Software Overload: How to Reclaim Your Time and Sanity in Real Estate
Platform hopping. You know what it is because you do it a lot.
Platform hopping is part of real estate. You are doing it as you switch from manually entering data into systems, to coordinating with team members, while responding to your clients; all on different digital platforms. In other words – a normal day.
Technology has taken over real estate. Research shows that over a third of countries have now digitized their land records, while technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and 3D printing have changed work processes for the better.
The digital dilemma in real estate is this: Instead of allowing us to work better, these fragmented tools often steal time and energy from what matters most - closing deals and building client relationships.
Now, we stand at the crossroads, hoping to avoid software overload. With a world of automation at our fingertips, how have we ended up wasting time, rather than saving it?
Are we getting digitalization right?
Digital tools have been embraced by real estate. From document analysis to payment processing; there have been undeniable benefits for agents, brokers, property managers, and marketers.
A survey of 220 employees in real estate found that 90% of companies agreed that automated processes are necessary for the long-term sustainability of their organization.
However, despite the acceptance that digital tools are needed, we seem to have become stuck on the path to genuine ‘digitalization’.
Digital tools promised efficiency, better collaboration, and a competitive edge – to an extent, they have delivered. Agents can market properties more effectively with high-quality visuals, communicate seamlessly with clients through CRM systems, and manage transactions with greater transparency.
But as the industry embraced more specialized software - for everything from virtual tours to social media monitoring - a new problem emerged: Digital silos.
The rise of digital silos
On an average day, how much time do you spend switching between platforms for different tasks? If there were no digital silos, there’d be no platform hopping.
Whether it's documentation, payments, or marketing - when platforms operate independently without integration or communication, each platform becomes an isolated island.
Let’s say you use one platform for managing contacts and another for tracking property listings and transactions. This lack of integration could lead an agent to show outdated property details to a client or miss crucial updates such as price changes or property status updates.
The results are the things we all want to avoid: Embarrassment, time wasted, and potential loss of trust from the client.
The symptoms of software overload
Software overload doesn’t only manifest itself in the most glaring errors. If you experience any of the following on a daily basis, it is likely to be the result of platform hopping:
⏳ Wasted time
You have numerous windows or apps open at any given time. The constant switching, swiping, and navigating between platforms disrupts your flow, breaks your concentration, and steals your time.
⛔️ Data entry errors
Part of your day involves manually inputting information across systems. As the day unfolds and tiredness creeps in, so does the risk of mistakes and mishaps. Whether it’s prices, addresses, or contact details; this data is critical, but it isn’t being kept accurate and consistent.
⛓️💥 Collaboration calamities
The data that you and your team deal with is spread across disconnected tools. The scattering of data across CRM systems, MLS databases and email keeps leading to discrepancies in property listings, client information, or transaction statuses.
🙇 Stress and frustration
In a high-paced, competitive industry, you feel exhausted. The constant need to manage multiple platforms is adding unnecessary stress to an already demanding role.
Breaking down barriers
The irony is clear: Tools meant to streamline real estate workflows often fragment them. But change is underway. With the release of Backbone’s Public API, our platform can now sync directly with your property management system. This automation eliminates manual data entry and ensures that two critical areas are always up-to-date:
1. Real Estate properties
Automatically add, update, or remove property details without manual duplication. Say goodbye to outdated listings and hello to accuracy.
2. Workspace users
Sync team members’ profiles from your existing systems. No more manual onboarding or outdated team members information.
This isn’t just about saving clicks—it’s about reclaiming hours and bumping up your performance. Hours once lost to platform hopping can now be spent closing deals and nurturing client relationships.
What’s Next?
We’re expanding automation to include your visual and document materials. Soon, all the visuals and documents you order or receive through Backbone—such as photos, floor plans, energy certificates, and site reports, etc —will sync automatically with your management system.
No more manual uploads or transfers: everything will update instantly, ensuring your property materials are always correct and accessible all around.
The future of real estate isn’t more tools—it’s smarter connections. With Backbone’s API, barriers dissolve, leaving you with a cohesive, efficient workflow.
