The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and Metropolis* announced today the launch of an online industry initiative offering far reaching benefits to its members.
Metropolis*, which has extensive technology and Internet expertise will develop and maintain the SAPOA website as the first phase of the establishment of an Internet community focussed on the property industry.
The long term objective of SAPOA is to provide the legislative updates, statistics, communication and education services which it already offers in different forms, electronically in a site which is active and topical. Further phases will offer members the choice to list stock, participate in discussions and even transact electronically in a dynamic and fully interactive online community. By harnessing technology such as the Internet, SAPOA`s aim is to enhance its service as the voice of the commercial and industrial property industry in South Africa.
"Our responsibility to our members is to give them the best service which an association can provide and an alliance with Metropolis*, in which they as market leaders provide the technology component is a significant first step in achieving this goal," says Brian Kirchmann, CEO of SAPOA .
According to Mike Braby, Chief Operations Officer at Metropolis*: "As South Africa`s leading developer of online communities of commerce, Metropolis* is ideally placed to make a significant contribution to SAPOA`s development as an organisation."
Following the initial development, SAPOA and Metropolis* will be working with the key industry players to develop South Africa`s leading online commercial property community, www.propertyafrica.com.
The launch of propertyafrica.com will lead to the establishment of an industry standard and source for industry information. Further development will provide access to everything from statistics to property listing, careers and education, to buyers` guides all in one electronic location. The development will promote and encourage interaction between players in the industry with a major focus on providing current and accurate information as the cornerstone of the community.
According to Mike Braby: " SAPOA`s interaction will fast track the growth of a strong vertical community in this sector. We see the alliance with SAPOA as the first industry initiative of this kind in South Africa and an important step in community development on the Internet."
The initiative is expected to be formally launched at the end of August 2000.
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SAPOA
SAPOA was founded in August 1966 to represent the interests of South African property owners. SAPOA strives on behalf of its members to promote their interests in relation to commercially directed property ownership, education, development, marketing and management. SAPOA is widely recognized as the voice of the commercial property industry in South Africa.
Metropolis
Metropolis* is a transactive media group focused on combining content, community and e-commerce technology in order to innovate and grow a network of online communities in both the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) environments.
To date, Metropolis* has launched eight industry specific vertical communities, in industries ranging from SHE (Safety, Health & Environment), Chemical, Laboratory to Information Technology and Communications in conjunction with their US based partners, VerticalNet.
Metropolis* acquired Gibson Dax, South Africa`s leading commercial property listing database and strategic information system, in May 1999. Gibson Dax will be integrated into Metropolis* to form the basis of the commercial property community that will serve all commercial property developers, owners, managers, brokers and other industry professionals.