Sometimes, real estate syndication can feel like herding cats.
You deal with many moving parts, from capital calls and distributions to asset management and reporting.
When you rely on “good-old” pen and paper, or even a complex system of spreadsheets, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks.
Of course, adopting the right syndication software can make a world of difference. But with all of the options out there, how do you know which one is best for your business?
Instead of listing every feature under the sun, we’ll focus on seven essential elements that all great syndication software should have.
Let’s start with the basics.
What is Real Estate Syndication Software?
Daymond John once said that “it’s ok to have your eggs in one basket, as long as you control what happens to that basket.” Following that train of thought, real estate syndication software is your “one basket” for all things related to your business.
“It’s OK to have your eggs in one basket as long as you control what happens to that basket.” – @elonmusk
— Daymond John (@TheSharkDaymond) July 27, 2017
A syndication solution acts as a central platform where you can track your entire portfolio, automate critical processes, and manage your team — all in one place.
In other words, it’s the centralized nervous system for your business, keeping things running smoothly so you can focus on what you do best: making money.
Real estate syndication software is an essential tool for streamlining your real estate business and maximizing your profits.
What Features Make a Great Real Estate Syndication System?
Let’s get something out of the way right off the bat: not all real estate syndication software is created equal.
Some systems are better than others, and some are just flat-out bad.
To help you avoid the latter, we’ve compiled a list of seven essential features to look for in syndication software.
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but it will give you a good starting point for finding the right system for your business.
1. Ease of Use
Humans hate struggle.
We’re hard-wired to take the path of least resistance, which is why ease of use should be a top priority when choosing syndication software.
The last thing you want is a system so complicated and convoluted that you can’t figure out how to use it.
Ideally, the software you choose will be intuitive and easy to use from the get-go. It should require minimal training to get up and running, and it should be designed with the end-user in mind.
For example:
We designed Groundbreaker with ease of use in mind. Our system is so intuitive that you don’t need a degree in computer science to use it. With drag-and-drop features, a user-friendly interface, and step-by-step tutorials, you’ll be up and running in no time.
We provide you with all the training and support you need to get up and running quickly. Our world-class customer service team is always available to answer your questions.
And not to sound braggy, but our customers love us for it. People have ranked us 4.9/5 on software review sites like G2.com.
2. Automation
Syndication software without automation is like a car without an engine. It might look nice, but it’s not going to get you very far.
That’s one of the reasons roughly 7 out of 10 business professionals believe that AI is a true competitive advantage.
An even more surprising study states that 30% of tasks in 60% of companies are automatable.
What does this mean for you?
If you aren’t automating your business processes, you’re likely falling behind your competition. That could mean missing out on important opportunities or not catching critical errors.
When choosing syndication software, look for a system with built-in automation features. This will allow you to streamline repetitive tasks and free up your time to focus on more profitable initiatives.
For example:
With Groundbreaker, you can calculate and post distributions and transfer ACH funds in bulk. This means you don’t have to manually calculate or post each distribution, saving you hours of time every month.
Groundbreaker also automates your fundraising operations, allowing you to send automated requests for capital calls and track payments in real-time.
And, to be honest, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
To get a complete overview of our automation features, read our product overview page.
3. A CRM Solution
A CRM, or customer relationship management solution, is a must-have for any real estate investor.
The CRM you choose will be the central hub for all your investor data, so it’s essential to choose one designed for your specific needs.
For example:
Groundbreaker’s CRM is designed specifically for real estate syndicators.
We provide you with all the tools and features you need to manage your investors, track your deals, and grow your business.
Some of our most popular CRM features include:
- Fundraising management: Groundbreaker gives you the ability to manage your fundraising process from start to finish.
- Data management: Organize and manage your investor data in one central location. Our software makes adding and updating personal information easy, so you always have the most up-to-date data at your fingertips.
- Advanced tracking: Keep tabs on your deals with our advanced tracking features. Our software makes it easy to track progress, milestones, and key dates for each of your investments.
Read our product overview page to get a complete understanding of our CRM capabilities.
4. Investor Portal
Transparency is key to building trust with your investors.
If your investors can’t see how their money is being used or what the status of their investment is, they’re going to get antsy.
That’s why it’s so important to choose syndication software with an investor portal.
An investor portal is a secure, online platform where your investors can log in and view important information about their investment, like:
- The status of the investment
- The current value of their units
- Documentation
- Performance reports
- Distributions
- Contributions
This level of transparency is essential to building trust with your current and prospective investors and keeping them happy.
For example:
Groundbreaker investor portal is designed to give your investors the information they need, when they need it. They can log in to view their investment status, performance reports, distributions, and more.
They can also explore the complete history of the investment, from the initial purchase to the current value of their units.
Besides, our investor portal is mobile-friendly, so your investors can access it from anywhere, at any time.
5. Centralized Communication
Imagine you have 100 investors spread out across the country.
Now imagine trying to keep track of all their individual needs and preferences.
It would be a nightmare, right?
That’s why it’s so important to choose syndication software with a centralized communication system. That is, a single source of truth for all your investor communications.
Besides, managing investor communications over email isn’t only inefficient, but also dangerous. Email is not a secure platform, so there’s always the risk that sensitive information could be leaked.
With a centralized communication system, you can rest assured that your investor data is safe and secure.
For example:
Groundbreaker’s communication system is designed to keep you and your investors connected.
You can easily send updates, announcements, and important information to your entire investor base with just a few clicks. And because our system is secure, you can rest assured that your data is always safe.
You also get access to trigger-based automation, so you can automate repetitive tasks, like sending out specific investor notifications and funding announcements.
6. Security
Cybercrime Magazine predicts that cybercrime will cost $10.5 trillion by 2025.
That’s why it’s so important to choose syndication software with robust security features.
When handling sensitive investor data, you can’t afford to take any chances.
For example:
Groundbreaker complies with all industry-standard security protocols, so you can rest assured that your data is safe.
We use 256-bit SSL encryption to protect in transit and at rest. We also host data in SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3 compliant facilities.
Besides, every time you make an ACH transfer, your data is encrypted and stored in our PCI-compliant environment.
7. Investor Reporting
Your investors want to know how their money is performing.
But if you have to generate reports manually, it will take a lot of time and effort.
That’s why it’s crucial to choose syndication software with built-in reporting features.
Instead of sorting through dozens of spreadsheets, your investors can log in to their accounts and view real-time reports. This way, they can track the performance of their investment and make informed decisions about their money.
For example:
With Groundbreaker, your investors get access to real-time reporting. They can log in to their accounts and view performance reports, distributions, and more.
You can customize this reporting dashboard to match your brand and style, making it easy for your investors to find the information they need.
You can also set account-based permissions to ensure only the right people have access to sensitive data. This way, you can keep your investors informed without sacrificing security.
Final Words
The right syndication software can make a world of difference for your business. And hopefully, now you have enough information to find the right platform for your organization.
If you’re looking for a syndication solution with all the features we covered today, then Groundbreaker is probably a good fit.
To see for yourself, why don’t you schedule a free demo today? Let’s explore how Groundbreaker can help you streamline your syndication business.