I would say it is absolutely essential that they understand it's best NOT to use the company CRM or website or email.  They need to develop their own of each.  It is extremely rare (maybe even 0%) that an agent will stay with the same company and when they move it will be critical for them to have their own website and CRM and independent email address, or they are going to be starting all over again! 

As for essential technology, YES a website, CRM, cell phone, professional email address, computer and a plan for consistent marketing to their sphere. 

There are many.  Computer. Phone. MLS  Access. e-Keys to access listings.  
I recommend getting their own website and not be dependent on the brokerage provided website. 

Personally, I do not believe in using any company's technology, except maybe for zipforms and docusign. I don't like being tied into a company for my data base and website... too complicated if you leave the firm. And all new agents should have their own laptop, smart phone at a minimum.

Phone, laptop, ekey. With our website and backend CRM, I am trying to think of any other technology that is really that important to us, and I'm coming up short. 

    A Rainmaker membership on ActiveRain.

smartphone, laptop for sure and frankly a good car is essential in most markets.

A website not provided by a broker or franchise. Cell phone. Laptop or tablet.

A cell phone with a great camera that you can sync with your new CRM!

Social medea would be #1

Mobile phone, laptop, your OWN URL at the very least... actually thinking about it there are MANY things that we take for granted but are essential and technological in nature. Peter Mohylsky 

I agree totally with Carol Williams Make sure they have their own CRM and website.  Preferably use their own email address as well. Budget for advertising, and make sure they put away money for Uncle Sam out of every commission check and save for a rainy day.

Docusign

Electonic forms

smart phone

GPS

lock box app and blue tooth lockboxes

It likeLy depends on the person. Some might appreciate the most basic like a garage door opener, others will require something more advanced. In honor of the holiday season- - -know your audience. 

I am with Carol #1. Agents need their own CRM, website, and email. A good smartphone, a cellular tablet, and a good computer. I do not think that this equipment is something to go cheap on!

An agent needs their own email apart from their brokerage so that they will not disappear from the radar screens of all of their contacts when they make the inevitable change to new broker.

Cell phone, maybe a laptop to sync up to that phone.

for listing agents, Realbird is a good investment....short money!!

That's a good start.

cellphone and laptop ...go with that....

Agree with Kathleen. 

Own web and e-mail. Not a company e-mail.

Nothing to add to what Carol Williams said!

I would not use the broker CRM or website. You need to have your own plus a fully equipped home office.

Landing Pages

A good phone and laptop are min.

Assume smart phones and laptops are understood as essential?

I too would have my own CRM, web site, etc.

Social Media and laptop and I phone

Agreed with most of the people here... aside from your obvious hardware, you need to focus on investing in your own site. Later, a crm. 

very first starts, honestly should just focus on their social media. 

A good phone is very important.

That  will be different for everyone as everyone has different needs and strengths

Never saw a lead generation going to make automated calls. Z is a major lead generation company providing Premier Agents an instant contact is getting bad publicity by investors for providing unreliable leads...... Stock price is lowest in 30 months.....

Best technology is talk to a real person.

As Carol Williams wrote. We don't like the possibility of sharing our hard won clients or work product without our approval.

Phone, laptop of iPad, a good camera, your own lead generating website that links to a great automated CRM

Yes, their own CRM and web site!  And an iPhone.

I'd say their own email, website and communications platform.  Whether that's a CRM or newsletter program.

Good luck.

I think the agent should provbide all of his own tech. Having an agency website doesn't differentiate oneself.

A CRM is not essential. Using the brokerage or franchise CRM is the worst possible decision. The agents future is more secure using scrap paper until they get to that 10 transactions a year point. Then they can look at optimizing but must not become entangled with the brokerage/franchise systems. It is not until they choose to optimize their income and leave that organizationthat the punitive nature of this decision steps into the sunlight.

A clue is essential.

New agents should sit in a coroner and meditate until they get a clue regarding what they bring into a transaction worthy of pay.

Of course this 'clue' must be free from all the real estate agent puffery and gobbly-gook. When the agent knows what they bring, then they can pick the methodology to deliver their 'clue."

This is not a hard question. It is simply one that is recognized as needed and another who has a clue to lead them to their clue.

But, the industry is configured to separate the newbie as quickly as possible from $12,000 of their hard earned dollars. So CRM and other shiny things are the 'go to' for enabling new agents.

OF course a smart phone is the obvious essential that a new agent can not live without.