file: 05_aei implementation best practices.ppt 1 rets implementation issues yogi schulz rets...

File: 05_AEI Implementation Best Practices.PPT 1

RETS Implementation Issues

Yogi Schulz

RETS ImplementationBest Practices

Business Case

Project Start-up

Resource Identification

RETS Service Provider

RETS Data Customer

Project Execution



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RETS Implementation Best Practices Topic Objectives

Identify potential issues around a RETS service

Provide recommendations and suggestions based on best practices

Ensure the RETS implementation addresses the business case

Reinforce sound project execution practices



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Business Case

Focal point of the RETS implementation

Match RETS capabilities to the business problem

Identify tangible & intangible benefits

Don’t over-sell

Highest benefit area is service

to data customers



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Implementation ProjectStart-up - 1

Describe business case

Capture business rules- ensure that you know yourself

Validate business requirements for the metadata- data about the data

Confirm internal and external contracts, processes, security

Identify internal resources

Identify existing skill levels in RETS:- service provider

- data customers



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Implementation ProjectStart-up - 2

Understand and validate feature set

Understand impact to existing data customers

Define roles and responsibilities for:- MLS

- service provider

- data customers

Recommendation: Create and maintain visible reference documents



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Business Rules

Who is permitted to see what data?- Authentication, Access Controls and Audits

What data can be entered where?- Data quality rules – does the service provider offer it?

- Data quality enforcement - tools

Are there sessions controls?- Multiple sessions

- Session duration limits



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Contracts

RETS Service Provider:- Who does what

- You own the data

RETS Data Customer:- Control the access

- Control the uses

General observation:- Control your asset with appropriate language



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MLSRETS Service Processes

Understand who does what:- Contract management

- Help desk access

- Service initiation and termination

- Service issues

Understand problem escalation:- Responsibilities in the resolution process

- Chain of control to ensure resolution



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Security

Document your security requirements:- Statutory security

- Physical security of system

- Software security of system

Audit trails

Logging

Recommendation: Define the security requirements at the beginning



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RETS Advantagesover FTP

Real-time data feed for broker web sites / consumers

More data access options:- User agent security- Role-based permissions- Metadata enables multiple views of MLS data- MLS control over misuse

Usage tracking capabilities

Data customers restricted to queries within authorized view of the MLS data

FTP = dumb flat files



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Resource Allocation

Determine internal versus outsourced resources:- Training

- Help desk

- RETS support

- Statistical and other report generation

- MLS service computing infrastructure



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RETSFeature Set

RETS compliant does not mean all the optional features exist

Different service providers will have different optional features- Related to their business decisions

Ensure that supported feature set matches between the service providers and data customer



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RETS Service ProviderBest Practices Topics

RETS compliant

Available resources

Business continuity plan

Business continuity tests

Availability

Recommendation: Service offering must be a close match to your needs



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RETS Service Provider Resources and Skills

Does service provider offer dedicated resources for your implementation project?- Will they get pulled off on some other “hot” project?

Can service provider identify capable third-party resources for your project?

Should you use an external project champion to manage your project?



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RETS Data Customers Best Practices Topics

Existing Services:- Default MLS client- IDX/VOW- Brokerages- Other MLS clients- Homestore- Newspapers/book

publishers

New Services – value to Realtors®:- Multiple choices for

default MLS client

- Multiple choices fordesktop, laptop or pda client

- Data aggregation

- Marketing tools

Recommendation: Support new software and services only via RETS



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RETS Data Customers Resources and Skills

The RETS service will change business practices

Communicate the benefits of RETS:- Reusable software

- Many sources of knowledge

- Industry standard

- Improved data structure for improved change management

Recommendation: Communicate the benefits for using RETS



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RETS Impact onExisting Data Customers

Will require changes to their applications to use RETS

May have a sense that MLS is “off-loading” work to them

Maintain buy-in by communicating the reasons- Highlight the benefits from easier maintenance of their

applications in response to your changes

- Overcome resistance of data customers who may not share your pain with the current situation

Recommendation: Gradually upgrade data distribution to RETS



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Project Execution

Manage scope with a change order process

Recognize priority shift during implementation project:- Beginning – quality, functionality

- Middle – cost

- End – schedule

Insist that resource commitments be honored

Ignore distractionsProject management

contributes to project success



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RETS benefits will add value for your MLS

Implementations encounter many modest hurdles- All have been successfully overcome

Project implementation best practices:- a few are RETS specific- majority of the best practices address the common system

implementation issues

Conclusion



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TopicSummary

RETS offers many benefits, but faces many of the common implementation challenges

Learning curve is real- Many resources available to help

Business case must drive the use of technology

Time for Discussion



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Implementation ProjectReward

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