If you have ever pondered over how a mall manages to look so elegant and clean almost all the time, and why everything seems so perfect. You are not alone. But let's debunk that notion, there is a lot that goes into managing a mall, and much of that work is done by the mall operator and their team. 

In the modern world, malls are increasingly taking on more roles and responsibilities when it comes to their management. It can get quite burdensome on the team since they have to juggle a lot of work that can be very tedious and rudimentary, this diverts precious time that they could spend on other aspects of their day which could require more attention. 

A Property Management Software (PMS) in this scenario would be useful since they are equipped with various functionalities that can help alleviate the work done by a mall operator and at times could even expedite the efficiency of work. 

To better understand the capability of what PMS software can do let's have a glance into the day in the life of a mall operator. 

Morning Routine:  The mall operator along with all the supporting staff have to report to the mall before the stores open. They are briefed regarding the work that was done yesterday and what were some potential issues that could be better managed. They are assigned their tasks for the day and go about them accordingly. It is common practice for mall operators to assess all the HVAC, lights, and other assets if they need to be serviced. After assessing all the assets are in working condition, tenants usually open their shops and cater to their potential customers. 

A property management software helps expedite the whole process in the following manner. 

1. 1.
   Facilities management: Automate workflows and ensure that the operations and management engine is running smoothly. It is achieved with features like Infrastructure Management, Ambiance Management, & gate pass, and work permits.  

2. 2.
   Dashboards: A property management software has a dedicated section to analytics. They analyze various metrics such as footfall, and occupancy among many other aspects which gives the mall operator an overview of the current status and trends.  

Afternoon Routine: With high numbers of tenants and customers within the mall, there are bound to be spills and leaks among many other issues. To remedy this the mall staff have to coordinate among themselves regarding which issue they will take up, which leads to a lot of inefficiency. They have to complete all these tasks while ensuring that the mall operator is kept in the loop of what they are doing. 

The mall operator will also try to reach out to other potential tenants who might be interested in opening a unit. At times to build hype around the mall they would organize events which would be a major hassle ranging from work permits to arranging for various facilities. 

A very under appreciated task that the mall operator does is manage parking. There is always a huge inflow and outflow of vehicles. They have to assign designated staff to help manage the flow of traffic.

All these tasks do seem daunting, however with a PMS we can help manage much of it smoothly. 

1. 1.
   Ticketing: tickets allow the mall manager to raise an issue and assign them to the respective individual digitally. It bypasses the need for staff to make the decision and at large improves efficiency.  

2. 2.
   Internet of Things: these are devices and systems with highly specialised mechanisms that allow us to track various important metrics in real time. For example, having a sensor above a parking space shows the operator the flow of traffic and the availability of parking space. 

Evening Routine: After a very long day, the mall operator has to make sure that all the shops are closed. The whole staff assembles and they are given a review of the day, subsequently, they are given their reporting time. This is usually where the staff would also raise any complaints they have. 

1. 1.
   Occupancy management: A PMS software uses IoT integrations to show if a particular property is vacated or if it is still in occupied beyond the point of closing which would notify the property manager. 

2. 2.
   Communication channel: with the help of a centralised messaging system, mall operators can at ease schedule and book room for meetings without the hassle of communicating with everyone simultaneously. 

Other Property Management Software Features 

Lease management: A lease management system allows a mall operator to easily sign on new tenants without the hassle of making physical new contracts. On top of this renewal of the contract is very simplistic. 

Property accounting: Accounting for a mall is a strenuous task. In terms of routing POS, tracking accounts payable/receivable and converting quotations into receipts. A PMS helps facilitate all these functions. 

Revenue sharing: Get access to accurate sales data from every retailer to ensure proper revenue sharing, and get a better overview of your mall to assess what retail mix works. 

Automated Income: Computation calculates how much revenue is earned based on billings and contracts. 

In conclusion, with the increased number of malls and the associated responsibilities that come with it, we could see PMS take the limelight and allow mall operators to focus on other pressing matters in the near future. 

Popular Mall Management Softwares. 

MonkSpaces.Ai:  This helps manage the tenants on the premises and helps facilitate rent collection, accounts management, and contract creation between the various parties in the mall. 

Mallcomm: Mallcomm has succeeded in branding itself as a primary player in the mall management sector. In 2022, they received an award for being the prop-tech innovator for their contributions to the industry. With over 400 million square feet in management and a reported 70% increase in growth, mallcomm has made its brand known in the industry.  

Yardi: Yardi has a very robust property management software which provides a wide array of functions and features ranging from lease management, accounting software, tenant management, space management and maintenance management. 

Appfolio:  Appfolio allows mall operators to enhance and drive operational efficiency. This allows the malls to grow with purpose-built features that can help automate the workflow and boat their revenue while reducing costs. With features of accounting, ticketing and lease management among many other aspects.  

Conclusion

Malls are on the rise and with the help of PMS we could see a rapid scale in their subsequent operation. With the promise of operational efficiency, reduced costs and increased customer satisfaction we can expect to see PMS take on a more prominent role in the industry