No one truly knows what the future holds. But as technology advances and begins to transform the world around us, we’re getting a pretty good picture. The goal of technology is to make everyday tasks a little easier. Because of the advanced technology of today, we can now enjoy the ease of opening maps on phones, video conferencing with clients in foreign countries, and even appliances that can talk to you.
Advanced technology has already infiltrated a number of industries, aiming to improve business efficiency. The real estate industry has already seen major changes and it shows no sign of slowing down. One interesting way technology is trying to improve the real estate agents is through the use of robots. This may seem farfetched at first, but the future may see robots becoming the next real estate agents.
According to the Wall Street Journal, some real estate companies have already taken the leap and started using robots to assist and sometimes take the place of their agents. These companies include REX, VirtualAPT, and Zenplace. The robots the companies use are able to answer clients’ questions and collect information in real-time. Clients are able to communicate with the robots as if they were real agents. But not all human interaction is taken out completely; if a human agent is unable to meet with a client, Zenplace sends their robot for the agent to remotely communicate with them.
Many might be asking, why employ robots to sell houses? The use of robots to conduct real estate business is appealing to companies due to the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of advanced technology. What these companies spend now on the advanced technology of robots will actually cost less in the long run compared to what their real agents are paid in commission. Using robots also helps simplify the buying process and make it more efficient.
There is still the question of whether or not replacing humans as agents are better for business. Although technology is very advanced, it has yet to master the complications of face-to-face human interaction. Many clients might find talking to a robot about purchasing their new home frustrating. Employing robots as agents might also take away a considerable number of jobs for real estate agents. The robots may be assistants to the real estate agents now, but that could change in the future.
Robot real estate agents is undoubtedly a groundbreaking innovation. Although it may present some drawbacks, the use of robots will undoubtedly revolutionize home buying. As technology infiltrates and transforms real estate, the future of the industry may be looking a little less human.