Construction Magazine June 2018 | Page 133

ANZ for Coleman . “ We are all about bringing to life the experiences that we can provide to our customers . For example we have investors spread around the globe , and potential tenant customers that we want to bring into our commercial offices , so why not use advanced visualisation technology to give them that experience wherever they are , showing them the fit-outs they might be able to achieve and the potential of the space ? Till now we had to show potential clients , in person , our assets in the form of physical models or at best architects ’ 3D plans . They may be based in Perth and we might want to take them through that asset in Sydney : virtually reality enables us to bring that experience to life .”
Embarking on this process , and the collaboration with Collective Campus , has in a real sense augmented Coleman ’ s team , or at least the resources available to them . “ These four startups are really trying to revolutionise different parts of our business . As the programme ends we can see how to continue to partner with them , whether that may be by investing in their business , partnering with them as a strategic customer , or simply continuing to leverage the platforms they have developed .” It ’ s a kind of symbiosis that may have been explored in Silicon Valley , Cambridge or Sophia Antipolis but it is less common in ANZ . “ We are blazing a trail here in Australia ,” Coleman proclaims with satisfaction .
IT at Charter Hall has a very different look and feel today compared with 2014 . It has given the company a much more visual experience from the board down through the business units . “ All this was a bit of a shock to the system but a shock that was needed in order to effect change ,” Coleman concludes . “ Now I feel that we have morphed into a steady state . People are very accepting , asking for more , looking to get even more engaged . We have a great cohort of business product owners at all levels of the business full .”
More remains to be done in the way of change management and employee experience , but the business is ready now , he feels , to take full advantage of a proptech revolution that is still in its infancy .
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