Artem Klisheiko
Published: 10/15/2024
Managing a real estate portfolio isn’t easy, especially when it’s worth over $450 million. Helge Capital, a real estate investment and management company, knows this firsthand. They faced common challenges in property management: manual reporting, delayed decision-making, and inefficient operations. But by partnering with Distilyze and Swiftlane, they transformed how they manage their properties.
In this post, we'll break down how these partnerships helped Helge Capital improve its operations, boost security, and create a better experience for its tenants.
The Challenge: Moving From Reactive to Proactive Management
Before working with Distilyze and Swiftlane, Helge Capital relied on traditional methods to manage its property portfolio. This involved manually pulling data, creating spreadsheets, and calculating metrics like occupancy and delinquency rates. As you can imagine, this process was time-consuming and reactive—problems were often noticed only after they’d started affecting the bottom line.
On average, property management companies spend 420 hours per year preparing reports and another 720 hours in meetings going over them. That’s over 1,100 hours that could be spent focusing on growth. This is the situation Helge Capital found itself in, and they needed a change.
Distilyze: Turning Data into Actionable Insights
Distilyze came in to solve one of Helge Capital’s biggest problems: manual reporting. Distilyze is a predictive analytics platform that automates the collection and analysis of property data. This platform centralizes all relevant data into one system, providing real-time insights and alerts when performance starts to dip.
Before Distilyze, Helge Capital had to rely on error-prone manual reports. After implementation, they shifted to a data-driven approach that allowed them to spot issues before they became problems. For example, rather than reacting to tenant delinquency or low occupancy rates after they hit the books, Helge Capital could act proactively, adjusting strategies in real-time.
The Results: Significant Efficiency Gains
Within just seven months, Helge Capital saw a 1.56% increase in portfolio value—an increase of $7 million. This was a direct result of Distilyze’s automated reporting and predictive analytics, which freed up countless hours and improved decision-making.
Some other key improvements include:
- A 24% reduction in tenant delinquency, leading to more stable cash flow.
- Showings decreased by 24%, indicating more efficient tenant placement processes.
- Open work orders dropped by 82.71%, reflecting better property maintenance and faster issue resolution.
- The average vacancy period decreased by 41.8%, helping to fill units more quickly and reduce revenue loss from empty apartments.
By automating time-consuming processes, Helge Capital was able to focus on higher-level strategies to grow the portfolio and improve profitability.
Swiftlane: Elevating Security and Tenant Experience
While Distilyze helped Helge Capital optimize its data, Swiftlane took care of security and access management.
For Helge Capital, implementing Swiftlane meant their tenants could now enter the building using multiple secure methods—whether through face recognition, a PIN code, or simply using the Swiftlane mobile app. This technology reduced the likelihood of unauthorized access and enhanced the overall living experience for residents.
The Benefits for Helge Capital
Swiftlane brought several benefits to Helge Capital’s properties:
- Loitering detection technology that automatically captures images of unauthorized individuals, providing property managers with the information they need to address potential security threats.
- Offline access through PIN codes, so even if the building’s internet connection fails, tenants can still get inside without being locked out.
- Improved security measures with the IK10-rated SwiftReader, which provides the highest vandal protection in the industry, ensuring durability and peace of mind.
Perhaps the most exciting feature of Swiftlane is its ability to increase property value. By offering these modern tech amenities, Helge Capital could charge higher rents—on average, $25 more per unit per month. For a building with 200 units, that’s an additional $60,000 per year.
The Synergy: Combining Data and Security for a Competitive Edge
By implementing both Distilyze and Swiftlane, Helge Capital positioned itself as a forward-thinking player in the real estate market. The combination of predictive analytics and modern access control created a streamlined, efficient system that benefited both the company and its tenants.
Here’s a summary of the key achievements:
- Portfolio value increased by $7 million in just seven months.
- Hundreds of hours saved in manual reporting and data analysis.
- Tenant experience improved with secure, seamless access systems.
- Operating costs reduced by eliminating the need for expensive landline-based callboxes and cutting down on service calls.
What’s Next for Helge Capital?
Helge Capital’s partnership with Distilyze and Swiftlane has laid a strong foundation for future growth. The company has modernized its operations and enhanced its properties, making it more attractive to tenants and investors alike.
As Helge Capital continues to grow, both Distilyze and Swiftlane will play key roles in supporting that growth. Distilyze’s predictive analytics and Swiftlane’s cutting-edge security technology are scalable solutions that will help the company remain competitive in an increasingly tech-driven real estate market.