Technology has become so much of a part of our world that it’s easy to forget how much life has changed since the development of the internet and the invention of smartphones. The explosion of real estate tech offers seemingly endless opportunities for agents to create new efficiencies and grow their businesses faster than before. But which combination of marketing apps, CRMs and other programs yields the biggest return? The best real estate tech stack doesn’t truly exist because every agent has their own tech needs. That’s why we release our tech-focused issue every year to provide a roadmap on which tech solutions are working for top agents across Chicagoland. Whether you’re just getting started or in dire need of an upgrade, this is the issue that has something for everyone.

We keep our focus on tech with this month’s Technically Speaking column, which gives a crash course in AI and how you can automate your business with chatbots. Can artificially intelligent robots give your business a boost? We give the pros and cons on this increasingly popular technology. Tech tools aren’t just about marketing and growing your business, though, as we learn in this month’s Association News column how the Women’s Council of REALTORS® created new tools to help its members reconnect following the pandemic. We also shift away from the topic of tech tools this month with a feature on how the desirability of a community can attract or dissuade new buyers. It’s not just good schools and low crime that are driving buyer preferences, our Real Issues feature discovers.

Is there a particular app or tech suite we should be reviewing? Drop us a line and give us the scoop at [email protected].