Have suggestions for products that you’d like to see reviewed by our real estate technology expert? Email Craig Rowe.
The level of training required to ramp up a new technology product should always be part of your buying decision.
Thus, products that piggyback on platforms people are already familiar with tend to have an advantage over something completely new.
CRM software Streak does this with Gmail. So does Nimble and Amitree’s Folio.
Now, there’s Palo Alto, California-based Hiver, a Chrome extension that turns Gmail into a project management and communication tool.
Considering an Adobe Systems 2015 poll reported we spend more than six hours a day in our inbox, there’s a good chance yours could use a little TLC.
I had a look at Hiver last week, which is used by Uber, Lonely Planet, CBS Interactive and Pinterest, among other well-known companies, and here are three ways it could make a difference in your email life:
Streamline transaction communications
Gmail is known for its ability to connect messages.
However, if you’re like me, your message threads get out of control quickly because some get deleted, not everyone gets copied on every message — the list goes on.
Hiver creates custom shared folders that filter people and common tags into a single repository, labeled with the name of a listing, for example.
Every email from clients and relevant parties will land in that folder and be automatically be linked to a “Task,” which can be managed from the right-hand sidebar.
A team lead can then use the Tasks tool to assign a person to respond, set a deadline or mark it complete.
Hiver creates custom, shared folders that aptly filter people and projects.
Improve team interaction
Hiver features a notes tool so users can add context to a message, comment on how to best handle a response or update a deal’s status.
Google Contacts can be shared within Hiver to allow teams to access the same people, like clients and vendors, when needed — there’s no messing with separate permissions.
Hiver also alerts folder managers when someone responds to an email under a shared folder.
This prevents people from sending duplicate messages or burdening a contact with too many emails. It also demonstrates to clients that your team is put-together and organized.
Emails become tasks by merely adding a specific label, alerting the assignee immediately.
Another label will share a message with a teammate, and notes can be left for the assignor who wants it handled.
Control messaging
Creating and deleting folders, separating family from business messages and deciding when to hit “send” all make the once-simple act of email management increasingly burdensome. I’m always looking for ways to improve how I handle it.
Hiver includes a message snooze option that can let you put off when to respond. And its folders and tags quickly put messages in the right place.
The tool has scheduling and draft collaboration (currently in beta) features so teams can work together on important messages and be sure they’re ready to go.
Plus, you can save messages as templates or create new ones. This is a great option for formalizing how teams respond to new clients or send marketing-related messages.
Hiver is currently a Chrome extension, but a Safari version is in the works, as is an iOS app and an Outlook extension.
Have a technology product you would like to discuss? Email Craig Rowe.
