"While Realtors International licensees and agents are bound by a vision, values and brand, each branch is independent, extremely busy and generally owner-managed," says Manja Kritzinger, Realtors International Chairperson. "We cannot call meetings or arrange networking functions as frequently as we'd like to. The answer was to build an internal communications platform where agents from different regions could meet, have real conversations, build relationships, share experiences and celebrate successes in an online but secure environment," she says.
"The internal communications system has many benefits as far as building a cohesive Realtors International brand is concerned but, through developing relationships and trust between agents, the ultimate goal is to see increased referrals amongst agents - that's what friends do," says Kritzinger.
Project Manager Jacques Botha, Realtors International's market and sales analyst, says that concerns that some of the agents - particularly more experienced agents bordering on the edge of technophobia - would not take readily to the new 'meeting place' proved largely unfounded.
"The prospect of referrals and experiencing the Realtors International network proved stronger than the fear of the online world for most. We worked with a team of communications specialists and held training workshops at all of the Realtors International offices in the Western Cape," says Botha. "It is early days but however cutting edge the technology is, it will be the Realtors International agents that will make it work - that's a big step towards unrolling the 'power of one'."
