How Gray & Toynbee found a tech solution that "uses automation in the right way"

The business uses technology to provide an efficient and compliant service - and bring it closer to its customers.

The problem: Creating a scalable business

New businesses must look to the future, and establishing scalability is paramount. Technology is the best way to ensure your business has the right foundations, to match the planned growth of the new business's activities.

When starting Gray and Toynbee, Chris was in the enviable position of having experienced different technologies in previous roles, giving him a strong understanding of what works, and what doesn't.

"We chose software packages that could help us scale pretty quickly, such as Goodlord and our property management software," says Chris. "We have a pretty solid roadmap for the business in our first 12 months. We hope we can achieve it."

Deciding on the right solution

Choosing the right RentTech solution is therefore an important and strategic decision. It can also help a new business do more with fewer people. This is where technologies offering an automated process can help.

"Goodlord uses automation in the right way," says Chris. "We didn't want to use technology to separate us from our clients, but to give us more time with them. It allows us to focus on generating more business or more revenue, and improving the business."

The result: Cost savings and more revenue generated

Using software to help support existing team members to do their jobs more quickly and effectively can also mean each team member can get far more work done - which leads to another cost saving.

"In our last place, given the volume of work we were doing, we probably saved on at least one or two lettings negotiators, in terms of savings and everything being automated, and online," Chris says. "Depending on the size of the organisation, it can be quite significant."

Goodlord aims to save letting agents and tenants time in the rental process too, helping tenants to complete their tenancy applications from anywhere, with an efficient, automated process. And, as everyone knows, time is money.

"I used Goodlord a lot in my previous role, where we could process more applications in such an efficient manner," says Chris.

"That's one of the top ways it helps us to generate revenue - not simply with extra Goodlord tenant services or the rent protection add-ons which contribute more directly."

Product highlight: A transparent referencing process

Keeping track of your tenants' references can be hard work. There are a lot of steps in the process and knowing when to chase for details or when to proceed to the next stage requires strong organisational skills - unless you have the support of a tech solution.

"The visibility in the referencing process [is my favourite Goodlord feature]," says Chris. "We'll often get questions from tenants as to how things are going or what stage they're at.

"We can log in quickly and see exactly what's happening with Goodlord. The updates from the referencing team are really good. The platform allows us to keep a really close eye on how the tenancies are progressing."