We specialize in monetizing tehnology assets in CRE: OpticWise

It appears that most people agree that technology is the future. All industries, including real estate, are affected by this. It is also acknowledged that those who do not use or adapt to technology will quickly fall behind. They are strongly advised to leverage proptech to stay current and to maximize NOI.

Proptech encompasses so many facets of real estate that trying to avoid it or participate in the sector without using it will probably leave you in the dark. Proptech includes every area of real estate including finance, new construction, leasing, operations, etc and covers both rental and owned properties; and it applies globally.

We introduce you to OpticWise. They help office and apartment owners derive profits from their technology assets. The company uses in-building infrastructure and connectivity to improve build & operations costs while providing mobile, private, and secure access to any technology.

We had a conversation with Bill Douglas, CEO, for better understanding of the company. 

Q. Why was OpticWise established? How did the company become the behemoth that it is today?

OpticWise was founded nearly 19 years ago to solve network problems for multitenant real estate. We made a shift 7 years ago to focus entirely on apartments and office buildings, investing heavily in the SaaS platform that provides our unique 5S^® user experience. CRE owners and tenants value what OpticWise provides, particularly the security and privacy, and that has been the underlying force behind our growth.

Q. What distinguishes the company from its competitors?

It comes down to the 5S^® user experience:

• seamless mobility
• security
• speed
• stability
• service

Add to that the Ultimate Privacy Policy for users and the Building of Things^® strategies to drive NOI for owners. These are why we stand out in our markets.

Q. What are the company’s core values and principles?

Our core values revolve around constant improvement, accountability, competition, and celebration. The premise of our principles are to take care of clients, users, and team members while always improving clients’ asset performance as well as users’ lives.

Q. What distinguishes OpticWise’s modern office and home network solutions from the rest of the market?

By spoiling and protecting users, providing new revenue streams for owners, and operating secure, resilient digital infrastructures, our clients benefit from market differentiation, increased income, and control of systems & data.

Q. How can OpticWise’s Building of Things^® strategies and SIC^® infrastructures assist customers in increasing their revenue and profit margins?

Twofold: Reduced operating expenses coupled with increased revenues. 

Both of these significantly impact clients’ NOI. Our clients are consistently impressed with the financial impact of monetizing their technology assets.

Q. What have been some of the company’s difficulties over the years? What are some of the most important lessons learned from these challenges?

Early difficulties were with market penetration. Commercial real estate isn’t exactly a fast-moving industry, so early adoption was slow and typically relegated to younger owners that weren’t afraid of technology.

When clients began trading properties in which they’d engaged OpticWise, they fully realized the magnitude of the rewards for monetizing their technology assets. It is a beautiful thing when a client recognizes your value, thanks you, and engages you on even more properties. That simply took time.

The lessons learned were patience and listening. Clients know the market, we must listen. And, we can only move as fast as they dictate. 

Q. What are OpticWise’s long-term goals?

We intend to drive further ahead with new initiatives, setting standards across the industry and benefitting everyone, not just our clients. International expansion is also on the horizon.

Meet the luminary

Bill Douglas is currently the CEO of OpticWise and a proptech visionary focused on monetizing technology assets for commercial real estate. He’s a lifetime entrepreneur, having started, sold, acquired, and exited multiple businesses. He’s a mechanical engineering graduate from Georgia Tech and the Entrepreneurial Master’s Program at MIT.

Drew Hall, OpticWise founder and Chief Systems Architect, is an expert in network technologies. A graduate of Baylor University, his resume includes the U.S. Department of the Interior and IBM.

“Our clients become empowered with premium positioning, financial leverage, and digital ownership.”