How to Maximize Yardi ROI: The 5-20 Person Team Strategy

Maximizing your Yardi ROI takes more than just software: it requires a team. 

From initial conversion to post-implementation support, the right staffing model is the difference between a system that just “works” and one that drives growth. Organizations typically need 5 to 20 experts to support their system. In this article, we break down the essential roles you need and compare the cost-effectiveness of in-house versus outsourced Yardi support.

Achieving Maximum ROI from Yardi: Why It Takes a Dedicated Team

The skills needed can vary drastically depending on the Yardi products you use. Furthermore, some roles are crucial only during the initial setup, while others are essential for ongoing operations. For example, the skills needed to be a good trainer are very different from the skills needed to be a good implementor. 

Key Yardi Roles for Implementation and Conversion

During this critical phase, your team should include:

• Implementers: These individuals must possess a strong foundation in business analysis and specific implementation experience with the Yardi product(s) being rolled out. If you’re implementing Investment Manager or Investment Accounting, you’ll specifically need someone with an accounting background who also has a deep, technical understanding of Yardi.
• Project Managers: The ideal candidate brings robust change management skills alongside deep Yardi expertise. This ensures they can work seamlessly with the entire team to drive smooth, efficient project delivery.

Ongoing Post-Implementation Support Roles

Once Yardi is live, you’ll need:

• Trainers: While HR can handle the delivery, they require high-quality training materials. Developing these materials demands both profound Yardi knowledge and excellent oral and written communication skills. At Lynx, our implementers and project managers produce superior training assets, and we are available to assist with initial training sessions.
• Yardi Administrator: This point person needs comprehensive product knowledge and enough business acumen to quickly grasp an issue and problem-solve effectively. They typically manage critical areas like security and ensuring all user permissions are correctly assigned.
• Support Staff: You need knowledgeable staff across your Yardi modules to accurately identify if an issue is a solvable configuration problem or if it requires escalation to Yardi. Beyond product-specific experts, strong SQL skills may also be necessary to address core data needs.
• Property Accountants: While existing staff will be trained to use Yardi, supplementing your team with outsourced experts, like those at Lynx, guarantees you’re bringing on people who are already Yardi-proficient, saving you significant training time.
• Custom Reporting Specialists: While Yardi offers excellent out-of-the-box reports, if you’re consolidating data from multiple sources or integrating Yardi with advanced tools like PowerBI and RealTime, you’ll require a dedicated developer.

3 Strategies for Building Your Yardi Expert Team

To assemble a team with all the necessary competencies, you have three primary options:

1. Hire a Full In-House Team of Experts.

This option often works best after the initial implementation. Implementers placed in

sustained support roles often become disengaged, leading to high turnover, even with

competitive salaries.

• Pros:
  • Exclusive, dedicated access to your team members.
• Cons:
  • You pay full-time salaries even when part-time expertise is all you need.
  • Costs can be up to double that of outsourcing to specialized consultants like Lynx.
  • Scaling your team up or down is difficult and slow.

2. Hire a Core Yardi Team and Supplement with Consultants as Needed.

• Pros:
  • You gain access to a complete set of skills without the expense of hiring every role full-time.
  • Easier and faster to scale up or down compared to maintaining a full in-house team.
  • Using a larger consulting firm like Lynx saves you the significant time and effort of vetting numerous individual hires (smaller firms may lack the full breadth of skills you require).
• Cons:
  • The core team itself can still be more costly than outsourcing the majority of your Yardi support.
  • Choosing the wrong consultant is a costly mistake in both time and money.

3. Outsource Your Yardi Needs to a Consultant.

• Pros:
  • The most cost-effective way to access the specific experts you need, precisely when you need them.
  • Superior coverage: if a team member is on vacation or sick leave, you still have immediate access to qualified backup.
  • You can access the full range of required skills for up to half the cost of hiring each individual full-time.
• Cons:
  • Requires extra diligence in vetting consultants, as you are entrusting them with greater responsibility.
• Note: Even with this option, you should maintain an internal Yardi Administrator or point person responsible for coordinating with your external team.

Compare the three staffing models for cost, scalability, and expertise access.

How can Lynx help?

Lynx has a team of 30+ experts who are able to support your existing team in a variety of areas, including but not limited to: 

• Staff Training and Onboarding: Lynx provides training for new and existing staff, helping them adapt to new roles and the latest Yardi upgrades.
• Implementation Services: Our seasoned team ensures any new Yardi modules you roll out are implemented smoothly and perfectly align with your specific requirements.
• Support Services: Our specialists are on standby to keep your Yardi system operating at peak efficiency.
• Project Management: Our Project Managers bring essential change management and Yardi skills to ensure all your Yardi-related initiatives conclude successfully.
• Property Accounting: Lynx accountants are available to assist with day-to-day accounting needs and to offer expert consultation to other team members.
• Report Writing: Getting highly customized reports from Yardi can be complex. Our team knows exactly how to extract the data you need from Yardi and integrate it with powerful tools like PowerBI and RealTime to maximize your reporting insights.

Reach out today to discuss how we can help you address your Yardi staffing and operational needs.