Key takeaways
Lessons from Yardi’s growth in Canada
- Stay ahead of technology, then wait for clients. Yardi builds for the next shift, from Windows to cloud to AI, but lets clients adopt it when they are ready.
- Grow with your clients. Yardi expanded into new countries and asset classes by following its clients and learning local requirements.
- Keep one version of the truth. When leasing, maintenance, accounting, and investment data live in one system, everyone from site staff to fund owners sees the same numbers.
- Own your mistakes. Market share brings responsibility. When something goes wrong, admit it, fix it, and rebuild the relationship.
- Hire for the long term. Yardi looks for people with good character who want to grow their careers, knowing training takes time.
About the guest
PA
Peter Altobelli
Vice President, Yardi Canada
Peter is vice president of Yardi Canada. A former programmer, he co-founded a company in 1989 that resold Yardi software, sold it to Yardi in 1998, and became Yardi’s first Canadian employee. He has since helped grow Yardi Canada to more than 500 employees in Vancouver, Saskatoon, and the Greater Toronto Area, and chairs a real estate advisory council at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Episode summary
In this episode
Peter Altobelli was a programmer when he called Yardi in 1989 asking to resell its software. He and his father built a reseller business that Yardi bought in 1998, making Peter its first Canadian employee. Yardi Canada now has more than 500 employees.
He explains how Yardi grew from founder Anant Yardi’s home-built software into a global company by staying current with technology and following its clients into new markets. He also describes how a single system gives every role, from maintenance staff to fund managers, the data they need.
Peter discusses the responsibility that comes with market leadership, why Yardi took a stake in WeWork and sees co-working as its own asset class, the role of technology in real estate education, and the kind of property he would love to work with.
Chapters
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:43Yardi’s story
- 5:53Peter’s path to Yardi
- 11:10Qualities that built Yardi Canada
- 15:44Staying ahead of technology
- 22:56A single version of the truth
- 25:45How data serves each role
- 29:28Canadian market trends and local focus
- 34:50Yardi and co-working
- 40:09Technology in real estate education
- 43:06Dream property
Jump to a chapter (11)
- 0:00Introduction
- 1:43Yardi’s story
- 5:53Peter’s path to Yardi
- 11:10Qualities that built Yardi Canada
- 15:44Staying ahead of technology
- 22:56A single version of the truth
- 25:45How data serves each role
- 29:28Canadian market trends and local focus
- 34:50Yardi and co-working
- 40:09Technology in real estate education
- 43:06Dream property
From the conversation
Transcript excerpts
There’s been a couple of things that we’ve always kept front and center, which is stay current with technology, don’t get behind, and it’s okay to be ahead of that technology.
Peter AltobelliPlay from 0:00
When you have that kind of market share the goal is being responsible and being proactive and ensuring the fact that we have to show up day in and day out to make sure our clients are successful.
Peter AltobelliPlay from 0:39
It’s okay to make a mistake, just not twice. You make it once, you learn from it, you move on…
Peter AltobelliPlay from 8:45
Looking for a cleaning partner that keeps up with your systems?
We’ll walk your building with you and send a written cleaning scope and price. Free, no obligation.
Read the conversation
Full episode transcript
Show transcript
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FAQ
Questions about this episode
What does a single version of the truth mean for property managers?
All property data lives in one system, so a maintenance work order, an approved invoice, the financial statements, and fund-level reports all draw on the same numbers. Teams spend less time reconciling reports and can make decisions faster.
Why did Yardi invest in WeWork?
Peter says Yardi’s owner made the investment privately to support the co-working industry, which Yardi sees as its own asset class. He expects demand for flexible office space to keep growing as people work from more places.
How can new graduates prepare for property management?
Get hands-on experience with the technology the industry uses, such as Yardi or Argus. Peter says employers value graduates who can apply those tools from day one.
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