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Miscommunication, missed messages, forgotten requeststhese are the hidden costs of doing business in real estate. In the real estate industry, manual data entry mistakes, such as misallocated expenses or incorrect financial reporting, can cost companies millions annually. Research indicates that manual data entry has an error rate ranging from 1% to 4% and each error can cost up to $25 to rectify. These costs can manifest as missed investment opportunities, unresolved tenant issues, and lost client trust. Real estate professionals cannot afford to ignore these inefficiencies. But it doesnt have to be this way. Automation is transforming real estate by eliminating these friction points, not just for large firms but for small businesses and independent professionals as well. When used correctly, automation doesnt replace the human touchit enhances itbringing clarity, consistency, and professionalism to every interaction. Clarity and consistency through automation In any business, consistency is key to maintaining professionalism. Automation allows companies to standardize processes, ensuring that terms, policies, and interactions are clear and uniform. This not only minimizes misunderstandings but also builds trust with clients and partners. Everyone knowing what to expect reduces disputes and enhances professionalism. In real estate, this is especially true in lease management. Automated enforcement of lease agreements ensures that terms such as late fees, payment deadlines, and maintenance responsibilities are clearly outlined and consistently enforced. Clear, legally compliant lease terms reduce ambiguity and prevent disputes. For real estate agents, investors, and landlords managing their own properties, automation makes it easier to comply with local laws by applying consistent terms across all leases or transactions, protecting interests, and building client trust. Additionally, automated in-app messaging leads to stronger relationships and fewer misunderstandings by providing a centralized platform where landlords and tenants can communicate. Real-time, two-way communication directly within a secure system eliminates the need for scattered text threads, emails, or missed calls. Landlords can track and manage conversations efficiently, while tenants gain a clear channel for addressing concerns, receiving updates, or asking questions. Predictable and respectful communication Automation can also elevate customer interactions by maintaining consistent, respectful communication. In business, this means automated reminders for appointments, follow-ups, or deadlines, ensuring clients are kept informed without feeling overwhelmed or neglected. For property managers and landlords, this is exemplified by automated rent payment reminders and notifications. Rather than sending ad-hoc texts or emailssometimes at inconvenient hours such as early morning or late nightlandlords can set up reminders delivered consistently at the same time of the day and on the same days of the month. This reduces late payments, maintains professionalism, and respects tenants’ personal time. Automation also supports multiple payment methods, offering tenants convenience while providing landlords with a clear, trackable payment history. Streamline management Effective management requires keeping track of tasks, requests, and communications without anything slipping through the cracks. Automation excels at this, offering centralized systems where tasks are logged, prioritized, and tracked. In real estate, this is best seen in maintenance management. Automated systems allow tenants to submit maintenance requests, which are then logged, categorized, and tracked. Tenants can see the status of their requests, reducing repetitive follow-ups, while landlords have a clear record of completed work, costs, and vendor interactions. Enhance client experiences Businesses across industries are increasingly focused on the client journey, ensuring that every touchpoint is smooth and satisfying. In real estate, automation can transform this experience by streamlining scheduling, property showings, and follow-ups. For real estate agents, this might mean automated property match notifications or self-service scheduling tools that allow prospective buyers or renters to book showings without waiting and prevent double bookings. Beyond convenience, automation elevates professionalism. Agents and landlords can maintain consistent follow-ups, ensuring that clients receive timely responses and critical information without delays. This reduces client anxiety, builds trust, and helps real estate professionals create a reputation for reliability and responsiveness. Furthermore, automation can help investors offer value-added services that improve tenants’ financial well-being. For example, credit-boosting features allow tenants to report on-time rent payments to major credit bureaus, helping them build their credit scores over time. This benefits both tenants, who see improved credit, and landlords, who often experience a noticeable increase in on-time payments. Such features make rental properties more attractive to prospective tenants and foster long-term loyalty. Data-Driven Decisions for Smarter Investments Automation is a game-changer for investors who rely on data to drive decision-making. Automated tools can collect and analyze market trends, rental yield data, property valuations, and investment forecasts in real-time. This gives investors immediate access to insights that can guide strategic decisions. Beyond basic data access, automation also allows for customized dashboards where investors can visualize performance metrics across their portfolio. This helps them quickly identify high-performing properties, spot emerging opportunities, and make informed decisions faster than competitors relying on manual research. For instance, RentRedi runs surveys that provide critical insights into landlord behaviors, from how they prepare for tax season to how they screen tenants. Understanding these patterns helps professionals benchmark their practices, anticipate challenges, and make more informed decisions. Additionally, we partner with Chandan Economics to develop data reports that offer broader market insights by tracking trends in rental demand, property values, and landlord investment plans. Access to this kind of data ensures that professionals are not making decisions based on guesswork but on solid, actionable intelligence. Elevating Industry Standards In an industry where professionalism can make or break a deal, automation allows real estate professionals to minimize miscommunication and hidden costs. Businesses that embrace automation can reduce costly errors and deliver consistent, high-quality service that sets them apart. As they raise the bar for professionalism, they gain a competitive edge, build stronger client relationships, and operate more efficiently. This means that even the smallest landlords can adopt best practices once reserved for large corporate investors. Automation allows real estate professionals to focu on higher-value tasks like client relationships and portfolio growth. As automation becomes the norm, professionalism in real estate is becoming the standard, rather than the exception. Ryan Barone is cofounder and CEO of RentRedi.
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If you break your arm, you get a cast. If your cholesterol is high, you get a prescription. But what happens when what ails you is mental, behavioral, or emotional in nature? Too often, the answer is: nothing. For far too long, our healthcare system has treated the brain as somehow separate from the body. Fact is, mental health is health. One in five U.S. adults are estimated to be living with mental illness, and research suggests that 55% of adults with a mental illness have not received any treatment. The workplace is where many experienced and navigated the COVID pandemic as a collective trauma. Employees have come to expect mental health resources, and in todays high-stress business climate alongside lifes everyday challenges, they are needed now more than ever. Left unchecked, mental and behavioral health conditions (which includes substance use disorders) cost U.S. employers approximately $282 billion each year in absenteeism, productivity declines, and associated healthcare expenses. As business leaders, we can no longer afford to treat mental health as someone elses problem or an after-hours issue. The case for whole health Evidence (and intuition) proves the body and mind are inextricably connected. Mental health conditions like depression can double the risk of developing diabetesand vice versa. Those living with chronic illnesses are far more likely to experience anxiety, depression, or other mental health struggles. Social determinants of health (including loneliness, housing, food security, and transportation) are additional factors. And yet, our systems continue to silo these areas of care. Its time to bridge that divide because all of these issues impact whole health. Treating mental health alongside physical health is the right thing to do for employeesbecause it improves their healthand for employers, as it helps stabilize costs, reduces employee absences, and improves productivity. More importantly, it builds healthier people, at work and in life. Whether its expanding access with digital therapy or integrating behavioral care with primary care, the industry is finally beginning to focus more on the whole personand not just their conditions. Invest in what (and who) matters Wellness apps and lunch-and-learns are a start, but effectively addressing mental health must go further. Serious mental illnesses (SMI), which include conditions like bipolar disorder and severe anxiety, and substance use disorder (SUD) are highly complex and require serious attention, and investment. For example, individuals with SMI face a 53% higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseaseand are 85% more likely to die from it compared to those without SMI. Integrated care for these complex conditions has been shown to improve quality of life and significantly reduce overall healthcare costs. Making programs and resources available for employees with such conditions is more than good medicineits good business. Nearly two million employees receive treatment for SUDs annually, and more than 13 million workers are in some form of recovery, representing 9% of all adults. This population represents a sizable portion of our nations workforce, and employees in recovery often show increased energy, focus, and performance. What employers can do right now As stewards of workforce health and productivity, employers have a unique opportunity to lead in this space. Heres where to start: Enhance benefits. Modern Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer far more than they once did. If you do provide an EAP, but havent scrutinized its options lately, you should. The latest premium models go beyond counseling, digital self-help tools, and expert referrals tailored to employees needs. Some now address social determinants of health and share wellbeing/mindfulness resources, concierge-level support, coaching, and on-site resources. Support all levels of need. Not every employee needs therapy, medication, or more intense carebut every employee needs support for themselves and their families. From digital wellness tools to specialized autism care access, a range of solutions helps meet people where they are. Invest in prevention. Just as we promote physical well-being through wellness incentives, the same must apply to mental and emotional health. For every dollar spent on mental health initiatives, companies can expect a return of $4 due to reduced absenteeism, lower overall healthcare costs, and increased productivity. Partners in progress: Were in this together Ultimately, mental and behavioral health conditions are commonand treatable. By investing time, expertise, funding, and a spirit of partnership, employers can transform lives and workplaces. Thats not just good medicineits good business. At Carelon Behavioral Health, were committed to changing how the system works. With 160 million U.S. adults spending much of their waking hours at work, we know employers are an important key to destigmatizing mental health and unlocking whole health. Its time we accept the fact that mental health is health. It always has been. Bryony Winn is president of Carelon Health. Corbin Petro is president of Carelon Behavioral Health.
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E-Commerce
For many generations, menopause was a taboo topic. Despite 6,000 women reaching menopause in the U.S. each day, this pivotal stage in a womans life has been sidelined and neglected in the broader healthcare landscape. While symptoms can be debilitating for many women, a lack of research and medical training on menopause often results in these issues being misdiagnosed or dismissed. Unfortunately, this can translate to reduced insurance coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs for millions of women trying to manage their symptoms through prescribed medications and treatments. Today, the tide is turning on menopause, due in part to celebrities including Oprah, Halle Berry, and Drew Barrymore speaking publicly about their experiences. They are advocating for greater resources for women, and there is increased acceptance among the current generation in discussing menopause openly. A growing number of startups, like Elektra Health and Midi Health, are offering women more education, access to care, and a virtual community to help them face their menopause journeys. Even legislators are taking note, proposing changes to improve affordability and increase education for medical professionals across several states. But theres much more to be done, especially when it comes to education and affordability. Last month, our GoodRx team released findings from a new survey exploring the financial difficulties women face when navigating menopause. The data illustrated a greater need to address access and affordability gaps in menopause care, and underscored the importance of evolving our healthcare system to support women at every stage of life. Affordability challenges in menopause care Even as the conversation around menopause grows, women are routinely priced out of the treatments they need to manage their symptoms. Our survey, conducted in February 2025, found that 21% of women have put off or avoided menopause treatment due to financial concerns. And 12% reported having to make financial trade-offs, such as cutting back on other essential expenses, just to afford their care. Its not surprising that women are struggling to afford menopause care, as list prices for menopause medications have risen almost 60% over the last decade, and these costs trickle down to the consumer. Unfortunately, insurance coverage isnt always a reliable solution. Only 26% of women have their menopause-related prescriptions fully covered by insurance, and 8% dont have their prescriptions covered at all. The link is clear: Lower costs are crucial in helping more women access the menopause care they need. Improve the care gap in menopause Beyond cost itself, there is an unmet need to improve access to menopause care. The issue starts in medical schools, where most programs offer limited education on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. As a result, the majority of primary care physicians dont have the skillset needed to help their patients manage symptoms. Even within OB-GYN training programs, research shows that less than a third of residency programs have any type of menopause curriculum. When unable to get answers from their usual physicians, many women turn to certified menopause specialists to seek help with their symptoms. But, as of now, there is only one menopause-certified specialist available for every 30,000 menopausal women in the U.S. By improving the full spectrum of menopause care and making sure every primary care physician and OB-GYN has the training they need, we can help break down access barriers and help more women address their symptoms. Unlock new frontiers in menopause care With healthcare industry leaders understanding the need to better support women transitioning into menopause, promising new treatments are emerging. For example, elinzanetant is currently in late-stage clinical development to address hot flashes associated with menopauseone of the most common symptoms. As new medications continue to undergo trials and enter the market, ensuring widespread availability is crucial. By better addressing hot flashes, women can improve their quality of life during menopause. This doesnt just benefit individuals, but improves the healthcare sector as a whole. A more supportive future for women Theres no silver bullet that can help lower costs and make menopause treatments more accessible. For healthcare leaders, menopauses growing economic burden is not just a health concern, but a call for systemic change. There are several levers we can pull to create a better, more supportive system for women. First, manufacturers of the most effective treatments for menopause, like menopausal hormone therapy, can look beyond insurance coverage and find ways to support women who are forced to pay out of pocket for these medications. While copay cards can be incredibly helpful for many high-cost prescriptions, these types of discount programs have low awareness. Pharmaceutical manufacturers can turn to trusted consumer resources, like GoodRx, to offer exclusive patient pay programs for those without adequate coverage on these medications. We launched this exact type of partnership with Pfizers portfolio of menopause hormone therapies last year and are seeing high uptake. We can further broaden access by working with other manufacturers in this space. Of course we still need to evolve our existing health insurance benefit structures to ensure they adequately support the diverse needs of women going through menopause. This includes providing comprehensive coverage for hormone replacement therapies and other menopausal treatments without prohibitive costs. Employers play a role here, too, and can advocate for health plans that respect womens specific medical needs, which can in turn improve overall job satisfaction, productivity, and tenure. As both a leader and a woman navigating these same healthcare challenges, I’m optimistic about the future. By making menopause management easier, we not only enhance the quality of life for individual women, but generate positive impacts on families and the larger healthcare system. Dorothy Gemmell is chief commercial officer and president, manufacturer solutions at GoodRx.
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E-Commerce
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