Property management app Really streamlines project tender process

By Amy Tan

/ EdgeProp Singapore |

November 29, 2019 11:29 AM SGT

SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Joerg Zeugner, founder and CEO of property and facilities management marketplace Really (Singapore), understands the pains of project tenders and tasks management, given his experience in operations and facilities management.

For example, he notes that most landlords and facilities managers are required to collect at least three price quotations from reliable vendors before awarding a project to external vendors via an external tender.

“More often than not, facility managers end up going back to the same vendors they have worked with due to a lack of transparency and the fragmented nature of the market,” laments Zeugner.

As such, facilities and property managers may not necessarily be getting the best comparisons for the services they require.

To fill this gap, Zeugner launched Really in August. The app allows landlords, tenants and property and facilities managers to coordinate the tasks involved in projects such as office renovations, maintenance services, landscaping, and facilities management.

“The idea is to promote price transparency among the suppliers through an open bidding process for their services. We are also working on a ratings and review function that enables property and facilities managers to rate the services rendered,” he explains.

Joerg Zeugner (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

At present, Really’s marketplace has a community of some 2,800 suppliers and contractors providing services across more than 80 job categories including landscaping, building supplies, construction works and office design.

The company currently has more than 50 property and project managers on its platform. These include Savills, Colliers International, Knight Frank and Faithful+Gould.

Meanwhile, the Singapore-based start-up is streamlining the tender process by digitising the workflow. Depending on the scale of each project, Zeugner estimates it would usually require facilities managers and vendors to complete and submit 20 documents to finalise a project.

And this paper-based process could span some 14 days or more in order to conclude a contract. Even then, Zeugner states that there are usually at least two amendments to the contract and the process may be repetitive if there is further miscommunication between the project manager and vendor.

Speaking from experience, he describes how sourcing can also be a struggle especially when inaccurate documentation is received. A common pitfall is that the scope of work needed is not clearly defined by either parties, leading to a mismatch in expectations.

“Poor communication, inaccurate tender forms and inefficient workflows are just some of the obstacles faced by project managers,” he observes.

To avoid this, Really has a tender management feature that enables project managers to control the entire tender process. This complements the task management function that allows project managers to set and track tasks and monitor the entire project lifecycle.

Furthermore, the app provides project managers with a bids comparison table so they can filter quotations according to metrics such as price, item description and delivery details. There is also a standard template that guides users through terms negotiation.

Ultimately, Zeugner hopes that Really will gradually eliminate tedious and time-consuming paperwork and processes within the real estate project and property management industry.

While Really is relatively new, the platform has received interest overseas and Zeugner has already identified partners in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. In August, the company also raised $500,000 in seed funding from strategic advisory Huntington Partners, alongside angel investors.

“The funding will help us further enhance the application and marketplace and allow us to develop overseas markets,” he says.

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