLC (UK)
- Banco Santander SA (Spain)
- Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (Spain)
- UniCredit SpA (Italy)
- Sberbank of Russia (Russia)
Lowest ranked global banks by climate adaptation maturity:
- Japan Post Bank (Japan)
- Morgan Stanley (US)
- Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (US)
- Capital One Financial Corp (US)
- U.S. Bancorp (US)
Link to the full ranking of the top 50 banks by climate adaptation maturity (here)
“The ranking comes at a critical time when climate change is having a profound impact on the global economy”, said Lukky Ahmed, CEO of Climate X. “From extreme weather events to longer-term environmental shifts like rising sea levels and biodiversity loss, the business landscape is being transformed, and the banks that finance these businesses must adapt to a rapidly changing world. Despite the growing urgency, the study shows a significant gap in how banks address climate adaptation.”
“Climate adaptation is no longer a choice for the financial sector – it’s a necessity,” continued Ahmed. “Our ranking demonstrates that while some banks are beginning to take steps to prepare for a hotter, more volatile world, the majority have a long way to go. It is vital that banks incorporate adaptation into their strategic decision-making processes and develop products and services that support resilience.”
Methodology: The ranking was conducted using a unique methodology designed to evaluate the adaptation maturity of banks through 17 qualitative indicators. These indicators were grouped into three categories:
- Think: Strategic alignment and assessment of physical climate risks
- Do: Implementation of adaptation measures and strategies
- Track: Monitoring, reporting, and transparency of adaptation actions
To assess each bank’s maturity, Climate X analysed the most recent public disclosures from each institution, focusing primarily on their annual reports. A Large Language Model (LLM) was employed to determine how well the banks aligned with the indicators, offering a high-level view of their preparedness for climate adaptation challenges.
Andrew Stanton Founder & Editor of 'PROPTECH-X' where his insights, connections, analysis and commentary on proptech and real estate are based on writing 1.3M words annually. Plus meeting 1,000 Proptech founders, critiquing 400 decks and having had 130 clients as CEO of 'PROPTECH-PR', a consultancy for Proptech founders seeking growth and exit strategies. He also acts as an advisory for major global real estate companies on sales, acquisitions, market positioning & operations. With 100K followers & readers, he is the 'Proptech Realestate Influencer.'
