
The Summary of the Panel 11/A: MLSs as App/Service Stores
At the MLS International Forum in Italy, the panel MLSs as App/Service Stores provided valuable insights into the evolving role of Multiple Listing Services (MLS) in today’s real estate landscape.
The panel featured experts from across North America: Lynette Keyowski (Managing Partner at REACH Canada), Cezar Nasui (CTO at CENTRIS), Annie Ives (CEO at TheMLS/Claw™), and Matthew Embrescia (President at 2nd Generation Ltd). Together, they explored how MLSs are transforming from traditional data-sharing platforms to dynamic technology-driven entities offering services and apps to meet modern real estate needs.
The Evolution of MLS: From Cooperation to Technology
MLSs were initially established to promote cooperation among real estate professionals, ensuring order and regulation in the marketplace. However, as the real estate landscape has grown more complex, so has the role of MLSs. They have evolved into technology companies that not only provide property listings but also develop software solutions tailored to the needs of their members.
Annie Ives, CEO of TheMLS/Claw™, shared her experience with over 30 years in the MLS industry, overseeing the development of tools such as Vesta Plus, a software system created in response to real estate agents’ feedback. This evolution from MLS Pro to Vesta Plus highlights how MLSs are continuously innovating to improve the real estate experience. Ives emphasized that these solutions are developed internally to maintain a strong connection with customer needs through features like internal help desks and marketing teams. The success of these products—ranging from compliance tools to market statistics software—underscores the importance of listening to user feedback and being adaptable.
Flexibility and Integration in Diverse Markets
Cezar Nasui, CTO of CENTRIS, highlighted the importance of flexibility and system integration in Quebec, where CENTRIS serves over 15,000 members. In a market with different systems and languages, adaptability is key. CENTRIS has successfully integrated five distinct systems, not only in Quebec but also expanding to British Columbia and parts of the United States. This flexibility allows them to overcome language and regulatory challenges, a crucial factor when MLSs operate across regions with varying needs.
Nasui’s experience reinforces the need for MLSs to be nimble and responsive to diverse market conditions, while also ensuring that the systems they build can handle different regulations and cultural nuances..
Trust and Authority: The Role of Top-Level Domains
A key discussion point was the importance of trust and authority within MLS systems. Matthew Embrescia, President of 2nd Generation Ltd, stressed the significance of top-level domains like .realtor and .realestate in fostering trust among consumers and professionals. These domains are exclusive to members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) or the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), ensuring that only verified, ethical real estate professionals can use them. This distinction strengthens the credibility of MLSs and enhances consumer confidence.
Balancing Innovation with Member Needs
One of the central challenges discussed was finding the right balance between innovation and meeting the needs of members. The MLS landscape has shifted from a simple rules-based infrastructure to a software-driven entity. Panelists agreed that understanding customer problems and addressing them through technology is critical. This shift requires MLSs to be proactive in their internal development while also evaluating vendor relationships to meet evolving agent needs.
Opportunities and Challenges in MLS Development
The panelists explored both the opportunities and challenges that arise as MLS transitions into a service and app store model. One of the major themes was the balance between innovation and member needs. Lynette Keyowski emphasized the importance of understanding the problems that real estate agents face and ensuring that the solutions provided by MLS platforms evolve from being rule-based infrastructures to more flexible, software-driven organizations.
Disclaimer: This article was created using AI Mindmap technology to summarize and structure the content. While every effort has been made to accurately capture the key
points and discussions, the text may not perfectly match the original content.