We’d like to introduce you to someone who lives and breathes marketing services at Yardi. If you want some insight into what’s happening with Yardi Breeze and our wonderful clients, you need to meet Mary Chu.
Let’s meet Mary!
Interviewer: First off, can you tell us about your career at Yardi?
Mary Chu: I’ve been with Yardi for 12 years. I started on the trade events team, managing relationships with associations and championing their efforts, as well as supporting the Yardi teams that attend those trade events.
Now, as the marketing manager for Yardi Breeze, I work specifically with the residential, commercial and condo markets. My job is to bring the good word about property management software to the small to medium-sized companies that we serve.
Growth & change
Interviewer: This company has grown so much in the past few years. What have you seen change?
Mary: With offices opening all over the world, the employee headcount has probably more than tripled since I’ve joined.
And the product offering keeps growing as the markets we serve evolve. The number of solutions and innovations that have come out of Yardi have really expanded to match those changing needs.
How property management has changed
Interviewer: How has the property management software landscape changed in recent years?
Mary: I sit on the NARPM Technology Committee, and I recently attended NARPM’s annual convention. It was shocking to see how many new prop-tech companies have popped up — even just in the past year.
There are so many point solutions now, and it can be confusing for property managers because a lot of the messaging sounds the same. But Breeze stands out because it’s a Yardi brand and combines the best of both worlds: best of breed technology and all-in-one functionality. There’s a massive team supporting the ongoing development of the product and the clients who use it.
Finding the right software can have a big impact, so it’s often worth taking the time to do a demo or explore the latest innovations. Review sites like G2, Capterra and Software Advice can also help clients navigate all these options.
Yardi Breeze reviews
Interviewer: Breeze tends to be ranked consistently in the top two or three property management solutions for small businesses. What’s keeping us up there?
Mary: I think it’s the fact that Breeze is developed by Yardi. There’s a huge team behind it, supporting both the development and the client experience. We listen to client feedback and use it to improve continuously. That’s why we’re still so competitive.
When should someone make a software switch?
Interviewer: What about people who might not be happy with their current provider but don’t want to make a switch right now?
Mary: One of the things we try to do at Breeze is to be a trusted advisor. Our sales team will go through a discovery process to help determine if the product is the right fit for a business.
From a marketing perspective, we focus on showing clients what the product does, how it works and the pain points it can address. If those pain points resonate, have a conversation with us to explore the right fit.
It’s important to stay curious and open to new innovations. Superstar Breeze client Megan Orser said it best in her interview with NAA: “Don’t stop being curious, or you’ll get stuck.”
Internal improvements
Interviewer: For people who may have passed on Breeze in the past, what’s something that we’ve improved on over the years?
Mary: We continue to develop and refine our product offering to make sure we have a great product at an affordable price point for small to mid-sized real estate businesses.
Case in point, we developed Breeze Premier, which includes a deeper, broader functionality set than Breeze but is still easy to implement and use. We also added mobile apps and many optional, ancillary services to support every aspect of a property management business. And we’re not done! For example, we’re introducing a whole new suite of resident services. I’m excited about that.
These services matter because there are 22 million units managed by independent mom-and-pop businesses. That’s a huge number. Breeze clients benefit from the same things that bigger companies do, such as online portals, chatbots and automation tools for marketing and leasing. This is a big focus for us.
The Yardi Ambassador program
Interviewer: The Yardi Ambassador program is something we talk about here a lot. What is this program all about?
Mary: The Yardi Ambassador program is a collective of Yardi clients who are enthusiastic about their work and the industry.
These clients have reached a point in their careers where they feel like they can give back by sharing their perspectives and knowledge. We work with them to share their insights through various formats: articles, interviews, speaking opportunities, quick quotes and long-form testimonials.
The program is a way for clients to share their experiences as property managers, property owners and Yardi users so others can get a better idea of what we offer.
Interviewer: Who is eligible to become a Yardi Ambassador?
Mary: If you’re a Yardi client who’s passionate about what you do and feel like the tools you use make a difference in your business, you’re eligible.
Interviewer: Why should Breeze clients take an interest in being a Yardi Ambassador?
Mary: Being a Yardi Ambassador is about wanting to share your experience and help others in the industry. Whether someone’s just entering property management or looking to improve their work-life balance, it’s an opportunity to connect with your peers and give back. Plus, they get free marketing exposure celebrating their success in front of a global audience!
Yardi feedback initiative
Interviewer: There’s a new feedback program here. Tell us about that.
Mary: We’ve had a feedback button in our Breeze software since the beginning, but we’re rolling out a new survey program to proactively collect customer feedback. The idea is to have regular touchpoints with clients throughout their journey to make sure they’re happy and getting what they need. If they’re not, we can connect them with someone from our service organization to address their concerns. This might involve additional training or just getting tricky questions answered.
Real people on our team will read the feedback and respond directly. Whether someone needs more training on accounting practices or has hired a new property manager who needs support, this program is about ensuring every client is successful.
Off the clock
Interviewer: When you’re not at work, are you the manager of your household as well?
Mary: Yes, and my husband is an operations manager for FedEx, so we both run a tight ship. We’re very organized.
We have two boys who play a lot of sports, so when I’m not at work, I’m usually out at the baseball field. I’m equally passionate about birding. I’ll even travel to add new species to my life list. For example, when I went to Hawaii in January, I made everyone go birding with me. We’ve been to Hawaii before, but I wasn’t into birds at the time. Now, I’m excited to explore!
