Management companies offering a mobile-friendly website version rather than an app may feel they’re taking the more efficient route. The website portal provides all the basic tools homeowners need, and they can access it from both mobile and desktop! Plus, who wants another app on their phone, anyway?
This mindset, however, can be a little outdated. Americans spend a lot of time on their mobile devices. Today, 88% of the time spent on mobile is on apps—about four hours per day, up 5% over the past 2 years. Why?
“We can tailor it a lot better to their device and provide a more customized experience,” explains CINC Systems Chief Product Officer Ashley Berenson. “With a mobile-first design, we can get you from point A to B as quickly as possible. You’re generally on the go when you have your phone.”
A Tale of Two User Experiences
To illustrate the differences, let’s imagine two different management companies. Company A directs homeowners to its mobile-friendly website portal to make payments, view governing documents, and check out the latest announcements. Company B offers a mobile app with the same functionality and more.
To pay their annual dues online, Company A’s homeowners must track down the management company’s web address—not something easily remembered when they rarely visit. They must also remember login credentials, get out their credit card, and fill in tiny form fields. If the website isn’t optimized for their particular device, they will experience frustration and may even abandon the task altogether.
Homeowners with Company B open an app that’s saved on their phone. Rather than remembering credentials or having to reset their password, they use their fingerprint or face ID to log in. The app is quick to load and easy to navigate since it’s built specifically for mobile devices. Their payment information is already saved (and secure), so they can pay their dues in just a few taps. They can even opt to receive notifications so they never miss a payment deadline or announcement.
How Mobile Apps Benefit Homeowners and CAM Companies
Homeowners increasingly prefer mobile apps over mobile-friendly websites, and because they make it easier to accomplish tasks like paying dues, the enhanced self-service that apps provide also benefits management companies. CINC Systems is one of few CAM software companies offering a mobile app, with thoughtful features designed to boost management companies’ efficiency and bottom lines.
“Almost everything we are delivering is removing friction from daily operations so customers can focus more on building relationships,” Ashley says.
Cephai, the only free and secure generative AI in the CAM space, now powers the CINC Homeowner app. Cephai parses through governing documents, account data, and more to answer common homeowner questions instantly. Cephai is already reducing manager call and email volume by up to 80% for some associations, and will soon streamline other management tasks like:
- Automating manual accounting workflows
- Generating invoices and financial reports
- Drafting email responses to homeowners
- Creating and sharing newsletters
Because today’s management companies need new revenue streams and ways to engage homeowners, even more unique features are in the pipeline. Our Neighborhood Today, a curated, hyper-local news feed, will encourage homeowners to engage with the app regularly. A forthcoming vendor marketplace will also add value for homeowners and management companies, allowing homeowners to find vetted home service providers and providing a monetization opportunity for management companies.
The CINC Homeowner app is available on Apple and Android devices. Click here to take a product tour and see what it can do for your business!
