Condo Media - December 2009 - 35

concerns, they are really heard — and when they get a response, it’s often from the president himself. That’s what he’s passionate about: continuing to make things work better.” It helps that many of the company’s software engineers have been with BuildingLink since its inception. “The programming is constantly changing and evolving,” Dilley says. “If we want to make changes, we can’t just start from scratch. We have to morph the way the site is already mapped. To have experts who have been there from the beginning means things can happen better, quicker and with less error.” building’s two concierges have come to love it. “Before BuildingLink, the concierges had to make phone calls to let residents know if they had a package or dry cleaning delivery. Now, they can just send an e-mail. If guests arrive, the unit owner’s phone number is right there. And each concierge has his own screen, so he can work on his own, rather than passing lists back and forth. It’s much more efficient.” Easy Does It The response of customers to this level of service is reflected in the more than 98 percent renewal rate for BuildingLink, which is a subscription-based service. There are no additional charges for changes to the customer’s suite of customized modules, nor is there a charge for setup or training. Dilley adds that the system is so intuitive and easy to use, training time is usually minimal — if it’s even needed at all. In general, managers require three hours for training and setup, building staff about an hour and residents mere minutes. BuildingLink staff provides training — and retraining — as necessary. Initially, there has been some resistance to installing the system, Dilley admits. Doormen who have been at their jobs for 40 or 50 years and don’t use a computer at work need to adjust to a different way of doing things. “But once they’ve used it for a few months,” he says, “they see how it’s enhanced their jobs, and they love it!” A case in point occurred at Tremont on the Green in Boston. Manager of Resident Services Mark Devlin brought BuildingLink into the building in July, and he reports that the Clear prompts make it easy for managers and unit owners alike to request or access information. servers, data servers and firewalls are renowned for their security, and the data is backed up “constantly,” according to Dilley. “We’ve never had a break-in or lost data,” he avers. The program runs on secure, loadbearing Web servers that minimize the potential for downtime and allow users to access data and authorized functions from anywhere in the world, using only a Web browser and their login name and password. Unit owners are restricted to data that is relevant either only to their own unit or to the entire association. Their private information is protected. Another important aspect of BuildingLink is that it also can enhance security within a building or a complex. At The Greenhouse Apartments, for example, BuildingLink serves as an intranet for unit owners. Certain staff members, such as maintenance workers, are required to post their photos on the site, so unit owners can identify them when they arrive to work on their units. Residents are equally pleased with the system. Though offered the tutorial, many didn’t even need it. “Everything is on the screen, right in front of you,” Devlin says, “so training is no problem.” Although some of the older residents don’t have computers, he estimates that 80 percent of the residents take advantage of the system. And if an issue arises, “BuildingLink is really helpful,” Devlin says. “The team is spectacular on the phone.” Seeing Is Believing The sales team enjoys showing the product and demonstrating how flexible it is, and Dilley also refers potential customers (with permission) to buildings that use BuildingLink, so they can talk to the people who use it. “We demo the product all the time,” Dilley says. Although BuildingLink is based in Long Island City, N.Y., distance is not a problem. This growing company now handles more than 70 properties in the New England, area and even has clients as far away as Tokyo. “We really want to show people our product,” Dilley says. “Seeing is believing.” For more information about how BuildingLink can enhance your property’s productivity, call (212) 501-7117 or visit www.BuildingLink.com. Secure About Data Security Security is paramount in any online business, and BuildingLink’s management takes that responsibility very seriously. In fact, the company serves Ritz-Carlton residences all over the world, and before being approved for installation, BuildingLink had to pass six months of rigorous security testing. Today, BuildingLink’s multiple Web ADVERTISEMENT

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Condo Media - December 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Condo Media - December 2009