ERA Rolls Out Industry-first Initiatives and Services to Enhance Digital Convenience for Agents and Clients

The organisation utilises best-in-class initiatives and cutting-edge technologies, from digital document and signature solution to AI chatbots, to optimize real estate processes

SINGAPORE, 11 November 2020 – ERA Singapore (ERA) announced a line-up of comprehensive, end-to-end digitalisation initiatives that will lead to a faster, more efficient and fulfilling experience for agents and customers during its Q4 Career Advancement Day today. The event was graced by Mr. Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development, who delivered a keynote speech on the digital transformation of the real estate industry.

From the newly launched one-stop property search and listing features to enquiry via an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, as well as the adoption of encrypted digital document and signature solution to regional outreach expansion, ERA’s roadmap for transformation through technology should serve as a blueprint for the real estate industry.

“ERA is in full support of the government’s initiative to build a trusted digital ecosystem as we move towards an increasingly efficient and convenient Smart Nation. 2020 has been a year of driven changes with industries pivoting to the digital sphere to streamline work processes which in turn has transformed lifestyle patterns,” says Jack Chua, Chief Executive Officer of ERA Singapore. “As a leading proptech agency, we aim to innovate or be early adopters so that our agents get the best and most up-to-date technologies to assist in their work. This enables them to provide the best services to their clients, whenever and wherever.”

ERA to pilot digital signatures adoption in real estate for higher efficiency, cost-saving and secure transactions
In the past few months, Singapore’s property sales have been steadily on the upswing. To streamline the transaction process, ERA will be adopting the digital document and signature solution powered by Dedoco. A trusted digital signing application provider, Dedoco’s software is integrated with GovTech’s recently launched Sign with SingPass feature under the Smart Nation Initiative.

This new solution will reduce logistics costs as well as time spent on delivering documents for client’s signing. It is also more time-efficient for property owners, especially those who are based overseas. Not only that, the solution will allow ERA’s agents to minimise contact and exposure risk when servicing their clients. Ensuring the strictest compliance to data privacy and security, Dedoco’s blockchain-enabled application will further help ERA to register a decentralised audit trail of the signing evidence, thus providing real-time validation of documents and transactions.

“With COVID-19 affecting business transactions tremendously, Dedoco is proud to partner with ERA to deliver robust digital signing and document management solutions to its team of seasoned real estate professionals. Through our enterprise blockchain technology, we are committed to ensuring minimal physical contact between all signatories while ensuring that data security and compliance are protected with the highest possible standards. Going digital is inevitable given the current global situation and Dedoco aims to make property transactions as seamless as possible for ERA and its valued clients,” says Daphne Ng, Executive Director of Dedoco.

Next generation conversational AI to improve productivity and provide instant support
ERA also unveiled the 24/7 Robo Chatbot, an AI-powered conversational software that is developed in tandem with YOOZOO AI Innovation Lab, which was set up by global entertainment company YOOZOO. Agents can access project information almost instantaneously and easily, anytime, anywhere, simply by making enquiries with the WhatsApp chatbot. Granting instant support, this chatbot is a handy tool that will ramp up work efficiency and productivity of the agents.

Future-proofing ERA’s headquarter through digital revamp
The ERA APAC Centre is set to undergo a major facelift that will usher in the new age of real estate brokerage. Once its transformation is complete, agents will get to enjoy access to a suite of facilities. There will be a media room equipped with cameras, lighting and audio systems for them to produce videos or conduct virtual training sessions and meetings. Several interactive LED display screens that will showcase virtual property galleries will also be installed so clients can view and enquire about different projects at once. A co-working space, modelled after globally successful shared spaces, will allow agents to brainstorm ideas and seek consultation with their fellow colleagues.

Regional partnerships offer ERA agents access to over 100 million clients
Following the successful collaboration with Fang.com launched in September 2020, ERA also announces a partnership with Anjuke, a leading real estate portal in China with the highest mobile traffic of over 100 million monthly users.

In addition to its plan to expand the regional outreach, ERA also partners with PropertyGuru to launch Asia Virtual Property Expo, the first multi-market virtual property expo which will showcase over 300 properties and 40 webinars across five countries — Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia — from 11 November 2020 to 12 December 2020.

Harnessing innovative technologies, the organisers will set up virtual booths for property agents to meet and greet their clients. The expo will see participation from award-winning developers in Asia Pacific, all eager to showcase their properties. Clients will get to immerse themselves in a 3D virtual property hunting experience and browse both local and regional projects.

Agent-review platform to be upgraded with new property listing feature
ERA is one of the first industry leaders to align its agent-review platform, FindPropertyAgent.sg, with the Council for Estate Agencies’ newly launched Guide on Best Practices for Consumer Ratings of Property Agents. In addition, this one-stop property search platform will be upgraded with the new “Post Property” feature, which allows homeowners and landlords to list their properties, reaching out directly to over 7,400 agents in Singapore.

New electronic guidebooks to elevate culture and conduct standards for real estate industry
Since its inception in 1982, ERA has been redefining industry standards for real estate concepts, technology, initiatives, and products. In an effort to further expand its agents’ expertise and gain a competitive edge, ERA will produce a series of e-books as digital empowerment tools. It will publish one volume per month, for a total of 12 volumes in a year.

#Q420CAD Media responses are really positive to our new digital initiatives rolled out during our ERA Q4’20 Career Advancement Day!

Huge shout-out to our media partners, Singapore Press Holdings – Engaging Minds, Enriching Lives, The Straits Times, Shin Min Daily News 新明日报, Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 and EdgeProp Singapore, for their generous support!

And not forgetting our friends at the Ministry of National Development as well; have you checked out the social media postings from Minister Desmond Lee? Sincere appreciation for his social media mention and kindest support! Let’s march towards the real estate digital transformation as OneERA!

Check out the following online links on all the wonderful news of our quarterly conference, as well as the full Minister’s speech:

Minister’s speech: https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/speeches/view/speech-by-minister-desmond-lee-at-the-era-q4’20-career-advancement-day

ST online: https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/era-homes-in-on-digital-signatures-for-tenancy-deals

Lianhe Zaobao Online: https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20201112-1100233

Edgeprop covers the news too: https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/era-realty-unveils-new-digital-initiatives-agents-and-clients

Minister’s IG post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CHeeDgrg_re/?igshid=plyeycnigw38

Minister’s FB post: https://www.facebook.com/1279122248765381/posts/5012561162088119/?d=n

ST Telegram: https://t.me/StraitsTimes/147618

About Dedoco
An enterprise blockchain service, Dedoco is a decentralized, digital signing, and document solution. Built with the aim of improving efficiency and compliance, Dedoco was designed to automate and tamper-proof digital signatures, ultimately resulting in end-to-end digital workflows that are immune to disruptions. Its peer-to-peer encryption further ensures document security and enhanced privacy. Dedoco aims to empower enterprises to digitize and sign documents with an easy-to-use Software-as-a-Service model that can be adopted across all industries on a global scale. For more information, visit us at https://www.dedoco.com.

About YOOZOO GamesYOOZOO Games (hereinafter “YOOZOO”) is a global entertainment company specializing in game development and publishing. Since its founding in 2009, YOOZOO has forged a strong global distribution network and launched a multitude of highly successful products. Whilst YOOZOO is best known for its work in global development and publishing, in recent years it has built upon its expertise in games to develop the company’s AI business development, which has become a strategic focus for YOOZOO in response to the technological advances of the industry. In 2018, YOOZOO has established a global AI hub in Singapore. YOOZOO AI Innovation Lab is set to grow to around 60 AI researchers and engineers within the next five years.