The Apto CRE Broker Tech Benchmarking Survey is a new report from Apto that set out to measure technology utilization in the CRE industry. That is to say that the survey didn't just want to know if brokers were using technology but how well they are using it.

Turns out, brokers are using technology strategically. The survey classified brokers as emergent, strategic or leader, with an emergent classification equating to a score of less than 60; strategic equating to a score of 60 to 79; and leader equating to a score of 80 and above. The average score was 64. "I'm not surprised by brokers' scores on the assessment, and the trend is certainly in the right direction. Most brokers have realized they need to deploy technology strategically to be even more effective in their roles, and they have," Tanner McGraw, founder and CEO of Apto, tells GlobeSt.com.

Of course, there is still opportunity for brokers to use technology in a more impactful way. "But there's still plenty of room for improvement, particularly when it comes to using technology to help predict the future, like where your next deal is likely to come from," says McGraw.