Yardi Training Tips from Our Experts

Approaching Yardi as a brand-new user can be intimidating. Yardi is such a robust and multifunctional platform with countless modules and tools to help you manage properties, create reports, and optimize countless other administrative tasks. 

Rather than diving into the Yardi platform headfirst and clicking buttons at random, we recommend that our clients undergo training with an expert. Our team of independent Yardi consultants has helped countless clients begin their journey with Yardi on the right foot and quickly master the skills they need to use Yardi effectively every day. 

Here are some of the Yardi training tips recommended by our experts.

Yardi Training Tips for Beginners

According to Saxony Partners Yardi Consultant Meagan Stuesser, there are a few key areas where Yardi beginners should focus their attention during training. These are her top Yardi training tips.

System Navigation

In order to build a strong foundation for understanding Yardi best practices, you must first and foremost learn how to navigate the system. 

“One example is the TAB key,” Stuesser said. “It’s essential when entering data across fields. It allows the user to move quickly, and in some areas of Yardi it is used to add additional data lines.”

System Flow

“It’s important to “read” the system – understand how it flows,” Stuesser said. “You need to recognize what kind of information you will find on the Dashboard versus the left side menu versus the quick bar.”

Tools for Self-Sufficiency

While you navigate throughout the system, it helps to master some of the most user-friendly tools. 

“Menu Search and Site Search are great for locating specific functions or types of data within the system,” Stuesser said. “The HELP button is found throughout the system and provides information on your current screen.”

Nuances

Beyond the basic windows and tools, it helps to know about some of the smaller nuances of using the Yardi platform.

“It’s important to note that Yardi functions optimally when Chrome is used,” Stuesser said. “There are areas where clicking SAVE then CLOSE are needed to save data. Clicking “x” on a browser window doesn’t disconnect your session fully. You need to know how to address an inactivity window when a timeout warning message comes up.”

Module Uses

Finally, Yardi newbies need to comprehend the purpose of each module. 

“There are job-specific duties defined by each module,” Stuesser said. “Let’s say you oversee AP and need to know how PAYscan works. You need to learn how an invoice is entered, how it moves through an approval workflow, and then how it becomes a payable so a check can be cut.”

Train the Trainer

One popular buzzword you may hear in conjunction with the Yardi training process is “train the trainer.” But what does that actually mean? It’s simple really.

“At its core, Train the Trainer is a technique that allows students to acquire the knowledge and skillset to train others,” Stuesser said. “Train the Trainer attendees already have a strong knowledge base of their duties and, much of the time, Yardi itself.  These are the individuals that will be learning the software at a deeper skill level and will gain tools to train their peers.”

While someone who plans to become the resident Yardi trainer for their organization does need to have a solid foundation of knowledge about the system, they can fulfill any role within their organization.

“Train the Trainer has a connotation that this is someone with Admin access to the system,” Stuesser said. “This is not necessarily true.  For example, you can have someone solely focused on training the residential leasing process – they may be a head leasing agent or property manager, not necessarily an admin user. In a Train the Trainer session we would have the trainees work through examples themselves instead of just showing them what to do.”

Why Yardi Training Matters

There are numerous benefits to Yardi training from an experienced consultant. You can circumvent repetitive issues, prevent procedural errors that turn into costly mistakes, and avoid frustration and wasted time from guesswork.

“The system is not only a tool to push efficiency but also an investment,” Stuesser said. “Why spend thousands of dollars on a system that no one knows how to use? Training empowers staff to perform their duties in an accurate and efficient manner.  It gives them a running start and saves a company time and money down the road.”

If you’re looking for more Yardi training tips and best practices recommended by our team of independent Yardi consultants, visit our Saxony Partners blog or follow us on LinkedIn.