I actually have to disagree with each of these examples.  Blockbuster was not able to pivot into streaming, that is what killed them.

I don't see Uber killing the taxi industry.  Most people I know still use taxis over Ubers.

The music industry is not dead, far from it.  Musicians actually don't make much money from albums, the labels do.  Musicians make the most from touring.

Amazon killed retailers because you can buy pants while not wearing any pants.

AirBnB gives hotel options in cities where none exist.  That's it's power.  That you can rent a house for less than or similar to a hotel is great.

What are your action steps as to the "how" element?

The graphic is a bit simplistic, don't you think?

I have never neglected my clients -- I believe in high tech and high touch and my clients get it. I've partnered well with my co-brokers and lenders for 25 years. My clients have never not understood the value I bring.

my team has a "team" of members we use and they each use US.... our business is based on listings...we are listing agents and I market offline for those using direct mail marketing postcards...old school methods that keep us at the top of our game.... we are, obviously, online but listings come from offline marketing....buyers come from online... we leave buyers for buyer agents and we cooperate with all buyer agents....

I am all ears, I am open to suggestions. 

You have given many good points here Jason E. Gordon but unfortunately there is no solution. We all had hoped that the Realtor organization (NAR) would accomplish what you are suggesting but look how well that has worked. 

The consumer is into convenience. Everyone is busy and it's easy to sit in front of a computer looking at homes and inquiring about financing.  The industry needs to educate the consumer that the tech companies aren't doing them any favors. It's all about the money.

Perhaps the model used in some parts of Europe could be the solution, i.e., only listing agents sell their listings toi buyers.

Blame the victim? I'd say a change in consumer preferences, to using technology over human interaction, killed all of the above. 

This and a couple hundred million in tv advertising and we will have it made.

It is not about the whole industry, but an individual. If I work with you on the loan for the first time and you do not answer calls, emails, do not update me and do you job on time, I'll most likely not be your agent again. It works with me at any insdustry. 

We are not afraid of any disrupters.

I am not losing a battle over tech companies. 

Make sure your clients know your value.  I work well with my partners so we compliment each other.  Will this be enough to keep me in business?  We will have to see how these new features from Zillow and others will work. Can't see into the future but we can stand out now.

Will be looking for more in the future. I partnered with lenders, title companies, lawyers, home inspectors and various tradesmen for years when active to deliver superior customer service.

Jason,

Actually Netflix did kill Blockbuster retail stores, and left them empty!  As a frequent traveler, I have not seen a shortage of hotels ever!  More like an overbuilt situation.

 Barnes & Noble had to close many stores to stay profitable for instance...

Technology is supposed to help us,  not to take up all our time.  A

This is a good topic for multiple blog posts.

Looks like a great topic for a blog.

Interesting question. Reading answers.

Thank you for this information.

WE need to deliver a high level of service and competency to our clients to reinforce the value of working with us. Those who want "cheap" will pursue that course. That has always been true. We do not compete at that level and against those providers. We pursue and work with home buyers and sellers who want a satisfactory transaction delivered at a level that exceeds their expectations.

Consumers want choices.   Choices allow consumers to determine the price/value relationship they want to utilize. Taxis - high price w/ limited options.  Hotels have limited availability, high pricing.   Airbnb's offers additional inventory with a significant marginal cost advantage. Etc... 

The real estate industry needs to offer consumers choices; choices they want. Stop the silly six $1 bills demonstrations to justify a commission. Give them meaningful price/value options and let them choose their solutions.  Using tech is only one way to do so.  Each of us can also do it one on one with potential clients.

We need to recognize the traditional real estate commission compensation system is high risk/high reward to the agent. It is a low risk/high cost to the consumer. The consumer has no skin in the game and can walk away w/out monetary consequences. Change the risk/reward calculus by providing choices and let the consumer choose their risk/reward solution. Reducing commissions w/out reducing risk is not an economically viable strategy.

In Ft Lauderdale there were no Ubers available close to the airport, I took a tax as it was there. It was disgusting and the driver rude. That is what kills the taxi industry. PLUS it was 3 times what an Uber would cost. NOW on to real estate, providing great personal service is the way to beat the online real estate sites. People still demand good service and less and less are giving it. 

Those are points, not valid but points all the same.

There is no body of evidence showing that professionals working together and delivering a product the citizen has expressly stated they don't want, will result in prevailing over the market forces.

Instead, the results is citizen resentment from the OBVIOUS suppression of choice imposed by these same professionals....(often due to restrictions accepted as part of being in the sandbox and too cowardly to oppose).

Be very aware that technology simply makes disruption happens faster. The story behind the creation of Rocket Mortgage and the background psychology is incredibly revealing.

So how can real estate professionals and lenders actually deliver the expectations to the consumer that the sandbox rules currently don't permit?

NAR and much of the real estate industry is much like Block Buster and Kodak, thinking someone will save them. Well actually Kodak DID dump the losing stuff. sold the profitable stuff and downsized to Kodacurrency and printers, at Kodak's own initiative.

If you are ready to go rogue, make your peers and competitors mad, stand alone in the storm of criticism all yelling, YOU ARE WRONG....then perhaps we can work together, otherwise it's business as usual while those outside the banking and agent industry create to deminish the pie from which we hope for a slice..