MAIN IMAGAE: TVA CEO, Terence Sewraj
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The software platform tailored for South African estate agents, The Virtual Agent (TVA), is making it even easier for agents to enhance client relationships and make the most frustrating administration tasks a digital breeze.
Thousands of agents rely on TVA for enriched data, CRM functionality and streamlined deal tracking, all within a single, easy-to-use digital ecosystem.
“With a dedicated team of in-house software engineers, we are constantly refining TVA’s offering and adding new features in response to requests from agents,” says TVA CEO, Terence Sewraj.
A new ‘FICA & Fraud’ module due for release within the next few weeks is going to make agents’ lives a lot easier and unsnag a notorious pain point in the sales process. “With the ‘FICA & Fraud’ module, we’ve taken the authentication and verification process online, relieving agents of an administrative burden and adding multiple layers of checks which occur in real-time. By enabling the client to complete the process independently, no awkward questions are asked and the agent is not required to handle sensitive documents,” says Sewraj.
“The process is quick and hassle-free for the client. We’re confident that it will eliminate what is often a frustrating and delaying step in the sales process.”
FICA & Fraud Module: How it Works
The process is designed to be robust and thorough, but almost frictionless for the client. A few key documents are uploaded and an efficient back-end process runs out of sight of the client or agent.
There are six simple steps:
- The agent sends an Email, WhatsApp or SMS to the client’s smartphone as a precursor to sending an online link. The link directs the client to TVA’s secure website where they are guided through a five-step process which includes:
- Uploading a copy of their ID document;
- Taking and submitting a selfie;
- Checking their details on a pre-populated form;
- And finally, uploading a proof of address document.
“Developing this feature within TVA’s ecosystem enables real-time verification and authentication, making the buying and selling process even more convenient for the Estate Agent and their Clients,” says Sewraj.
FICA Compliance
The client’s details are cross-checked against the South African Home Affairs database and also matched with the address provided. If no irregularities are found, compliance is issued straight away. In the case of irregularities, the client receives a message alerting them to a mismatch for further investigation.
Sewraj says, “With such a streamlined process, there should be no excuse for clients to delay, and the agent can continue with the sale.”
Fraud Checks
Estate agents have a legal obligation to ensure they abide by Know Your Customer (KYC) principles, follow Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols and know when they are dealing with Politically Exposed Persons (PEP). This is not always easy to achieve.
“This module is a sophisticated solution to increasingly sophisticated fraud,” says Sewraj. “Without creating any tension between the agent and client, TVA can provide a multilayered, robust solution. The genius of this fraud check is what happens in the background.”
Because agents are dealing with local and international buyers and sellers, the intelligence behind the fraud detection module must be thorough and global. “The checks in place include local and global watchlists and are designed to flag any indicators of first-party, third-party, or synthetic identification fraud,” says Sewraj.
DIY Agent’s Brochure
A new CRM feature that agents are finding very useful, is the ability to generate a personal marketing brochure. As a vibrant, visual PDF, the brochure introduces the agent and can be emailed or sent via WhatsApp to potential or existing clients.
“Agents are using the brochure feature to build their personal brand,” says TVA Marketing Manager, Candice Goldberg. The brochure is generated by completing an online form on our portal, which the agent can customise by choosing what to include, uploading a photo, and even tailoring the design with their corporate colours and logo.” TVA is available to registered estate agents for an affordable monthly subscription fee. Agents can choose a package to suit their unique needs. Making use of online or in-person training, even non-digital savvy agents can use TVA to streamline their workload and spend more time selling.
