For years, Apto CRM was a go-to platform for commercial real estate brokers who wanted a Salesforce-based system tailored to their workflows. It offered CRE-specific data structures, pipeline visibility, and deal management at a time when few alternatives existed.
But technology and broker expectations have evolved. Looking back, Apto provided valuable lessons for the entire industry about what works, what doesn’t, and what to look for in the next generation of CRE CRMs.
Generic CRMs often force brokers into awkward workarounds. Apto gained traction because it spoke the language of brokers with properties, deals, and comps baked in.
Takeaway: The bar has been set thanks to Apto. Any CRM you invest in today should feel like it was built for CRE, not bolted on after the fact.
Apto is strong at organizing contacts and deals, but many brokers find themselves relying on separate platforms to research ownership, identify prospects, and grow their pipeline.
Takeaway: A modern CRM should include—or at least integrate tightly with—prospecting data, so brokers spend more time connecting and less time searching. Click here to learn more.
With Apto, property and deal data often had to be exported into other systems to build flyers, websites, or pitch decks. That meant more manual work and slower turnaround.
Takeaway: Today’s brokers expect their CRM to connect directly to marketing engines, so they can turn deal data into professional materials instantly. It’s why Rethink integrates seamlessly with Showcase. Click here to learn more.
Even strong products evolve, consolidate, or sunset. Apto is heavily supported for our existing customers, but it’s no longer available to new brokerages.
Takeaway: Future-proofing matters. When choosing a CRM, look for tech partners with a clear roadmap, consistent innovation, and the ability to support your brokerage as it grows. It’s why we provide monthly feature releases and quarterly customer-only webinars here at Buildout.
Apto paved the way for CRE-specific technology and proved that brokers need more than generic CRMs. It is why we acquired the company in 2022. Now, the next generation of Buildout tools go further; pairing prospecting, marketing integration, automation, and reporting into one connected experience.
If you’re planning your next CRM investment, it’s worth exploring how Buildout’s solutions can help your brokerage grow, win more listings, and operate more efficiently. Request a demo today.
