CHICAGO, IL - Ocius, a leading provider of multifamily resident billing and utility expense management services, released the results of its latest Apartment Resident Insights Survey. The findings demonstrate that apartment residents desire electronic statements and “going-green” in a significant way with 88.6 percent of residents responding that they preferred to receive their monthly statement via email. This represents a jump of more than 30 percent from a year ago.
In spite of an overwhelming preference for electronic statements, fewer than 1 in 4 residents were currently receiving their statement via email. This is likely the result of residents not being aware of the availability and environmental benefits of electronic statements.
Approximately 60 percent of apartment residents responded with a strong desire to use their mobile device to make rent payments. Respondents indicated an abundant preference for their property managers to offer a mobile resident app to facilitate communications, view monthly statements, and make electronic payments from their phone.
The Ocius Apartment Resident Insights Survey highlights include:
Nearly 9 out of 10 residents prefer to receive their monthly resident statements electronically.
Nearly two thirds (65.6 percent) of residents would prefer to use a mobile app to view their statements.
Six in ten (59.5%) residents prefer to make rent and utility payments with their mobile device.
“The insights gained from the survey are remarkable and underscore the incredible shift in resident desires when it comes to electronic billing and mobile payments,” said John Gunn vice president of business development for Ocius. “It’s great to be able to quantify resident perspectives that help property managers deliver the services that resident want most.”
Ocius conducts a biannual survey of apartment residents asking questions that identify preferences about community amenities, services, and communications channels. The results are used to improve resident satisfaction and increase renewal rates. The surveys, which include an incentive for participation, are sent to more than 5,000 U.S. apartment residents representing a diverse range of geographies, incomes, and family types. A copy of the Apartment Resident Insights Survey brief is available on the Ocius web site.
Ocius invented the process of convergent billing thirteen years ago and continues to be the innovation leader in this rapidly growing segment. Ocius also provides Utility Expense Management, Transaction Processing, Submetering, and Resident Portal solutions that help our clients exceed their goals and delight their residents.