New technologies can give companies such as Rotorua valuation agency Property Indepth a leading edge as customer behaviour and expectations change.
Director Adrienne Young said it was important for service industries to keep up with new technologies to better meet client expectations.
"People have changed the way they consume information,
with many preferring to receive information electronically, eliminating as much delay as possible.
"These days, you don't even have to be in front of a computer, you can be completely mobile and get everything you need on a cellphone."
Her business needs to exchange information with everybody from property owners or potential property owners to banks, mortgage brokers, lawyers and real estate agents.
In the past three months, the local franchise has also expanded into Tauranga, Taupo, Tokoroa and Whakatane, meaning she and her colleagues - registered valuer Mike James and Jessica Videbeck, who is working towards registration - are spending more time in the field and less time at their desks.
"As a result, we have a secure, robust, online system that enables valuers to enter property information while they are on site at an inspection, with a report being generated simultaneously."
Once the report is finalised, a secure link can be sent to the relevant people to view online, download or print as required.
Young said valuations were now available within 24 hours of the site inspection, without the delays involved in printing and delivering hard copies, which was valuable in the current market.
She said real estate had been negatively affected by the global economic recession, so everybody needed to respond quickly when opportunities arose.
"At our end, this means being able to undertake and deliver a comprehensive property valuation report within a short timeframe so everyone - including the buyer, seller, banks and legal team - can complete their process quickly and efficiently."
