File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices.PPT 1 RETS Implementation Practices RETS Implementation Best Practices Business Case Project Start-up Resource

File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices.PPT 1

RETS Implementation Practices

RETSImplementation Best Practices

Business Case

Project Start-up

Resource Identification

RETS Service Provider

RETS Data Customer

Project Execution

Kevin McQueen Yogi Schulz



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



Resource Allocation

Determine internal versus outsourced resources:– Training

– Help desk

– RETS support

– Statistical and other report generation

– MLS service computing infrastructure



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



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



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?



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



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



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



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



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



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



Implementation ProjectReward

Documents

File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices.PPT 1 RETS Implementation Practices RETS Implementation Best Practices Business Case Project Start-up Resource