RETS Implementation Best Practices RETS Implementation Practices q

RETS Implementation Best Practices RETS Implementation Practices q Business Case q RETS Features q RETS vs. FTP q Best Practices Kevin Mc. Queen Yogi Schulz File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 1

Business Case RETS Implementation Practices q Focal point of the RETS implementation q Match RETS capabilities to the business problem q Identify tangible & intangible benefits q Don’t over-sell Highest benefit area is service to data customers Define scope as explicitly as possible File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 2

Potential MLS Data Management Features RETS Implementation Practices q Control who has access to what data: – Implement role-based permissions – Track/report data usage q Provide real-time data access – Load listings once for multiple uses q Support site-specific business rules – Strengthen data quality/data integrity q Improve operational management tools Recommendation: Rank feature importance File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 3

Security RETS Implementation Practices q Document your security requirements: – Statutory security – Physical security of system – Software security of system q Evaluate the cost/benefit of encryption q Define level of auditing and logging Great resource: REALTOR® Secure White Papers & Executive Briefs www. realtor. org/crtsecure. nsf/pages/whitepapers? Open. Document Recommendation: Define the security requirements at the beginning File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 4

RETS Advantages compared to FTP RETS Implementation Practices q Real-time data feed for broker web sites & data customers q More data access options: – – User agent security, role-based permissions Simplified adaptation to change Metadata enables multiple views of MLS data MLS control over mis-use q Usage tracking capabilities q Data customers restricted to queries within authorized view of the MLS data More flexibility and capability File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 5

FTP Disadvantages compared to RETS Implementation Practices q FTP is not as secure as RETS – Userid/password only q Many FTP files to manage – Unique requirements create many files q Lack of data currency – Typically updated only once or twice per day q High cost/impact of change – MLS data model changes create programming effort More operational complexity File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 6

RETS Data Customers Best Practices Topics RETS Implementation Practices q Existing Services: – – – Default MLS client IDX/VOW Brokerages Other MLS clients Realtor. com Newspapers/book publishers q New Services – value to Realtors®: – Multiple choices for default MLS client – Multiple choices for desktop, laptop or pda client – Data aggregation – Marketing tools Recommendation: Support new software and services only via RETS File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 7

RETS Impact on Existing Data Customers RETS Implementation Practices q Will require changes to their applications to use RETS q May have a sense that MLS is “off-loading” work to them q 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 File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 8

Conclusion RETS Implementation Practices q RETS benefits will add value for your MLS q Implementations encounter many modest hurdles – All have been successfully overcome q Project implementation best practices: – a few are RETS specific – majority of the best practices address the common system implementation issues File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 9

Topic Summary RETS Implementation Practices q RETS offers many benefits, but faces many of the common systems implementation challenges q Learning curve is real – Many resources available to help q Business case must drive the use of technology File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 10

RETS Data Customers Resources and Skills RETS Implementation Practices q The RETS service will change business practices q 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 File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 11

Implementation Project Reward RETS Implementation Practices File: 05_RETS_Implementation_Best_Practices. PPT 12