{"id":12858,"date":"2020-04-29T22:40:19","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T02:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/zillow-falling-flat-during-this-covid-19-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2020-04-29T22:40:19","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T02:40:19","slug":"zillow-falling-flat-during-this-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/zillow-falling-flat-during-this-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Zillow Falling Flat During this COVID-19 Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cNever let a good crisis go to waste.\u201d – Winston Churchill<\/em><\/p>\n

If only Zillow had the same mentality as Churchill during this global pandemic their actions might have led to a different strategy than the one they are currently pursuing.<\/p>\n

Zillow Offers, like fellow real estate startups, Redfin and Opendoor, have decided to temporarily pause making offers on homes while halting open houses in all markets. With an inventory of over 1,800 homes as of March 2020, a 31% decline in homes at the end of 2019, Zillow had proactively slowed its home-buying pace in preparation for the potential balance sheet impact from this new normal1<\/sup>. While most of the United States is under emergency orders requiring people to stay at home and closing all non-essential businesses, including some real estate-related activities, it has not completely suspended Zillow\u2019s business model as homes are still being marketed and sold on the platform.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

However, there is an opportunity now to accelerate down the path transforming digitally, which Zillow has been known for since inception, to differentiate and excel going forward. As a result, I want to propose several steps Zillow can take to be able to come out of this pandemic in the best possible position.<\/p>\n

Continue to develop a digital technology muscle:<\/u><\/p>\n

As consumers buying behaviors and patterns are altered by this pandemic, Zillow should begin to heavily invest in bringing a seamless home buying experience into the hands of consumers. With the significant advancement of AR\/VR technologies, Zillow is uniquely positioned to incorporate these technologies into both the home buying and home selling process. By using AR\/VR, Zillow will be able to allow consumers during the pandemic to virtually experience homes using high-quality content, which they would otherwise be unable to visit in person2<\/sup>. This added feature\/functionality could be monetized on the platform as it provides added convenience for homebuyers by enabling them to visit multiple properties in a day compared to driving around a city for an entire day on housing visits. Likewise, this further helps remove the incentive of disintermediation from the picture because consumers have already committed a minor amount financially to the use of this platform, which could even be recouped once a home is purchased.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

In addition, other technological changes can be applied across the house buying process and do not require as much capital investment such as keyless entries. We have already seen numerous applications of this technology including in hotels to eliminate check-in frictions and minimize the need for human interaction, as mandated through various social distancing protocols. Conversely, keyless entries reduce the need to have several agents with packed schedules in the field showing units to potential home buyers, therefore reducing overhead and operating costs.<\/p>\n

The use of these types of technologies not only enhances the home buying and selling experience during this pandemic but provides Zillow with a differentiated consumer experience, which will serve them well in the years to come.<\/p>\n

Leverage data analytics to enhance pricing: <\/u><\/p>\n

Although consumers are limited in their ability to leave their homes and are sequestered in place it does not mean life as we know it has stopped. For one, there are still bills to be paid, jobs to start\/stop and ongoing life changes to deal with. All these constants in consumers live paired with the current unknown and low interest rates should be an opportunity for Zillow to enhance their proprietary pricing algorithm to find better housing deals. In addition, Zillow should consider adding additional data sets into their pricing algorithm specifically to target cities or communities where jobs are starting\/stopping to enhance home buying based on the evolving consumer needs. They have a role to play for consumers now more than ever to facilitate capital flow to consumers in a liquidity need while bolstering their inventory to supply the transient consumer base. By refining their data analytics during these times high-value properties can be acquired for eventually higher margin sales.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Create a robust innovation funnel:<\/u><\/p>\n

To continue to innovate and develop products and services to consumers Zillow must evolve the organizational structure to one centered around innovation. Economic situations, like today\u2019s current state, caused by external forces may continue in some capacity in the future and as a result, the organization has to be ready to go to market with other transformational offerings to deliver and capture value. To be adequately positioned to do so Zillow should foster a culture of innovation complemented with the capabilities of rapidly prototyping and testing ideas in support of the customer journey. Likewise, by launching internal and external crowdsourcing challenges Zillow will be able to leverage the power of internal expertise while tapping into the broader consumer experience to identify potential opportunities. In addition, Zillow can develop innovation centers in various geographical locations to bring consumers in house to assist with product testing and feedback gathering to help adjust solutions in real-time before significant capital expenditure.<\/p>\n

Never let a good crisis go to waste:<\/u><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s new normal should be used as a catalyst to jump forward with organizational changes, digital transformations, and previously paused initiatives all to help bridge the divide from what we as consumers have been used to and where industries are heading thanks to the digital revolution. Zillow should be no different and are positioned to rethink the current pandemic strategy and leverage its technical expertise to come out a winner, not a stagnant real-estate tech company.<\/p>\n

Sources:<\/u><\/p>\n

1 https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2020\/03\/23\/zillow-suspends-home-buying-due-to-covid-19\/<\/a><\/p>\n

2 https:\/\/www.aithority.com\/guest-authors\/how-ar-and-vr-are-changing-the-real-estate-industry\/<\/u><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cNever let a good crisis go to waste.\u201d – Winston Churchill If only Zillow had the same mentality as Churchill during this global pandemic their actions might have led to a different strategy than the one they are currently pursuing. 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