WATCH: Raising the Bar on MLS Data Services in 2021
Nearly three years ago, seven likeminded MLSs came together to solve the "data services quandary," as Joseph Szurgyi, CEO of the MLS Grid explained in a recent webinar. The MLSs had brokers across their markets that were gathering data from multiple locations, and the MLSs wondered if the process could be streamlined with one access point, one point of licensing, one point of compliance, one standardized compliance process, and one payment point. In a webinar this week, we learned all about what the MLS Grid can do to take the pain out of data services for MLSs, brokerages, and technology vendors. Watch the webinar recording below to learn more. Thus, the MLS Grid was born. Webinar Guests Joseph Szurgyi, CEO, MLS Grid Dan Troup, Data Operations and Strategy, RE/MAX Mark Hill, COO, Realtracs Moderator: Marilyn Wilson, Co-founder and President, RE Technology Video Timeline 0:00 - Moderator Marilyn Wilson introduces the topic and panelists. 2:10 - Results from WAV Group's 2020 Data Services Study, which surveyed brokerages and technology vendors about their use of real estate data. 5:57 - Joe Szurgyi explains what the MLS Grid is and what it does for real estate data. 10:44 - Features of the MLS Grid. 15:32 - Why participate in the MLS Grid? 21:15 - Dan Troup and Mark Hill share their experiences with MLS Grid and real estate data. 1:01:04 - MLS Grid's contact info for learning more or scheduling a demo. Next Steps To learn more about the MLS Grid, visit MLSGrid.com For more information or to see a demo, email Joe Szurgyi or call 385-429-0606 (office) or 801-244-5742 (cell).

[Video] Unleashing the Marketing Power of RESO for Brokers
According to a recent survey, most brokerages have five or more tools/systems that don't communicate with each other. These are critical systems, too, like accounting, human resources, back office, CMA, etc. The problem? Many of these tools speak "different languages," due in part to a lack of standardized data fields. In fact, brokers say inconsistent data fields from the MLSs that they work with is their no. 1 data challenge. This is a challenge that increases technology costs and  the time it takes to get to market for products that use MLS data. So what's a broker to do? For an increasing number of real estate brokers, the solution is to rely on data standards. According to the aforementioned survey, a whopping 91 percent of brokers believe that data standards are critical. Brokers surveyed believe that consistent data flowing across the MLSs that they use means benefits like: Lower technology costs Focus moves to technology innovation Bug fixes are faster to implement Product enhancements are faster to market Quicker response time The benefits of data standards is a topic we tackled in depth last week during a live webinar with the Real Estate Standards Organization last week. RESO's CEO, Jeremy Crawford, and RESO board member Tom Flanagan, VP Technology for Alain Pinel Realtors in Bay, joined us for "Unleashing the Marketing Power of RESO for Brokers." Missed the webinar? Don't worry, you can catch the full replay in the recorded video below: