This past week at Realcomm 2010, Granite received the “Digie” award for Best Use of Automation by an Owner. The Best Use of Automation “Digie” recognizes commercial real estate firms that are in the forefront of thought leadership and innovation and understand that it is not technology that creates positive results, but rather a combination of different technologies that facilitate automation.
Over the last two years, Granite has implemented a host of changes through process automation and streamlining, keeping tight integration with its core ERP system and eliminating numerous “opportunities” for human error. The main improvements include:
· Automating over 25 HR forms supporting benefit enrollment/changes, reimbursements, personnel requisitions and program administration
· Automating new vendor approval and billing adjustment processes for Property Management
· Implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM with Ascendix Real Estate Advantage for the Investments Group to manage their deal pipeline and provide real-time visibility to leadership
· Automating vendor insurance and contracts for Property Management and Risk Managers, including reporting and notifications
· Establishing a corporate reporting portal to deliver critical property and financial data to all users
· Implementing a blog to catalog competitive market information
These improvements were delivered using key Microsoft technologies, including SharePoint, Dynamics CRM and SQL Server Reporting Services, plus a staff of three full time IT professionals, off-shore development resources from Annet Technologies and domestic managed services from Paranet Solutions.