The Lutgert Companies Markets, Sells and Builds Million Dollar Residences on the Web

Naples-based deveoper or luxury high-rises, golf communities and high-end commercial properties has incorporated a technology solution in their business model, from "cradle to grave": marketing, selling, building and customer service.

Realizing the potential benefits that could come from adopting a technology solution to manage their development process and customer relations, luxury residential high-rise and commercial developer, The Lutgert Companies (http://www.lutgert.com), decided to take the plunge. As a result, Naples, FL-based Lutgert has greatly enhanced its project management by improving communication and collaboration and raising customer satisfaction.

By adopting a "cradle to grave" solution, Lutgert employs the new technology system in each phase of development and in customer relations. From pre- to post-construction, the company can identify key elements in each building phase that helps improve ROI and customer satisfaction.

Utilizing a central, Web-based point of entry, project communication and collaboration are significantly enhanced in reporting, and document and file storage, management and retrieval.

Customer interaction begins at the pre-sales stage and continues beyond project completion with the warranty process.

An enhancement to traditional forms of communication, customers interact with the development team through e-mail or by posting comments or questions in the system. For out-of-town customers --some 75% of Lutgert's client base, depending on the season-- the Web is a valuable tool to track a project through documents, charts, graphs, images and reports.

In addition to managing overall project communication, the technology also offers specific tools that work in each development phase. For example, at the completion of a project and through the warranty process, Lutgert uses an electronic punch list management system, called Pocket Punch(TM) (http://www.pocketpunch.com) that works with a handheld Pocket PC and has wireless capability. Using Pocket Punch(TM), especially the wireless feature, the process, which traditional takes 3-5 days before punch items are communicated to sub contractors, now it can be done instantaneous or completed in one day and by just one person from entering punch items on the handheld to synching to the Web, and from there, emailing or faxing the items to the general and sub contractors.

"The system's major timesaving benefit is the reduction of phone calls with project team members and with customers during a construction project," states Lutgert project manager Mike Hoyt (mike@lutgert.net). "The quantity of project-related calls have gone down while the quality of communication and information has improved. It's a move we're glad we made --sooner than later."

Note: System demo available in Lutgert's Naples office or on-line.

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Contact:
     Bevarly Communications, Naples
     Dan Bevarly, 239/464-2131
     dbev@bevarly.com