1. RETS MLS Support Seminar
RETS Introduction
2005 REALTORS® Conference & Expo Presenters: Kevin McQueen & Yogi Schulz
11/29/2018
RETS
MLS Support
Seminar
My name is Yogi Schulz
This is my associate and co-presenter Kevin McQueen
Welcome to the RETS MLS Support Staff Seminar
Kevin and I want to recognize the support of the National Association of Realtors who encouraged the development of this seminar
NAR has paid for the development and for the delivery of this seminar
Without NAR’s encouragement and financial support, we would not be able to produce this seminar and help you accelerate your learning about RETS overall, effective operation for RETS and RETS benefits
We expect you’ll find the afternoon insightful and packed with useful information to guide your use of RETS
We look forward to your active participation
We do not intend to simply drone on all afternoon
Please feel free to interrupt with questions or comments throughout the afternoon
Please don’t feel obligated to wait for particular breaks
Kevin McQueen
Yogi Schulz
29 October 2005
Copyright © 2005 NAR
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2. Housekeeping Items Refreshments Facilities Messages
RETS Introduction
Housekeeping Items
11/29/2018
But first, lets quickly deal with a few housekeeping items.
Refreshments
Facilities
Messages
Cellular phones & beepers
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3. Timeline for the Seminar
RETS Introduction
Timeline for the Seminar
11/29/2018
10:00 a.m. Start
11:30 a.m. Finish
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4. Yogi Schulz Biography President - Corvelle Management Consultants
RETS Introduction
Yogi Schulz Biography
11/29/2018
Management Consultants
President - Corvelle Management Consultants
Information technology related management consulting
Project management and systems development
Computing Canada & Calgary Herald columnist
Industry presenter:
Project World - 4 years
CIPS Informatics - 7 years
PMI - Information Systems SIG - 2 years
Convergence - 4 years
Who am I?
I’m the President of Corvelle Management Consultants
We offer information technology related management consulting
We have executed many project management and systems development assignments for our clients.
I’ve worked as an information systems consultant for 25 years. Much of my experience comes from the oil & gas industry. I founded Corvelle Management Consultants with a focus on Information Technology consulting 10 years ago at the beginning of 1995.
From , I worked on the MRIS Cornerstone MLS system project. This system makes significant use of RETS.
I have written many columns for Computing Canada. These columns have tended to focus on project management and systems development themes. The audience is composed largely of IT executives and managers.
I also write columns for the Calgary Herald. These columns have tended to describe the impact of IT developments for a general audience of business managers.
I’ve participated in many industry conferences as a presenter:
Project World - 4 years
CIPS Informatics - 7 years
PMI - Information Systems SIG - 2 years
Convergence - 4 years
CIO Summit - 1 year
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5. Kevin McQueen Biography
RETS Introduction
Kevin McQueen Biography
11/29/2018
Kevin: Please introduce yourself
President Focus Forward Consulting, Inc.
Committed advisor to real estate industry for 22 years
MLS vendor BORIS + Regional MLS CEO Realcomp
Survived more than 130 system conversions
Champion RETS Marketing Communications
Serves MLSs, Associations, Software Providers, Brokerages
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6. Seminar Objectives Enhance knowledge of RETS
RETS Introduction
Seminar Objectives
11/29/2018
Our objectives for the RETS MLS seminar day we’re spending together include:
Enhance knowledge of RETS
Some of us have worked with RETS already; many here today haven’t but are about to start
Today we want you to build an understanding of what RETS is and how it works
Perhaps equally important, we want you to build an understanding of what RETS isn’t
Enable informed decision about use of RETS
This objective is perhaps more important to non-adopters. What should be the basis for a decision to adopt RETS?
We want you to become capable of making an informed decision about use of RETS and how it will impact their organization & customers
We want to correct any misperceptions about RETS that may be floating around
Learn solutions to common RETS implementation and operational issues
We’re all aware of MLS system implementaiton projects that have not gone well
Today we want to describe some best practices to improve implementation projects
We’ve all observed frazzled MLS support staff
Today we want to discuss some operational best practices that improve service levels and reduce staff stress
Recommend strategies for improving MLS operation using RETS
RETS can improve data accessibility for MLS data customers
What are the strategies for achieving improved data accessibility?
Explore the RETS resources that support MLS operations
To assist MLS support staff, there a number of RETS resources we want you to know about
Overall, our objectives today are to improve our effectiveness RETS support
Enhance knowledge of RETS
Enable informed decision about use of RETS
Learn solutions to common RETS implementation and operational issues
Recommend strategies for improving MLS operation using RETS
Explore the RETS resources that support MLS operation
Improve effectiveness of RETS support
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7. Any specific expectations for the day?
RETS Introduction
Who is Here Today?
11/29/2018
Quick Poll
We now want to spend a few minutes to conduct an informal survey of who is in the audience today
Who is from these types of organization?
What role do you have in your organization?
Who is using RETS now?
Do you have any specific goals & expectations for today’s seminar?
I’ll write them down on the flipchart
Organization:
MLS
MLS software/services vendor
3rd Party software vendor
Brokerage
Realtor
Other
Role:
IT operation
MLS management
Association Executive
How many are using RETS now?
Any specific expectations for the day?
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8. RETS enables Interoperability
RETS Introduction
RETS enables Interoperability
11/29/2018
. . .
Client #1
Client #2
Client #3
Client #4
Client #n
The world started with each MLS software vendor offering specific client software that was linked to the vendor’s server solution
The restriction or problem is that every Realtor must make use of the one and only solution for their desktop
Since different Realtors have different priorities, different levels of skill/expertise with technology, one size really does not fit all
RETS enables interoperability
Now a Realtor can choose from among the products of various 3rd party software vendors that are available for his or her particular MLS
Perhaps equally important, the software of a 3rd party software vendors is now appealing to more MLSs, increasing the potential market for the 3rd party software vendors
The effect of the the larger market should be to control license price for the Realtor while increasing revenue and profitability for 3rd party software vendors
. . .
Server #1
Server #2
Server #3
Server #4
Server #n
RETS enables client choice
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9. Presentation Outline Introduction Yogi Schulz
RETS Introduction
Presentation Outline
11/29/2018
Here’s a summary of the major topics we’ll discuss today:
Introduction Yogi
As you can see, I’m starting off the seminar today
RETS overview & value proposition Yogi
I’ll provide the the overview of what RETS is all about with a focus on where RETS provides value for various stakeholders in the real estate industry
RETS implementation best practices Yogi Schulz
Then I’ll provide a detailed look at RETS implementation issues and solutions that most MLSs and RETS implementors encounter
MLS data management Kevin McQueen
Then we’ll turn the time over to Kevin
Kevin will talk about best practices for MLSs to manage the data that the real estate industry depends on
RETS security Kevin McQueen
Kevin will describe how RETS helps MLS implement and operate a secure data environment
RETS support for the MLS Kevin McQueen
Kevin will discuss how to support RETS in the MLS operational environment
RETS resources Yogi Schulz
Then I’ll come back to describe resources that are available to you after we finish the seminar because further questions are bound to arise
Conclusion Yogi Schulz
I will then wrap up with some conclusions
Introduction Yogi Schulz
RETS overview & value proposition Yogi Schulz
RETS implementation best practices Yogi Schulz
MLS data management Kevin McQueen
Security & best practices Kevin McQueen
RETS resources Yogi Schulz
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10. Evolution of Standards
RETS Introduction
Evolution of Standards
11/29/2018
Story: Standards live forever
The widely-employed Standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number.
Why was that gauge used in much of the world? Because that's the way railroads were built in England, and the many railroads were built by English expatriates.
Why did the English engineers build railroads like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad horse drawn tramways, and that's the gauge they used.
Why did the tramways use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons,which used that wheel spacing. Okay!
Why did the wagons use that odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing the wagons would break on many of the old, long distance roads, because that's the spacing of the old wheel ruts.
So who built these old rutted roads? The first long distance roads in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been used ever since. And the ruts? The initial ruts, which everyone else had to match for fear of destroying their wagons, were first made by Roman war chariots. Since the chariots were made for or by Imperial Rome they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing.
Thus, we have the answer to the original questions. The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman army war chariot. Specs and bureaucracies live forever.
Why were the Roman army war chariot 4 feet, 8.5 inches wide? Because the Imperial Roman chariots were made to be just wide enough to accommodate the back-ends of two war horses.
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11. Internet Security D20040111 RETS Introduction 11/29/2018
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