NextSix app set to improve the experience of property seekers by leveraging technology.
Teow (left) and Wong show off the NextSix app, which is a smart and high performance platform to list, buy and sell properties and provide end-to-end property-related products and services to users
A LARGE number of Malaysians would be familiar with the headaches of buying or renting a property – be it finding homes in the right location at the right price point, seeking the right property agents, or the overall legalities and paperwork processes involved in purchasing a property, among others.
Set to solve these issues is Malaysian-based property technology company The Next Six Sdn Bhd (NextSix), which is set to take the property world by storm via a smart and high performance platform to list, buy and sell properties.
NextSix chief technology officer SY Wong said, “NextSix is the first to pioneer GPS and data-driven search technology to provide end-to-end real estate information and related services as a one stop offline to online (O2O) platform that enables users to save money and time.
“We cooperate with offline property agencies and utilise technology such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, as well as big data and data analytics for more efficiency and higher performance. This is so that we can offer personalised recommendations that cater to each individual user, rather than mass offerings that aren’t what they want.”
Pioneering a main feature called “GPS Your Agents”, which uses GPS-driven technology to directly link potential homebuyers with professional real estate agents and available properties within their vicinity, the NextSix app features property listings with photos, direct video showcase and 3D virtual tour viewing abilities.
Officially launched on Jan 20, the platform has been up-and-running for slightly more than a year. It features about 38,000 property listings, more than 4,000 property agents and over 1,000 active users across Malaysia – particularly in the Klang Valley, Penang and Johor – with more to come, said NextSix business development director Teow Wei Kwang.
Beyond the geolocation feature, the platform also boasts HomePro, a complementary feature that digitises the process of looking for property-related services such as lawyer agreements, bank mortgage loans, interior design or renovations.
The next step for the platform would be the launch of its HomeMall function within the app, which will enable app users to search and purchase property-related products for home improvement or comfort, including furniture, lighting, electrical appliances and so on.
Another plus is that users will also be able to leave ratings for property agents or vendors, which can help boost confidence and credibility, as well as recommendations for users.
“We want to improve the experience for users in the entire cycle of searching and buying their property, finding the services to renovate it via HomePro and getting the products to make it a home with HomeMall.
“HomeMall is expected to launch within the next three to four months. The platform’s machine learning is an ongoing process, where it gets more and more intelligent when we understand what people are looking for individually to recommend better suggestions and more effective recommendations to them, which will help cut down the research time,” Teow said.
He added that NextSix is looking to increase its base to about 6,000 to 8,000 property agents utilising its platform to advertise their properties, while more than doubling its active users to 5,000 to 6,000.
He noted, “Malaysia will be our main market this year to establish a strong foundation, but there are future plans to expand to the Southeast Asian region.”
Dr Khiu said that the platform’s unique selling point is that it solves the pain points of multiple stakeholders, including property sellers and seekers, property agents and property-related vendors.
As a NextSix founding investor through Angel CEO Sdn Bhd, Datuk Dr Calvin Khiu noted that apps must ultimately solve pain points for all its end users.
Angel CEO is an angel investment company that has invested in over 100 companies, including NextSix, while Dr Khiu is the chairman of Angel CEO Sdn Bhd and OE Edutech, as well as founder and lecturer of OE Academy.
“We choose projects based on trends and on what problems it can solve. The unique selling point for NextSix is the technology that underpins it, which solves the issues faced by homebuyers, homesellers, property agents and vendors.
“From finding agents close to you via geolocation to start in your property search to renovation and furnishings, the app helps settle issues related to property from start to finish.
“In addition, it also acts as an additional recommendation channel for property agents and vendors offering home products and services,” he shared, adding that other considerations include investing in a company that has a professional team and creating a blue ocean product that integrates O2O.
Kelvin, Chee, Ernest, Tim, Hendry, Phoon, Dr Khiu, Teow, Wong, Nicholas, Bun, Tee, Kai, Cody, Goh, Yip and Liew during the launch of NextSix on Jan 20 at St. Regis KL.
During the launch, which was held at St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Glow Estates founder Kelvin Lee, Plextige Properties chief executive officer (CEO) Lighter Chee, Blue Duck Tech CEO Earnest Wong, Glow Estates founder Tim Wong, Affirm Plus Properties CEO Hendry Lee, The Roof Realty founder and managing director Datuk Nicholas Yap, Gather Properties associate director Francis Bun, Fortress Real Estate founder Tee Kai Shiang, ESP Properties chief financial officer Kai Wong, Believe Realty founder Cody Yap, BidNow founder Frankie Goh, Wingfield Properties founder Brandon Yip and TheWill CEO Kelvin Liew.
Nicholas (left) with Teow at the MOU signing.
