Virginia Munden sits down with KIC Realty President and Co-Founder Ron McIntosh to discuss KIC Realty’s planned merger with Brewpilot, why owning technology matters, and what AI could mean for the future of independent real estate brokerages.
Virginia Munden: Ron, KIC Realty has announced plans to merge with Brewpilot, an AI technology company. Why make this move now?
Ron McIntosh: We’ve always believed that independent brokerages need to think differently about technology. Most brokerages today rely on a collection of outside platforms and subscriptions. They’re necessary, but ultimately, you’re renting the technology that runs a large part of your business.
With Brewpilot, we saw an opportunity to bring that capability inside KIC and actually own what we’re building.
Virginia: So is KIC becoming a technology company?
Ron: No. We’re still a real estate brokerage first.
The difference is that we’ll have technology and engineering embedded within the company. Instead of buying a product and adapting our business to it, we can build around how our agents and staff actually work.
That distinction is important to us.
Virginia: AI is probably one of the most talked-about subjects in real estate right now. What does AI actually mean for a KIC agent?
Ron: For us, it needs to be practical.
Agents don’t need AI just because AI is the latest thing. They need tools that reduce repetitive work, make transactions easier, help with compliance and administration, and ultimately give them more time with their clients.
If we can give an agent back hours of their week, by helping them be more productive, that has real value.
Virginia: What attracted KIC to Brewpilot specifically?
Ron: The people.
Brewpilot brings a very experienced technology and engineering team to the table. But equally important is the opportunity for those engineers to work directly with a functioning brokerage.
KIC has more than 150 REALTORS®️ operating across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. That means the technology can be developed alongside the people who will actually use it.
Our agents can tell us, “This is where I’m wasting time,” or “This process doesn’t work very well.” Then the engineering team can work on solving that problem.
Virginia: KIC has also put a lot of emphasis on agents having ownership in the company. How does the merger fit into that philosophy?
Ron: That’s probably one of the parts I’m most excited about.
We’ve always believed that agents should have an opportunity to participate in the company they’re helping build.
Now we’re taking that concept further. When we successfully develop the technology within KIC, our shareholders aren’t just part of the brokerage, they’re participating in the ownership of the technology and the value that could potentially be created from it as well.
Virginia: Do you see this technology eventually going beyond KIC?
Ron: Absolutely, but we need to earn that opportunity first.
The first job is to build it for ourselves and prove that it works. If we can demonstrate that the technology improves the agent experience and allows a brokerage to operate more efficiently, then there is a much bigger conversation to have with independent brokerages across Canada.
A lot of independents face the same challenges. Technology costs, administration, compliance, recruiting and maintaining margins all become harder as you grow.
We think there may be an opportunity to build something that helps address those challenges without asking independent brokerage owners to give up everything they’ve built.
Virginia: What do you hope people take away from this merger?
Ron: That this is really about building a better brokerage.
AI is part of the story, but it isn’t the whole story. The bigger question is how we create a brokerage that gives agents better tools, operates more efficiently and allows the people helping build the company to participate in its success.
KIC started with Knowledge, Integrity and Community.
Those principles haven’t changed. We’re just adding another capability that we believe can help us build the next stage of the company.
Virginia: So the technology changes, but the philosophy stays the same?
Ron: Exactly.
Technology should support the people in the business, not replace what makes the business valuable in the first place. Real estate will always be a relationship business.
Our job is to give good agents better tools to build those relationships and serve their clients.
SOURCE, KIC REALTY CANADA
To learn more, visit KIC REALTY CANADA and BREWPILOT
