Redefining SRI’s Roadmap to Success Featuring CEO Thomas Tan
In the fast-paced world of real estate, having a clear vision and a guiding mantra can make all the difference. We are honoured to meet the CEO of SRI, Thomas Tan, who leads by his personal mantra of “be better every day” throughout his career, as he will share on how he continues to make an impact in the industry and his roadmap to success for the organisation.
Empowering & Professionalising Agents with Data & Insights
With an impressive 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, spanning roles across a real estate agent, an entrepreneur, and an industry trainer, Thomas understands the value of continuous learning and personal growth. He believes that even the smallest steps taken each day can accumulate to significant improvements, and this is what he carries to influence the team at SRI.
When it comes to elevating the team, Thomas believes in harnessing the power of data. SRI diligently collects Big Data and has a dedicated research team that generates valuable insights. Utilising these insights, Thomas, together with the leaders at SRI, educates and trains agents on how to pitch to clients more effectively. By empowering their team members with these data tools, they not only achieve individual success but also uplift the community by sharing relevant industry knowledge that empowers property seekers to transact with greater confidence.
In Thomas’s point of view, motivation comes from the desire to push boundaries and to make a lasting impact on the industry. During his tenure as the president of SEAA from 2017 to 2021, he embarked on a mission to launch an industry-level awards programme. This initiative is aimed at elevating the branding of real estate agents and professionalising the industry. Since its launch in 2019, the awards programme, also known as “SG Real Estate Agents Excellence Award” has recognised numerous outstanding agents and will continue to do so in the future.
Enabling Agents to be More Efficient with Technology & AI-tools
The real estate industry has undergone significant changes pre- and post-pandemic. Thomas highlights the importance of adapting to new circumstances and embracing a growth mindset. In the face of remote interactions and transactions, virtual training has become a crucial tool, allowing for wider accessibility. SRI have successfully implemented a hybrid training approach, combining in-person role play sessions for sales pitching with online informative training sessions.
Looking into the future, Thomas sees the integration of emerging technologies as crucial for SRI’s success. Specifically, he acknowledges the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in lifting productivity and generating property content so SRI agents can engage their clients more meaningfully. AI aids agents who may be less proficient in languages by assisting them to craft listings. However, it is still essential for agents to know how to read data in order to analyse data for their clients. AI serves as a value-added tool to streamline and enhance these processes, improving efficiency and client engagement throughout the property journey. SRI is actively researching on integrating AI into tools that will better assist agents, promising exciting developments to come.
Building Trust with the Community, Guided by Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility
Sustainability and corporate social responsibility play a vital role in shaping the future of the real estate industry. Thomas recognises SRI’s responsibility to contribute, even in small ways, to creating a more sustainable society. Since his appointment in Dec 2023, Thomas has led a few initiatives such as encouraging the use of reusable bottles in the office. As an organisation, he also highlights the importance of practicing inclusive hiring that embraces all gender and race, where he always ensures CVs are screened objectively.
As an active industry trainer, SRI also collaborates with CEA to offer courses on green-building knowledge to agents, so they can share such knowledge when having conversations with consumers and even corporate clients who seek out such developments. Additionally, SRI actively engages in community activities, where the team distributed goodie bags to Punggol residents during this year’s CNY.
Under the guidance of Thomas, the mission of SRI is clear: building trust in the community and delivering with integrity and professionalism. Trust forms the foundation of relationships, both internally among staff and externally with consumers. By prioritising trust, Thomas urges everyone to focus not on doing a multitude of things but on doing the right things, as guided by its culture of ‘It’s All About The Experience’.
This interview is brought to you by Partner360, and we will continue to share more content that empowers your real estate career.
Becoming a better partner for you,
PropertyGuru Team
