Your multiple listing service system may soon be as mobile as you are.
The nation’s largest MLS vendor, CoreLogic, is retiring three of its five MLS systems, replacing them with its more mobile-friendly Matrix platform.
Most real estate agents consider the MLS their most important technology tool, according to an Inman survey. But not all MLS systems travel well — a drawback when their users are constantly on the go.
CoreLogic is set to retire its Fusion, MLXchange and Tempo MLS systems.
“The biggest reason is that Fusion’s Flash-based technology isn’t supported by mobile devices,” said CoreLogic spokeswoman Alyson Austin in an email.
“Matrix, on the other hand, works on virtually any Web-capable device.”
The MLXchange and TEMPO user interfaces also aren’t mobile compatible, Austin said.
Fusion, MLXchange and Tempo are currently being used simultaneously by 39 MLSs representing about 129,000 agents and brokers. More than 51,000 of those users already have access to Matrix in a parallel environment as they prepare to make Matrix their primary system.
Currently, 49 MLSs representing more than 451,000 users are using Matrix as their primary system.
Another CoreLogic system, InnoVia, serves more than 41,000 subscribers in 44 MLSs. There are no plans to retire InnoVia right now, Austin said.
In January 2014, Connecticut Multiple Listing Service decided not to go ahead with a planned conversion to CoreLogic’s Fusion MLS platform, citing a desire for better compatibility with the iPad and other tablet devices. CTMLS later chose to convert to Matrix instead.
In March 2014, CoreLogic announced it would install Matrix for all of its Fusion customers, some of which, like CTMLS, complained about Fusion’s lack of compatibility with certain mobile devices. At the time, CoreLogic expected about 600,000 subscribers to have access to Matrix by the end of 2015.
Growing pains?
Agents often hate changing to new MLS systems. Real estate consultant Victor Lund has noted that every time an MLS switches systems, satisfaction ratings plummet, even if the new system offers better features and performance.
With Matrix, there are some indications that the transition may be bumpy for agents.
Although CoreLogic hired dozens of new staff to deal with the surge in Matrix installations last year, end-user satisfaction ratings for Matrix have been less than stellar, according to a survey from real estate consulting firm Clareity Consulting released in March.
Source: 2015 Clareity MLS Satisfaction Survey
“[T]here is still a widespread perception that the company is spread too thin to both convert those customers and new accounts to Matrix while providing a leading level of service to existing Matrix customers,” the survey said.
In particular, respondents complained of lack of speed regarding upgrades and enhancements and a need to improve responsiveness to client requests.
Fusion and InnoVia also received middling scores for end-user satisfaction in the survey, while MLXchange got the worst score. Tempo was not part of the survey.
When MLS execs were asked if they would select the same system again, half of Fusion customers said “not likely” or “definitely not.”
A third of MLXchange customers said they would not be likely to or definitely would not choose the same system again, as did 31 percent of InnoVia customers and 14 percent of Matrix customers.
MLXchange had the highest share of customers who said end-user satisfaction had decreased from the year before: 20 percent.
Source: 2015 Clareity MLS Customer Satisfaction Survey
Only time will tell how user satisfaction fares with this ramp-up. Other than noting its staff increase, CoreLogic declined to offer additional comment regarding potential concerns about transitions to Matrix.
CoreLogic will retire Fusion, MLXchange and Tempo once all clients have been migrated as mutually agreed upon by the company and clients, Austin said.
“[I]t’s important to note that we aren’t forcing clients off their current system. It is their choice when and if to move to Matrix,” she said.
“We anticipate that almost all Fusion customers will have converted to Matrix or be running Matrix in parallel by the first half of 2016,” she added.
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