1-page Solution Brief - Posted 7/13/2009
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Mapping Technology Revolutionises Commercial Property Listing Services
Frustrated by the lack of an easy-to-use service for locating office space, marketing expert Miranda Munn launched her Web-based commercial real estate company NovaLoca in 2008. She worked with Microsoft® Certified Partner Earthware to build the Web site and mapping application with Bing™ Maps for Enterprise technology. This application gives users access to all the property details and local area information they need. In just one year, 500 companies have registered their properties on the site.
Business Needs
Prospective property buyers have often found it difficult to search for commercial properties on the Internet. Despite the IT advances in the residential market, commercial buyers would have to search through online lists that were neither comprehensive nor easy to navigate.
Frustrated by the lack of a thorough and easy-to-use service for locating office space,
marketing expert Miranda Munn wanted to establish her own Web-based business. In 2008, she launched NovaLoca, a company offering commercial property agents and occupiers an alternative to the existing services. But Munn needed a new way of presenting commercial real estate.
Solution
Munn decided to work with Microsoft® Certified Partner Earthware, which specialises in interactive Web-based mapping solutions. Together, they designed and built the Web site and mapping application with Bing™ technology and Microsoft ASP.NET 3.5 at its core.
The Bing application integrates seamlessly with Microsoft SQL Server® 2005 Express Edition data management software. This stores all property details, information on local areas of interest such as schools, dentists, and hospitals—it even lists agents’ biographies. The NovaLoca solution can also generate reports that help Munn and her team with administration—from invoicing to tracking account managers with the highest rate of sales. Users can register their requirements and receive instant customised updates.
Benefits
- The mapping solution has helped NovaLoca expand quickly. In one year, 500 companies have registered their properties on the site, compared to 127 at launch. And the Web site receives about 70,000 visits a month.
- Employees can automatically generate reports that help analyse and monitor the system. This makes it easier for Munn to keep information up-to-date.
- All properties are regularly updated so users are confident of getting an accurate view.
- The bird’s eye view feature—which shows aerial imagery taken at a 45-degree angle to show building facades and entrances—helps occupiers get a closer look at properties.
- NovaLoca had the first U.K. implementation of Street Level View. The data is provided by Seety, which has taken more than 170,000 images of London streets. Users can view London properties from the ground, giving even more visibility for occupiers to find their ideal business location.
For More Information
For further information about Microsoft products and services, please visit
www.microsoft.com/uk
or call 0870 60 10 100*
For hearing impaired customers with a Minicom, contact: 0870 50 30 400*
*Lines are open 8am–6pm, Monday to Friday. Please note, numbers prefixed 0870 will be charged at national call rates. For details of national call rate charges, please contact your telecommunications provider.
This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published July 2009
