How Technology Automates Tasks and Streamlines Operations in Multifamily Housing

The multifamily industry continues to evolve. Resident expectations are rising, competition is fierce, and property managers are tasked with doing more with less. Fortunately, technology is emerging as a powerful ally. Technology can streamline operations, automate tasks, and allow staff time for more appropriate initiatives.

Let’s explore the ways technology is transforming the multifamily landscape.? We’ll look at how these advancements benefit both residents and property managers. We'll also dive into how offsite package management can streamline operations by eliminating the burden of package handling for onsite teams.

The Multifamily Industry and the Burden of Manual Tasks

Multifamily property management involves multiple tasks. Many of which are manual and time-consuming. Common pain points include:

• Leasing and Renewal Processes
• Maintenance Requests
• Rent Collection
• Package Management

These manual tasks bog down staff productivity and take the focus off higher-level tasks that drive resident satisfaction and property value.

Technology to the Rescue: Automation and Streamlining

The good news is that technology offers a variety of solutions to automate these tasks. Here's how:

• Automate Leasing and Renewal Processes
• Resident Portals and Mobile Apps for Maintenance Requests and Payments
• Smart Home Technology for Resident Control
• Data Analytics and Business Intelligence Tools for Data-Driven Decision-Making

The Impact of Streamlining Operations

Streamlining operations through technology has several key benefits. Automating tasks allows staff to focus on higher-value activities. By redirecting the focus, teams can increase productivity and improve overall efficiency. Technology can help reduce administrative costs associated with manual tasks. The money saved can be used to obtain resources for other investments.

Automation results in faster response times, online convenience, and a more modern living experience. This streamlined process contributes to increased resident satisfaction.

The Package Management Problem: A Time-Consuming Headache

Package management is a major time-consuming headache for multifamily staff. Here's what makes package handling so problematic:

• Package volume: The e-commerce boom continues to result in a large influx of packages. According to Multi-Housing News (MHN) and the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), the average multifamily community receives around 150 packages per week. This number can nearly double during peak seasons like the holidays. Property managers are discovering even though they have onsite package management solutions, they are inadequate at handling the volume.
• Inadequate space: Many multifamily properties lack dedicated space for efficient package storage. Lack of space leads to cluttered lobbies and frustrated residents.
• Time-intensive: Solutions like lockers and package rooms require manual sorting, logging, and delivery by staff.?
• Liability: Onsite storage exposes property managers to potential liability for lost or damaged packages.

These factors create a significant burden on staff time and resources. Let's explore how Fetch tackles this problem and helps multifamily properties streamline operations.

Freeing Up Staff Time With Offsite Package Management

Fetch offers a new approach to package management. An offsite solution enables multifamily properties to remove the burden from their onsite teams. How?

Packages are delivered directly to Fetch's secure offsite warehouses. Fetch facilities eliminate the need for onsite storage and free up valuable space in your community.

Residents can then choose their preferred delivery window through the Fetch app. Fetch couriers will deliver packages directly to their doors.

Residents receive real-time notifications about their packages, eliminating confusion, frustration, and delays. Onsite teams are removed from the process!

Benefits of Fetch for Streamlined Operations

By partnering with Fetch, multifamily properties can achieve significant benefits.

A study by the National Apartment Association (NAA) found that property staff spend an average of 20 hours per week managing packages. Fetch eliminates the need for staff to receive, log, store, and deliver packages, freeing up hundreds of hours per year.?

Instead, onsite teams can focus on leasing, resident engagement, and property maintenance.

A Real-World Example of Fetchs Impact

Imagine a 200-unit multifamily property that receives an average of 150 packages per week.

According to the NAA study, staff would dedicate an estimated 20 hours per week to managing these packages.

By partnering with Fetch, the property can save over 1,000 staff hours annually. This translates to cost savings and frees up staff time to focus on resident needs and property improvements.

Beyond Package Management: The Future of Technology in Multifamily

Technology is rapidly transforming the multifamily industry beyond streamlining operations. Here's a glimpse into what the future holds:

• Smart apartments and communities to enhance resident convenience and optimize energy usage.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) for personalized resident experiences and dynamic rent pricing.
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) to tour and revolutionize the leasing process.

As technology evolves, multifamily properties can embrace automation and innovation. In doing so, they will be well-positioned to attract and retain residents.

In today's competitive landscape, multifamily property managers need all the help they can get. Technology offers a powerful solution to automate tasks and streamline operations. By embracing innovative solutions like Fetch, properties can significantly reduce manual workloads — that’s more time to enhance resident satisfaction!

If you’re looking to learn more about offsite package management, Fetch can help! Request a demo today!