Gmaven

08/10/2024

The true value of SA's commercial property: R1.92 trillion!
Unlock hidden opportunities across the country.
🏢🏗💰

21/06/2022

Now live 🎉 From Gmaven, you can efficiently push both vacancies and properties for sale straight through to the listing portals.

No more time-wasting manual capture, hands work errors, or risk of low quality listings.

⚡We automatically handle your CRE data, transforming it into a portal friendly format.
⚡We tell you what you need to do to rank on the portals.
⚡Then you push a button, and your stock goes live.

Reach out to us if you'd like to get started

14/12/2021

The numbers are out: where a CRE brokers bills more than R12,900 or $800 / month, on average, proptech can supercharge CRE brokerage profits.
But where a deal maker's earnings are less, proptech will cost more than it brings in.

CRE is an industry where earnings on individual deals can range from R10K to millions of Rands. CRE professionals "sell time". Their opportunity cost of time is significant. Proptech reduces the time spent on non-revenue generating admin.

For the maths and a link to the workings, see this piece.

We:
- Unpack the economic concept of opportunity cost, and apply it to CRE
- Give hard numbers on the impact proptech has on high-, medium- and low-earning CRE brokerages
- Work out how proptech reduces admin time by almost 60%, from over 6 working days every month (out of 21)
- Go deeper into how much time is wasted if brokers, themselves, are capturing vacant stock
- Look at the inefficiency of back office personnel managing vacant stock

For industry insiders jaded by theory, we aim to provide a refreshing data-driven take. These are hard numbers, based on a dynamic and interactive model, gleaned from our time with many of SA's finest CRE brokerages

How the best CRE brokerages are applying the economic principle of opportunity cost to automate, outsource and focus. The result: higher profits, happier staff. We go from the theoretical to the practical, unpacking this in hard numbers.

14/11/2021

A solutions chain is only as strong as its weakest link - and this is apt for Africa. Africa's development has been held back by major challenges. Technology promises to disrupt these challenges, and turn Africa's former weaknesses into opportunity.
can play its part, and benefit handsomely too.

From our experience, we explore how the forces of Africa challenges, technology, financial incentives and commercial real estate intersect. And ultimately result in net positive outcomes - for good, ambitious, hard-working Africans - and for those companies looking to take advantage of remote work.

The good news: all of this appears possible by the private sector, is not solely dependent on aid or handouts, and is aided by the powerful disruptive force that is tech.

This, for a change, is less , and more welfare, positive outcomes focused. We hope you love the read!

Africa’s resources have historically come from below the ground. Tech is solving old problems and unlocking the talent and ambition of our continent's humans. Africa 2.0's assets are now above the ground

16/09/2021

What do data engineers know that many professionals in the commercial real estate (CRE) industry don't?
We share this "secret" information.
Our goal: the industry can start using data more effectively. More data projects can end up successful.
The end result: a more efficient and fair industry - with less soul-crushing admin for insiders, and better service to outsiders.
Hope you find the read useful.

We unpack why our industry is lagging in data - to its great detriment, and despite the obvious incentives. We also share knowledge not commonly known outside of data engineering circles (likely "common sense" to CRE professionals). Then we provide a roadmap explaining what can be done about it

25/08/2021

We hear the data oil / gold saying in property a lot. But what does it actually mean?
On any commercial real estate (CRE) transaction, with your "average" CRE professional, there is a flurry of data activity happening "under the bonnet".
Far more than you would expect, and most of it required to make a deal, any deal simple.

We try answer these questions:
- Is CRE data *really* more complex?
- What are future pressures on our industry?
- Where is the industry’s CRE data at now?
- How are businesses responding?
- How do strategies play out?
- What is the dark side of our “now state”?
..and, in so doing, hopefully unpack why the saying is so relevant

We move away from vague generalities, and go into specific points on why CRE data is complex. We also unpack: Where is CRE data, what does the road ahead look like? What are CRE businesses doing about it, and how does it play out? How is the CRE industry coping (or not) now?

12/08/2021

Because of data, commercial real estate (CRE) professionals waste much of their days doing manual work. This robs precious time from doing deals and providing better customer service.

That's why sadly, in 2021, many data workers are operating like pre-industrial revolution artisans. The good news: new efficiency tools are powering CRE professionals to operate in the modern age, and compete on a level footing.

Thanks to technology, it feels like CRE's version of an industrial revolution has arrived. This is an exciting time for industry insiders and outsiders alike!

The current soul-crushing admin that most highly skilled CRE professionals have to endure for at least 30% of their days. Is it a thing? How is our "now state" similar to pre-industrial revolution business? Is there hope of change?

10/05/2021

Who we are:
Gmaven is a business bringing fairness to the commercial real estate (CRE) industry, and helping the professionals working in it be more efficient.

We allow the best CRE businesses to better manage their data, and we layer this with tools that help people do steps in button clicks instead of hours. We support transparency, and believe in educating and supporting both our clients, and the wider industry customers (tenants).

Overview of the job position:
We are looking for an ambitious GIS professional with the discipline to run an existing process (as part of a phase 1), and the creativity, initiative and intelligence to reduce the existing handswork by at least 75% (phase 2). If successful in this project, we have higher responsibility, higher-paying roles thereafter (phase 3).

Commercial property funds or property managers periodically (monthly, bi-monthly) send, via email, a list of all the vacant units in their portfolio (known as a vacancy schedule) for us to capture. After capturing the information we make it available directly through our system to broker clients.

Duties and responsibilities:
Keep Gmaven's vacancy feed up to date
Review and import data captured daily (by external team)
Review rules and logic that govern data import process
Use SQL / PostgreSQL to manage and sort through relevant data
Use queries to cross check data quality and correctness
Review captured data with source of truth
Keep capture sheets up to date (Google Sheets)
Review and resolve queries related to the commercial real estate industry
Take responsibility to increase Gmaven's coverage of data processed.
Use scripting languages to automate processes
Use GIS tools to improve and automate processes
Communicate clearly with providers of the vacancy schedules to ensure Gmaven data is continuously up to date

Qualification:
Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Geographic Information Systems or other related degrees.

Technical requirements:
Strong system-driven approach to task delivery (with the ability to think algorithmically and flowchart processes)
Comfortable with implementing GIS related tools: QGIS, Google Earth, etc.
Comfortable with basic scripting tools. Languages e.g. Python, Google App Script
Junior level experience with databases (MS SQL, postgresQL)
Proficient computer skills, especially Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets
Experience with Google Docs / Word and or related tools
Excellent English reading and writing and strong comprehension abilities
Experience in CRE industry (nice to have, but can be trained)

“Soft” requirements:
High levels of agency or initiative / pro-activity
Demonstrated ability and passion for learning and up-skilling
Great concentration abilities, strong attention to detail, tenacious, meticulous and excellence-obsessed
Self-directed and able to work without supervision
Great time management skills
Great organisational skills - with a passion for efficiency and automation

There are three phases to this job:
Phase 1: Take responsibility for the entire process. This includes the un-glamorous, time-intensive role of importing data, reviewing and resolving CRE related queries, running data quality audit checks, reaching out to property funds and ensuring we keep to capturing timing and accuracy requirements. Assist in adhoc data “handsworker” projects (learning practically about our CRE and data domain).

Phase 2: Document the current processes and business rules. Identify opportunities to automate and systemise. Provide clear requirements and work with our engineering team to achieve this automation to reduce the management overhead in phase 1 by at least 75%

Phase 3: As a result of the domain IP and experience acquired, move on to other process automation projects, using the same process. Gain knowledge by practical application, document and systemise, hand over to the engineering team to automate, repeat.

29/03/2021

If you or one of your mates are thinking about updating or building a new commercial real estate (CRE) website, this hard-won info is for you.

When it comes to websites, we have seen more expensive failures than successes. The sad thing, 99% of the time, these failures are not anybody's specific fault.
The good news: the pain is avoidable.

The bullet points on why websites fail is here:

1. A website actually sits on top a Pandora's Box of hidden or not obvious business needs
2. It's very easy to underestimate of complexity - which results in bad strategy decisions, or under-funding
3. One of these six (not obvious) links in the CRE website provider skills chain is missing
4. The tendency to under-plan - the result, decision-makers (i.e. you) are not supported with the right information, in the right order
5. Building the wrong thing (due to the complexity of commercial property)

In this article we also unpack the solutions. Some of them are obvious - to asking the right questions. Other solutions are less obvious (for example around your "unconscious competence" in CRE).

We hope this helps

We have seen more CRE website failures than we should have. These failures are expensive, time consuming and terrible for the reputation of those involved. Here is our stab at laying out the pitfalls. We unpack where things go wrong, but, most importantly provide, in our opinion, the questions to as...

19/02/2021

As a, tenant or potential buyer, which of these myths about renting or buying commercial real estate (CRE) in South Africa have you been led to believe?
We shine a light on 7 of the most common, and risky to you.

As a CRE outsider, sitting on the "buy side", you have the power to choose. Armed with insider knowledge, you can make better decisions, see stronger efficiencies, and have a fairer experience.

For example, one of the solutions: "beauty parading" service providers, is controversial. But, provided your transaction is significant, and your process is both fair and efficient, you will do better deals and find the best CRE professionals welcoming the competition.

The truths exposed:
1) There is no "exclusivity" on space to let
2) Running multiple brokers on a deal is bad
3) CRE is tough - we give you some terms to figure out any possible "unknown unknowns"
4) The value of commissions paid on leasing deals
5) The quality of the individual and their tools and data is worth more to you than brands
6) DIY in CRE generally ends in pain, and why
7) "Going direct" is not always cheaper, and service provider integrity is critical

As the saying goes: "sunlight is the best disinfectant”. We wish you good luck!

"Evil prevails when good men stand by and do nothing". Here is our attempt, for CRE industry outsiders in South Africa, at "pulling back the veil" on our industry. The more informed you as customer are, the easier it is to identify and work with ethical and honourable CRE professionals. Excellent se...

03/02/2021

Q: What is one thing that 95% of the world's businesses have in common?

A: They operate out of commercial real estate (CRE), e.g. industrial, office, retail, and need to make CRE business decisions.

The problem - to tenants or occupiers - CRE is jargon-filled, complex and intimidating. Result: leasing and sales processes are ripe with inefficiency and stress - for industry outsiders, and our clients, alike.

Have you ever wondered what is TIA, CRES, GLA, WALE, OTL and shadow space? what is the difference between gross and net rentals? how do you get to a parking ratio? what are "operating costs"? how are leasing commissions calculated? what is the difference between a property manager and property fund? what does tenant covenant mean?

To remove the mystery, help settle debates and answer these questions and more, here is a handy upskilling guide. We can't guarantee this will put you at the same level as CRE professionals (with their hard-earned 10,000 hours), but we promise you will feel more comfortable in approaching CRE decisions and interactions.

If there are terms missing from the below, please let us know, and we will be happy to add. Good luck!

Welcome to a dictionary dedicated to commercial real estate. This CRE dictionary provides a "one-stop knowledge shop" for both industry insiders & outsiders

18/12/2020

What a year 2020 has been... It has certainly been hard, but, as say they say, diamonds form under pressure. We have seen industry leaders making great decisions, and businesses are more efficient than this time last year. Thank you to everyone for your support, and we wish you a great break