This article was originally published 11 December 2019 on KW Outfront Magazine.

Anyone who wants to build the most powerful technology solution possible for their business must first build a powerful innovation engine. In technology, an innovation engine in its simplest form is a cloud service with artificial intelligence built on top of it.

At Keller Williams, this engine is the Keller Cloud – a specific cloud service ecosystem that leverages the collective power of the largest real estate sales force in the world: KW agents. By putting to work its massive collection of agent, transaction, and client data, Keller Williams has an incredible competitive advantage above anyone else entering the space and can ultimately create new user experiences at lightning speed. Even more, the Keller Cloud is smart, meaning it’s powered by artificial intelligence that is constantly learning and making agents more informed by providing insights within Command.

Built by agents, for agents, Command, a CRM-plus solution, is an open and highly customizable product that allows agents to run their business with unprecedented simplicity and insight. To enhance this already powerful technology and further drive value for agents, Keller Williams has collaborated with leading tech companies such as Google, DocuSign, and Porch through the Keller Cloud Innovator Program (KCIP).

By putting to work its massive collection of agent, transaction, and client data, Keller Williams has an incredible competitive advantage above anyone else entering the space

The program enables the integration of outside technology tools to Command, making way for further customization. All integrations are accessible through the KW MarketPlace – a digital app store containing the products of non-KW developers.

“Like us, our Keller Cloud Innovation Partners are also disruptors attempting to solve the industry’s greatest challenges and drive real estate forward,” says Jeff Tamaru, head of corporate development, Keller Williams.

The Innovation Hub Grows

Today, the Keller Cloud becomes more robust and Command, stronger, with the addition of 10 top-tier innovators – winners voted in by KW agents during a pitch battle at futuRE. Powered by Keller Williams and co-hosted by Lab Coat Agents, the sold-out event focused on “where the next generation of real estate begins” and featured an invitation-only pitch competition where 29 tech companies battled for access into the Keller Williams ecosystem. The group of 29 were selected from an original list of more than 80 companies during a weeklong voting process in November 2019.

Like us, our Keller Cloud Innovation Partners are also disruptors attempting to solve the industry’s greatest challenges and drive real estate forward.

“For over 35 years, Keller Williams has cultivated an agent-centric, technology-driven and education-based culture that rewards agents as stakeholders,” shares Tamaru. “FutuRE was another instance of our deep commitment to rewarding our agents and empowering them with choice.”

The first-place and second-place winners received cash prizes totaling $20,000 to celebrate, but the real prize was priority onboarding onto the Keller Cloud ahead of other winners and an opportunity to one day, serve 180,000-plus KW associates and their clients. 

The Winners

First place: Conversion Monster – A company of inside sales agents developed technology to provide clients with a superior competitive advantage with internet lead conversion.

Second place: SocialSurvey – Connects users to transaction management systems and automated reviews and review-sharing at scale.

Third place: VlogEasy – Takes the pressure off content creation by automatically editing video footage. Once a user hits record, the technology does the jump-cut editing.  

Others include: 

• Agent Operations – Follow Up Boss
• AI / Predictive Analytics / Automated Value – Likely Sellers
• Community / Sphere of Influence – Iovox Call Tracking
• Education / Learning – Keeper Tax – Tax Filing
• End-to-End Consumer Experience – MooveGuru
• Lead Generation – Taradel
• Property Marketing – APP (Automated Property Promotion)

Tamaru concludes, “The goal was to offer up more best-in-class options for agents to choose how they want to run their business on our platform. Looking at the incredible lineup of innovators and winners, we are confident this was achieved.”

Meet the Innovators

Source:https://outfront.kw.com/technology/kw-technology-grows-stronger-with-latest-wave-of-innovators/