Technological Innovation Boosts Customer Base

Over the past 12 months, our international real estate group, Harcourts has added over one million customer contacts to our internet-based technology suite, HarcourtsOne.

In September 2010, HarcourtsOne had 2.6 million contacts in total. In September 2011, the database now has over 3.6 million contacts across Australia and New Zealand, representing a massive 28 per cent increase in contacts over the past 12 months.

This means that Harcourts has significantly increased its customer base over a 12 month period in one of the toughest markets we have seen in recent years.

These results tell us that Harcourts has come into contact with more home buyers and sellers in the past 12 months than ever before.

The significant growth in database numbers will increase our ability to find buyers for sellers’ properties which will, in turn, enhance Harcourts’ position in the marketplace.

The surge in database numbers is a direct result of Harcourts’ new technology and marketing tools.

The release of the new Harcourts websites, the office and sales consultant websites, our marketing and promotional material, and the mobile products developed for the iPhone and iPad have all contributed to this surge in growth.

All in all, it’s a very positive results for the Harcourts team and we hope to increase these numbers again over the next 12 months.

We have also noted an increasing number of Harcourts consultants using technology in order to keep in touch with their clients.

Our sales consultants and property managers are really embracing technology and using it to keep in touch with their clients via our SMS and email marketing software. These technologies are fantastic as they allow us to keep our customers informed throughout the selling or purchasing process.