September 14 2012
All good things must come to an end. This is as true in the technology world as it is anywhere else. When one or more of your favorite technology solutions becomes unavailable, whether it's because your MLS is changing vendors or the vendor themselves go out of business, it can be upsetting and disruptive. The solution is to be as prepared as possible. Here are a few suggestions.
No technology is immune from this possibility. That goes for your website provider, MLS system, your phone, your computer, and more. Take every single tool that you use and imagine life without it; that will give you some idea of the potential realities. You need to have a disaster recovery plan for everything that you cannot live without. It does not need to be planned in great detail – but you need to know the basics.
Even if you're unfamiliar with the term "software as a service" (SaaS), you're certainly familiar with the concept – it usually refers to an application hosted on the Internet. For the purposes of this discussion, when we refer to SaaS, we're also talking about cloud-based software – while there are some fine distinctions between the two, they are very similar in that the data is hosted externally and you access it through a Web browser. This is in contrast to software that is actually installed on your computer (like Microsoft Word) and data stored on your computer (like a Word document).
Whether your application is SaaS or installed on your computer makes a big difference when the vendor goes out of business.
Many products are a kind of hybrid, with an installed component and cloud-based features. Some transaction management, CRM, and electronic signature applications are good examples of these hybrid products. If you suspect that one of your tools may be hybrid, it's a good idea to ask the vendor about where data is stored and how it can be transferred if you no longer use their product.
Reading the fine print for most products is about as much fun as a root canal, but just as necessary if you want to prevent complications. By reading the terms of service for your real estate technology products, you'll understand vital information, such as whether or not the company can repurpose your data, and what happens to your data if they go out of business.
In any area of life, it's good to have a back-up plan. This is particularly true when what's at stake is sensitive client data. Be direct with your technology vendor and ask these questions:
Regardless of their answers, you'll want to back up your data. In fact, many experts suggest that your data should be saved in three places:
Like it or not, you're going to have to move on and choose a new technology. Your MLS, Association, and broker can help recommend an alternative. RETechnology.com also has a rich product directory powered by ratings and reviews from real agents like you.
When researching these alternatives, keep in mind which features of your previous technology made it so valuable to you – and which features, if any, were missing. And don't get discouraged! Maybe you'll find something you like even better.