HubOnline launched their revamped system aiming to clean up the interface to make it easier for their clients to manage their online listings and contact management system (CRM).
HubOnline is a wholly owned subsidiary of realestate.com.au and therefore have the unenviable task of trying to combine all of their offerings into one system. For the most part this new overhaul makes for a cleaner interface, although under the hood it looks pretty much the same as the old system. ( I may be wrong)
That being said, there have been some nice additions, particularly in the reporting and navigation. Help and Support seems to have been better placed throughout the site. Overall the new system looks feels alot better, and hopefully for HubOnline this will lead to a growth in the use of their systems as they face stiff competition from MyDesktop, Portplus and other systems.
The biggest problem HubOnline will have in the future is convincing REA to reinvest in this company as they have apparently cut back on staff in the past months at a time when they were starting to publish some nice work.
You can download the full release here [PDF File 870 kb]
9 Comments
Paddy
Peter, the new interface appears to have ‘borrowed’ the business2 user interface colour scheme and elements of the look and feel.
Imitation is the best form of flattery hey Peter?
Given their announcement (see here http://www.business2.com.au/2008/12/09/some-changes-at-hubonline-from-realestatecomau/) the fact that nothing has changed under the hood is not surprising.
You do wonder how much they spent on their R&D project to come up with this latest interface.
“Some of you know that we have had an R&D project underway that would have eventually resulted in a newer version of HubOnline on a different platform”
Paul Devine
Call me old fashioned, I still prefer A good old winforms/cocoa application over a web app any day of the week. 🙂
craig pontey
stick to Domain.com.au products at least Domain seem to care and there follow up and service eats REA
PaulD
Maybe in the Eastern Suburbs and Lower North Shore Craig, but that aint the whole world you know — or do you ??
Sal Espro
Hey, Peter, do you know what happened to my comment that was ‘in here’ yesterday ??
Sal
Peter Ricci
Hi Sal, just had a look and it is not here. not even in SPAM comments.
Peter Ricci
Sal, here is one http://www.business2.com.au/2009/03/23/rpdata-and-realestatecomau-enter-a-new-strategic-alliance/#comment-76999
Sal Espro
Thanx and never mind, Peter.
It was something like advising you to not get too ‘het-up’ about REA/Hubonline/Renet et al and keep pressuring Google to get their act into gear so we can blow ’em and their arrogant rip-offs all away! 🙂
There was also a Ps that online listings management tools (provision of uploading, listings management, reporting by agent by office, etc etc) is a commodity and pretty easy to move between suppliers. e.g. We use one for $hundreds per year as distinct from many $thousands per year! and it looks like it’s a lot easier to use than Hubonline!
Old and penny-wise.
Sal 🙂
Peter Ricci
Ha, never mind, REA doing special deals with other providers does not particularly concern me, makes it difficult for them long term if they are not level with everyone.
As for listings management pricing, yes there are many offerings. I think the software could be cheap, but we all know people pay extra for good service.