When Daniel Tewfik joined Pears Global Real Estate Denmark as a Senior Project Manager, he faced a challenging and inefficient data environment. Pears relied on multiple Excel sheets to store information across portfolios, properties, and units, making access time-consuming and error-prone. Each week, Daniel spent hours consolidating basic information, such as unit availability, which hindered both routine tasks and strategic initiatives.
Additionally, Pears had a specific strategy known as the 'break-up strategy,' which involved selling residential condos as single units on the private market. The lack of a streamlined system made tracking the progress of these single-unit sales extremely challenging, further complicating their ability to execute this strategy efficiently. Without a clear view of unit status, broker performance, and sales data, the team faced difficulties optimizing their sales processes and making data-driven decisions.
Daniel was determined to streamline these processes: "If we wanted to know which units were for sale across all portfolios, we'd have to sift through multiple spreadsheets. It was a headache for everyone involved," he explained. He knew that the inefficiencies were not just causing frustration but also hindering the company's ability to grow effectively. Align provided a centralized platform that addressed these challenges, simplifying data management and drastically improving efficiency.
Pears Global faced significant challenges in their data management processes. Their reliance on numerous Excel sheets for different portfolios, properties, and units created a highly fragmented system, making accessing even basic information cumbersome and time-consuming. As Daniel put it, “If we wanted to know which units were for sale across all portfolios, we'd have to sift through multiple spreadsheets. It was a headache for everyone involved.”
The fragmented nature of their data made reporting slow and required hours of manual cross-referencing, increasing the risk of errors and consuming valuable time that could have been used for strategic work. Daniel emphasized, “It was incredibly time-consuming and error-prone.”
The lack of a centralized system also led to major bottlenecks when it came to decision-making. Without a unified view of their properties or a way to efficiently track their single-unit sales, the company struggled to identify opportunities, assess performance, or make informed strategic decisions. Asset managers, financial analysts, and the investment team were all impacted by the difficulty in drawing insights from the scattered information. This lack of clarity hindered their ability to respond quickly to market opportunities, address performance issues, and effectively execute their single-unit sales strategy.
Another significant challenge was the inconsistency in data handling across the company. Different teams used different formats and versions of spreadsheets, which often led to conflicting information. This inconsistency not only slowed down operations but also resulted in miscommunication and frustration among team members.
Overall, the existing data management system drained time, energy, and resources, preventing Pears Global from focusing on value-adding activities that could drive business growth.
Align's centralized data platform offered Pears Global a comprehensive solution that directly addressed their fragmented data issues. By centralizing all data into a single, user-friendly platform, Align enabled Pears to gain near real-time access to portfolios, properties, and units. Daniel highlighted, “With Align, we were able to centralize all our data into one user-friendly platform. Now, we can quickly and easily access any portfolio, property, or unit and get a comprehensive overview of what's happening in real-time.”
One key example of this improvement was during a challenging single-unit sales deal. Previously, consolidating all relevant data from multiple spreadsheets to evaluate broker performance and unit status would have been a lengthy process. With Align, Pears was able to quickly gather all the necessary information in one place, enabling the team to make data-driven decisions on selecting the right broker and executing the deal efficiently. This streamlined approach ultimately led to a successful sale, demonstrating the direct impact Align had on achieving key business outcomes.
For instance, the process of tracking churns, lease renewals, and single-unit sales, which previously involved manually going through spreadsheets to identify upcoming expirations or units ready for sale, was significantly simplified. As Jannie Sonne, a Senior Asset Manager at Pears, stated: "Align’s automated rent roll saves us countless hours each month. This enables us to track churn effectively and monitor broker performance on single-unit sales. Align has become my primary tool for managing unit activities throughout the workweek." This allowed the asset management team to focus on tenant negotiations, managing churns, and optimizing their single-unit sales strategy instead of spending time on data gathering.
Another area worth mentioning is the monthly financial reporting process. Previously, this involved gathering data from multiple spreadsheets, cross-checking figures, and manually correcting inconsistencies. With Align, the financial data was automatically reconciled and consolidated into a unified report, significantly reducing the time spent and allowing the finance team to focus more on analysis rather than data correction.
The platform's intuitive interface allowed teams to easily input, retrieve, and visualize data. This helped eliminate the manual and error-prone processes that Pears previously relied on. Automated processes, such as reconciling financial records, cross-checking lease details, and validating property information, replaced tedious tasks, significantly reducing the time and resources spent on data management.
In addition, the collaborative approach that Align took throughout the developmental journey made a significant difference. Daniel described the experience as “a collaborative journey,” emphasizing Align’s proactive nature. The Align team worked closely with Pears, consistently offering suggestions and ensuring that the solution was optimized for their unique needs.
Align also offered the flexibility to centralize their single-unit sales data, which included broker performance and unit availability, enabling Pears to enhance their analysis and insights. By having all relevant sales data in one place, Align provided Pears with a cohesive view that supported better decision-making and more effective execution of their 'break-up strategy.' This unified approach was exactly what had been lacking and gave Pears the clarity they needed to act confidently.
For Pears Global, the true value came from being able to meticulously track the progress of their single-unit sales, a critical part of their 'break-up strategy' for selling residential condos on the private market. The integration of their proprietary single-unit sales data with Align allowed Pears to monitor every stage of the sales process, from tenant churn to final sale, and maintain a detailed record of broker valuations and sales performance. This level of insight enabled Pears to make informed decisions, optimize broker relationships, and boost overall sales efficiency and profitability, ultimately giving them a strategic advantage in executing their sales strategy effectively.
Align's solution had a substantial impact on Pears Global by saving time, simplifying data processes, and enhancing decision-making. By centralizing all data into one platform, Pears’ teams could focus on higher-value activities instead of managing spreadsheets, leading to more efficient operations.
With their entire portfolio and key metrics in one place, Pears improved the speed and quality of decision-making, allowing teams to evaluate performance and respond to market changes effectively. Additionally, Align provided Pears with a competitive edge by improving their investment evaluation process, enabling faster, more informed decisions regarding new acquisitions. This capability empowered Pears to move quickly and confidently in their investment strategy.
Another key benefit was the improved accountability of property managers. With real-time access to performance metrics, Pears could track activities and set clearer expectations, ultimately enhancing operational outcomes.
Finally, Align helped standardize processes across teams, improving data consistency and reliability. This not only made communication smoother but also reduced error rates and enhanced inter-departmental collaboration, ensuring that strategic decisions were based on accurate data.
In short, Align enabled Pears to turn scattered data into a strategic asset, allowing for smarter and more informed decisions.
Align transformed how Pears Global manages its data. The once chaotic, Excel-based process is now a streamlined system delivering real-time insights and better decision-making. Align simplified data handling, saved time, and enhanced Pears' ability to focus on growth.
Daniel Tewfik sums it up best: “Align has saved us time, provided valuable insights, and allowed our employees to focus on what matters most.” For Pears, Align was more than just a software solution—it became a partner that turned data challenges into growth opportunities.
