Interview with Erik Backer, Co-Founder and CEO of Portal.chat

Erik Backer, Co-Founder, and CEO of Portal.chat
26 November 2018
Gordana Davila
Recently we caught up with Erik Backer, Co-Founder, and CEO of Portal.chat at the 24th Property Portal Watch Conference in Madrid.
The decade-old Netherlands-based Portal.chat offers online real estate sites an instant messaging app that also supports live video and audio chat. 
“We have a plug and play solution that allows real estate classified sites and marketplaces, anywhere in the world, to offer a live chat solution between consumers and the listings owners or between the advertisers (the agents) and the real estate site.
“In the past 18 months, we have noticed that there has been a significant increase in the use of chat and it can no longer be ignored as a communication channel,” stated Backer.
He also added that the use of chat is generational with the younger generations using chat as their prime method of communication with some never even answering the phone when it rings.
Backer stresses that Portal.chat can be used as a new income stream for online real estate classified sites and marketplaces as well as a communication channel. "With the implementation of our new artificial intelligence, a chatbot can take over all first point of communication and if the chatbot is unable to answer a query, it forwards it immediately to the owner,” stated Becker.
When asked if companies need to be convinced to use chat, Backer commented, “They know that somewhere down the line, they will need to use chat. It’s the same process as it was with email, some 20+ years ago. The challenge is to be at the top of their priority list.”
Simon Baker, the founder of the Property Portal Watch Conference commented: “classifieds sites and marketplaces have to step up their game and look for more ways to inject themselves into the real estate process. Portal.chat and other chatbot providers can bridge the communications gap between the renter or buyer and the agent, landlord or project marketer.  In this way, classifieds sites and marketplaces can become even more relevant to all parties involved in the real estate transaction.”
With over a dozen Property Portal Watch Conferences under his belt Backer said that “Being at the Conferences, Portal.chat has been able to increase our name recognition and generated significantly more business,” concluded Backer.
The above article was originally published on OnlineMarketplaces.com and can be found by clicking here.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Band of Magicians | REVIEW

Image
As if they stepped out of a fashion catalogue, the quartet who compose  Band of Magicians  – Justin Flom, Justin Willman, Nate Staniforth  and  James Galea  – look, talk and act completely different than any other visual illusionists out there. With the exception of the intro, the show was devoid of stereotypical laser, smoke and half naked magician’s assistants, it was obvious that  Band of Magicians  was going to take an alternate route to entertaining an eagerly awaiting Melbourne audience at the Crown’s Palms theatre. Sharing some magic secrets and showcasing an array of familiar tricks, gave the audience the illusion (yes, pun intended) of a somewhat predictable show – this of course was intentional so that the performance could experience a crescendo of sorts, and gradually increase its ooh-ah factor to a full-on awe level, causing the attendees to burst out in cheer. Besides performing as a team, each one of the magicians also dazzled with...
Read more

REVIEW - S | Circa

Image
The below review was originally published on Australian Stage, and can be read by clicking here . Written by Gordana Andjelic-Davila    Wednesday, 28 May 2014 09:28 The letter “S” is the19th letter of the English alphabet; represented by a line which curves on top to the right and on the bottom to the left, therefore it is probably also the most balanced letter. The “S” can be perceived as sensuous as well, sophisticated, even a bit dangerous, and in this particular case it is the inspiration behind Circa’s powerful piece work, S , which the Brisbane-based circus troupe, performed at the Darebin Arts Centre last night. On a dark stage void of props, a lone female figure is barely visible, as it contorts to the rhythm of slow and heavy breathing. The bit of light which originates from a solitary lightbulb above her, highlights her body’s curves as she continues to bend and slither, possibly in pain, or perhaps in ecstasy, until she is met by a...
Read more