For more
than 15 years, STDB, the Site To Do Business, has been providing CCIM members
with access to some of the most advanced technology tools in the commercial
real estate industry. Working closely with Esri and Xceligent, STDB has
catapulted to the next generation of geographic information systems this year.
CCIM members now have access to Esri’s Business Analyst Online, or BAO, a dynamic, web-based site
evaluation and market analysis system, as well as ArcGIS, the cloud-based
platform for developing and sharing maps and data.
These
advanced tools provide increased mobility and functionality for STDB users and
allow them to perform in-depth analysis while delivering actionable results.
The next phase will include Xceligent’s powerful CommercialSearch tool, which will be integrated into
STDB in the near future. The addition of CommercialSearch will give members the
ability to market their own listings and search for properties nationwide.
These
new features give CCIM members one of the most advanced online toolkits in the
commercial real estate industry.
Expanded
Mobility and More
As the
commercial real estate market continues to improve and transaction volume
increases, location and market analysis become a deciding factor in the
decision-making process. CCIM members can use STDB’s new capabilities to ascertain the quality of
a location, as well as current and future trends that may impact a given
analysis area. The new platform combines the efficiencies of quick demographics
with the capacities of site analysis. Users can create analysis areas and run
reports on the fly from a new streamlined workflow.
Users
can easily access all STDB reports from a new menu that is anchored to each
study area label displayed on the interactive map. By activating certain map
layers, users can click directly on the map to select the appropriate
geographies for creating a study area. Once analysis areas are created, users
can run reports directly from the map or highlight the different
characteristics of a region using any of the thousands of different variables
to highlight the geographic differences.
Below
are a number of other significant enhancements that will benefit CCIM members.
Go
Mobile. Past iterations of STDB were limited to desktop usage. However, with
the new version, CCIMs can quickly
access current key demographic and market data directly from their smartphones
or tablets, including data such as a given market’s key demographics, how these people differ
from individuals and families in other locations, what businesses are in the
area, and location potential based on the client’s or investor’s specific needs.
With the
new mobile application users can:
- Get up-to-date demographic data, such
as age, income, education, home ownership, lifestyle, and spending habits.
- Create comparative data to grade
sites against varying criteria or against any other U.S. location.
- Use the GPS to analyze an area within
one mile of the user’s
current location.
- Use Smart Maps to immediately
determine if a location fits a given list of criteria.
Share
Data. Using Esri’s ArcGIS
tool, users can create interactive maps and customized apps and share them with
fellow CCIM
More
CCIM Technology Updates
The new and
improved STDB is only the beginning of CCIM Institute’s technology platform upgrades.
DealShare
.
A new version of MailBridge, christened “DealShare,” rolled
out to members in October. To find out more, read this issue’s Tech Solutions on p.20 or go to
ccim.com/dealshare.
CCIM
Connect
. CCIM members can now log on to their own private social network, CCIM
Connect, to collaborate and communicate with each other. Members can share
files and documents, such as lease forms and market reports, and ask questions
regarding properties and deals. They can create user groups, start and join
discussions, share problems, and figure out solutions. CCIM Connect also
incorporates new mobile-friendly microsites for participating CCIM chapters
that will provide seamless access to chapter discussions and information on any
mobile device. In addition, CCIM Connect is a one-stop location for all
leadership- and governance-related communication. If you’re on a committee or in chapter leadership, you
can use CCIM Connect to stay up-to-date with the latest CCIM news and connect
with other members of your committees and leadership groups. To get started, go
to ccimconnect.com. For DealShare and CCIM Connect training, go to CCIM.com and
click on “training.”
CCIM.com.
Finally, look for an improved CCIM.com web site to debut in 2015. Along with
providing new features and a clearer interface, the new website will employ
responsive design, providing easy reading and navigation on all mobile devices,
such as smartphones and tablets.
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members or specific users. Users may add layers to a map and house
the information in the cloud. These cloud-based maps can be previously
generated annotated or thematic maps or simply maps that contain data about
businesses in a defined area.
Define
Your Own Variables. Users are no longer limited to predefined variables such as
age or income bracket. The new platform allows them to define their own
variables, such as households earning more than $50,000 annually or men aged 52
to 75. These custom variables provide a more-targeted analysis and a better
understanding of the location of primary customers. Also, the new format
provides an advanced workflow that lets users quickly mine the appropriate
variables and save them for future access.
Support
Site Selection Decisions. The ability to conduct a reverse analysis is
something CCIM members have long desired. Smart Maps streamline the
decision-making process by allowing users to view up to five variables
simultaneously on a single map. The variables range in scope from traditional
searches such as median household income to new variables such as market
potential, consumer spending, or even crime data. Applying a filter, users can
learn which areas match the criteria and, just as importantly, which areas do
not. This tool is especially helpful for assisting in the site selection
process, creating targeted marketing strategies, and providing a professional
visual display for any presentation. A single click allows users to capture all
of the information as a high quality pdf file.
Customize
Comparison Reports. STDB users know how to compare multiple sites using Site
Analysis within the “run
comparison reports” tool.
This tool has been significantly augmented within BAO. The new comparison
reports tool allows users to select the exact variables of interest without any
extraneous information. Also, if the user creates a list of variables that will
be pertinent in future studies, the list can be saved and easily accessed in
the future.
Help
Clients Visualize. BAO provides customized tools within the map annotation tool
for adding labels, images, and icons. This information can help clients
visualize the key attributes of an area, such as supermarkets and schools. It
can also help them understand relevant facts pertaining to the analysis, such
as land area, frontage, and more. The new measurement tool also allows users to
perform geospatial analysis on BAO’s high-quality maps. Finally, maps can be saved and converted to
pdfs in either landscape or portrait format, allowing for a higher-resolution
capture.
Step-by-Step
Support
Over the
years commercial real estate practitioners have come to embrace business
technology. Still, the learning curve can be time-consuming and costly,
especially since time is often a real estate pro’s most valuable asset. The next generation of
STDB tools contains step-by-step guided tours explaining how to complete common
tasks. In addition, users can take advantage of live support, live and archived
webinars, and the STDB Learning Center knowledgebase, which are all designed to
help CCIM members benefit from the exciting new STDB tools.
Carol
Campbell manages operations and Ben Wilson manages client
services and sales for CCIM Technologies in Dallas. Contact them at
carol@ccimtech.com and ben@ccimtech.com.