How Watch Communications Centralizes Thousands of Commercial Leases
Last Updated on June 4, 2024 by Amanda Lee
With no lease management system, it was nearly impossible for Watch Comms to accurately report on the portfolio or proactively manage renewals.
Contracts would unintentionally lapse, risking revenue and reputation. That’s what prompted Bobby Sample, Site Acquisition Manager, to say “Hey, we have to do something because this is not working.”
Watch Communications is leading the way in providing high-speed internet access across rural America. Since its founding in 2001, Watch Comms has rapidly grown by connecting underserved communities through innovative broadband infrastructure and services. Today, Watch Communications utilizes a network of over 2,000 tower locations to deliver reliable internet access to over 20,000 residential and business customers across 16 states. With expertise in both wireless internet service delivery and infrastructure development, Watch Comms is uniquely positioned to expand broadband access to bridge the digital divide.
As both an internet service provider and real estate power player managing tower assets, Watch Comms has a diversified business model focused on sustainable long-term growth. As Watch Comms scales its network footprint, the company realizes the need to implement a lease management system that can enhance real estate operations and unlock portfolio transparency.
Challenge: Tracking a Complex Lease Portfolio Without a Lease Management Software
Watch Communications is a growing internet service provider managing over 2,000 contracts across the country. However, tracking this lease complex portfolio was an ongoing challenge. “We did not have a lease administration software,” explains Bobby Sample, Site Acquisition Manager. Instead, Watch Comms relied on spreadsheets and shared drives. With no centralized system, critical information lived in scattered emails and in miscellaneous techstacks.
It was nearly impossible to accurately report on the portfolio or proactively manage renewals. “A lot of times I would go in to look at renewals and they had been expired for 365 days,” Bobby admits. Without notifications, contracts would unintentionally lapse, risking revenue and reputation. “That’s what prompted me to go to our CFO and say ‘Hey, we have to do something because this is not working.’” That’s when Watch Comms knew they needed a new process for lease management.
Solution: A Centralized Lease Management System
After evaluating options, Watch Comms selected Occupier for its flexible platform and smooth implementation process. “When we first met with Occupier, we realized there were going to have to be some customizations,” Sample says. Unlike other software, Occupier adapted to the complex needs of Watch Comms’ portfolio. The Occupier team created customized lease types and tags to represent the nuances.
Despite varied backgrounds, Occupier’s intuitive interface works for all users and lease management use cases. The entire accounting team for lease accounting, executives for easy access to high-level portfolio metrics and reports, and Sample for daily real estate operations.
The software centralizes everything he needs to keep thousands of leases compliant. “I can literally function on 90% of my job just on the data that we’ve added into Occupier. Critical dates like renewals are automated, removing liability risks. Accounting leverages built-in rent schedules to simplify payments. And with a few clicks, executives can report on portfolio health.”
“It’s honestly a night and day difference. Occupier is the most user-friendly leasing application out there today,” Sample says. He estimates saving 10 hours per week that he previously spent piecing together records. Instead of chasing down expired contracts, he now proactively manages the pipeline. “When I started as the Site Acquisition Manager, there were days I finally thought I had everything organized and manageable, but I quickly realized I was still falling behind. Adopting Occupier was a game changer,” states Sample.
“Today, 90% of my job is enabled by the lease data we’ve abstracted into Occupier — this software saves me 10 manual hours a week. Adopting Occupier was a total game changer.”
Benefits of Occupier
So what exactly makes Occupier stand out from other lease management software?
- Centralized lease data – By centralizing lease data that was previously scattered across systems, Occupier provides a “single source of truth” to give users a complete picture of the portfolio.
- Customization to handle complex needs – Occupier provides nimble software customizations to match Watch Communications’ unique lease types and data needs, something crucial for handling their complex portfolio.
- Proactive support and quick turnaround – The Occupier team provides quick and proactive responses to questions and requests, turning around new lease uploads or adjustments in 48 hours.
- User-friendly, visually appealing interface – With intuitive navigation and visual appeal, Occupier offers a modern user experience that is easy and enjoyable to work with.
With Occupier, Watch Communications now has full transparency into its complex portfolio. Centralized information, proactive notifications, and understandable analysis – Occupier lifts the lease management burden. “It’s inspiring to see that progress,” Sample says, “ we’re working in the right direction.”
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