February 7, 2025

Gary Grey, Chief Data Officer, Highland Houses

Gary Grey has made a considerable affect in advancing Highland Houses’ know-how initiatives. He has pushed the creation of safe, progressive options that enhance buyer experiences and operational effectivity, aligning seamlessly with the staff’s dedication to delivering distinctive properties and repair.

In an interview with CIOReview, Grey shares his insights on how embracing know-how can improve buyer experiences and guarantee long-term success, supported by sturdy management and tradition.

Rising by means of the Ranks

I’ve a various background, together with roles in development manufacturing, high-end industrial aviation and commodity-based metal. I additionally labored in direct-to-consumer digital advertising and marketing and client items. What led me to my present function have been the individuals and the tradition at Highland Houses. Initially, I used to be in a revenue-generation function, managing P&L, however as I realized extra concerning the firm, it grew to become clear that it was the proper place for me as a result of the worth and enthusiasm have been second to none.

Like many firms within the residential development business, our group started as a small operation. Based within the Eighties, Highland Houses grew organically, specializing in promoting, constructing and shutting properties for homebuyers. Since then, client expectations have modified concerning what individuals need in a house and the general expertise of shopping for and constructing a house. The chief staff and board acknowledged that know-how is now not elective however important for the viability of the corporate’s long-term success.

Empowering Staff and Prospects by means of Digital Transformation

Homebuilding is extremely relational, the place buying a house represents an necessary monetary funding and a deep emotional dedication. Our technique emphasizes considerate innovation to strengthen relationships with our homebuyers and staff whereas creating long-term worth within the properties we construct.

“At Highland, we give attention to livability. It’s not nearly constructing a 2,000-square-foot home with sure specs. It’s about ensuring the house feels proper for the individuals residing in it.”

Nearly all of my work right here revolves round constructing an IT management staff that aligns with the corporate’s present experience in gross sales, development and buyer care. Consultants in enterprise intelligence, information analytics, enterprise structure and cyber safety are essential to making sure that know-how helps prospects and staff successfully.

Superior Homebuilding by means of Revolutionary Applied sciences

Expertise is remodeling the homebuilding business, and we’re leveraging quite a few developments to remain forward. We built-in AI to discover forecasting demand inside the areas we serve. It additionally helps us perceive buyer preferences by means of take charges to determine which fashions, plans, elevations and structural choices resonate with consumers. This allows us to construct properties that align with their demand and supply lasting worth relatively than simply chasing developments.

We additionally incorporate new good dwelling applied sciences as per the demand of the shoppers by means of shut collaboration with distributors, making certain that our properties are adaptable and interesting to those that are looking for future-ready options. One other necessary key improvement is using digital twins and digital designs. This permits us to check new layouts digitally, dashing up the design course of and bringing new properties to market sooner, all whereas lowering prices.

Aligning Expertise with Homebuyer Wants

At Highland, we give attention to livability. It’s not nearly constructing a 2,000-square-foot home with sure specs. It’s about ensuring the house feels proper for the individuals residing in it. One of many issues we realized through the pandemic was the necessity for extra areas, like pocket places of work or Zoom rooms, the place individuals can work or examine.

Fast prototyping permits testing how these areas match into properties, making certain they meet trendy calls for and improve livability. This method ensures that properties proceed to supply worth by addressing prospects’ evolving wants.

Securing Buyer Knowledge in Digital Houses

Safeguarding our staff and Highland Houses’ information is a prime precedence. Our staff function our first line of protection whatever the technical and safety measures we implement, like know-how layers. We function over 125 retail websites, together with mannequin properties in communities and development places of work. Every entity manages a major quantity of every day communications, together with emails and paperwork requiring buyer signatures. This move of knowledge is important to constructing, promoting and shutting properties.

We prioritize complete cyber safety and consciousness coaching. Our method contains layered cloud computing options, multi-factor authentication, encryption, safe APIs and penetration testing. Identification entry administration additionally performs a vital function in controlling who has entry to information, assuring it is just accessible to the proper individuals when wanted.

Elevating IT Technique with Cloud Computing

Over the previous 24 months, we have made vital progress in adopting cloud computing. We assist quite a few initiatives, groups, and vendor layers throughout many places, and this transition has delivered substantial advantages to our subject operations. Scalability and suppleness are important, enabling purposes to successfully attain those that want them most. It helps price effectivity by lowering our bodily footprint on the workplace and offsite sort of knowledge silos, facilitating efficient information switch and staff collaboration. This permits our builders to spend extra time on job websites and fewer on trailers.

Cloud computing additionally improves catastrophe restoration, enterprise continuity and information safety. Measures like encryption, multi-factor authentication and common safety audits promote a dependable cloud atmosphere. This additional permits a seamless shift to upgraded options, offering entry to present programs whereas transferring towards a modernized platform.

Phrases of Knowledge for Rising Business Leaders

I might advise growing a deep understanding of the group’s core enterprise. IT leaders should transfer past managing know-how alone and absolutely grasp the enterprise’s long-term targets and challenges. In homebuilding and residential development, understanding each side of the enterprise permits including extra worth.

Constructing cross-functional relationships can be vital. Driving significant change necessitates shut collaboration with leaders in different departments, akin to turning into a enterprise associate relatively than only a service supplier. IT leaders should additionally champion digital transformation. Considerate innovation doesn’t all the time need to be ground-breaking; even small course of enhancements can tremendously affect effectivity and scale back guide errors.