We sat down with the team at Mezzino and discussed all things resident engagement.
Apps, campaigns, technology, and what we’ve learnt in the data.
During the 2023/24 heating season, Luna Student’s Compass in Birmingham changed hands to Mezzino. Under the Harrison Street Real Estate partnership, spearheading their ESG strategy was a key element of the ongoing management of the PBSA asset, and with Utopi already installed in the building – utilising their data solutions to enhance operational efficiency and improve resident experience was key.
We sat down with Anie, Operations Manager at Mezzino and Utopi’s Head of Product, Phil to find out more about Mezzino’s journey with Utopi, with actionable performance insights, and being the first pilot site for the new Utopi resident app – how these data solutions have driven positive change at Compass.
Anie, what are the core areas of focus you have this year for Mezzino’s operational ESG strategy? And how is Utopi helping you achieve those goals?
The main areas of focus for Mezzino are energy efficiency, waste reduction, and community engagement. Alongside that it’s supporting Harrison Street’s wider ESG strategy, as this partnership is key to our operations.
Utopi’s energy monitoring capabilities allow us to track and analyse energy consumption patterns across our properties. This data enables us to identify areas for improvement and implement targeted energy-saving measures effectively. Utopi’s app also serves as a hub for community engagement, allowing us to promote sustainability initiatives.
Have you seen clear energy savings since implementing Utopi?
Yes, seeing a decrease in electricity consumption each month since the launch of the Utopi app compared to the same period last year is a clear indication of the positive impact the app is having on energy efficiency.
When it comes to Mezzino’s dedication to resident experience, how does PropTech like Utopi enhance your ability to improve the lifestyle of your residents?
In today’s age, technology plays an integral role in our lives, including the lives of our residents. We recognise the importance of technology not only to improve convenience but also to contribute to a more sustainable environment. Utopi helps our commitment to sustainability by offering features that empower residents to make environmentally conscious choices. By providing tools to monitor room temperature, air quality, and humidity, Utopi enables residents to optimise their living spaces for comfort and energy efficiency. This not only enhances the overall residential experience but also contributes to a more sustainable environment by reducing energy consumption.
Phil, why was Compass an obvious choice for testing the Resident App?
Compass was a great choice for a couple of reasons. First, it is a Mezzino site, and that meant we were working with an operator who is willing to test new ideas and challenge what is possible. When you’re trying to do something new, it is important to work with people who value taking a bet on better. They were a great fit.
Secondly, Compass is a diverse site, both in terms of local and international students, and in terms of student attitudes and behaviours towards the environment. That meant we were able to get a real handle for how the resident app would perform across different populations and really test it.
Anie, when testing Utopi’s Resident App, what impact have you seen it make at Compass?
The app tracks and compares the room temperature in our studios over time allowing us to measure the tangible benefits of our sustainability efforts. The app allows us to address behaviour that may not align with our sustainability efforts. Through features like competitions and awareness campaigns, we’ve been able to incentivize residents to adopt more sustainable practices.
Are there certain challenges you’ve faced that Utopi have helped ease for Mezzino?
One challenge we faced was during the initial launch of the app. As the app was introduced in late February, it was new for our residents and getting them on board was difficult. The Utopi team supported us during the launch phase. They were readily available to address any questions that arose and their presence at our site, Compass, to promote the app and its features had been invaluable, helping to generate excitement and enthusiasm among our residents.
Phil, what key learnings have you gained from the pilot site ahead of hard launch later in the summer?
Three things really stood out to us.
- We tested and validated our belief that students are just like the rest of us – they care about the environment, but it isn’t the top priority: That might sound surprising considering what we tend to think about GenZ, but they’re just like the rest of us who went to university. Our app focuses on tapping into these more human motivations to encourage residents to reduce their impact and we had great traction as a result. If we had focused purely on the environment, we wouldn’t have attracted such a broad group of users.
-
The diversity in the country of origin of Compass’s residents helped us test some of the rules of thumb the industry has for how different communities treat utilities: We found that there wasn’t a clear-cut link between country of origin and overconsumption of utilities. Again, it comes down to understanding people as people, and recognising the diversity within groups as well as between them.
-
We also found that asking residents to download another app onto their phone was not a barrier to adoption: There is often a concern that we’re all being asked to download more apps and we all have a limit, beyond which we’ll flat out refuse to download anything else. This is not the case. We found it comes down to whether the app is useful or not – What matters is whether residents value what the app does.
For more on Utopi and the value we offer the PBSA sector, see our Case Studies.
To organise a discovery call and explore how we can help transform the insights and performance of your assets, organise a call here.