Cohiva: Digital administration and self-management for housing cooperatives
Real estate management involves a variety of different activities. A range of different tools are used to support this work. The Warmbächli housing cooperative in Bern was faced with the challenge of supporting its activities and processes with digital tools, after its foundation and the subsequent construction and occupation of its first property. Marco Steinacher, now an employee at Tegonal, developed the “Cohiva” software landscape based on existing open source tools and frameworks, which supports the office, the administration and all members of the cooperative in their day-to-day work. From that, we have many years of experience both in software development and in the practical application of these tools.
Software landscape
Cohiva has a modular structure and uses interfaces to connect existing components. Therefore we can offer both complete systems as well as selected modules, which complement your existing digital infrastructure. For example, the existing management solution can be supplemented with functions such as a reservation system or automated billing. It is important to us that the various components are interlinked as well as possible, so that access for users is easy and does not require many different apps or logins. We would like to work with you to identify a suitable solution based on your specific needs.
WOHNBAUGENOSSENSCHAFT WARMBÄCHLI
Digital tools for administration and community
For the self-managed cooperative in Bern with around 60 apartments as well as commercial and communal areas, suitable digital tools are essential for smooth operation and functioning communication. When developing these tools, the requirements of both the building community and the administration had to be taken into account. In addition, operational experience was incorporated so that the technical solutions correspond as closely as possible to the processes.
The Warmbächli cooperative currently uses Cohiva as a technical solution in the following areas:
Master data management
- Member management
- Tenant directory
- Contract management
Management
- Defect and repair reports
- Sending personalized emails and documents such as membership invoices, confirmations or interest statements for loans
Billing and accounting
- Controlling of recurring and non-recurring receivables
- Managing of shares, loans and other borrowed capital
- Overview for administration
Financial accounting
- Full integration with GnuCash
- Other financial accounting systems possible
Service charge statements
- Service charge statements for apartments and business premises
- Maximum transparency and clarity
- Integrated billing of solar energy (ZEV) and shared Internet/WiFi
- Import of meter readings
- Usage comparison and classification using graphics
Community building and self-management
- Chat for the house or settlement community
- Reservation system for (guest) rooms and other spaces/items
- Billing of room rent
- Billing system for self-managed offers (e.g. self-service store or sharing offers)
- Registration system for events
- Documentation for tenants
- App for tenants with the above functions
Customer opinions
«Die digitalen Tools, welche Marco in den letzten Jahren entwickelt hat, haben den Aufbau der Genossenschaft Warmbächli enorm erleichtert und sind heute zentral für unseren Betrieb und die Hausgemeinschaft.»
Bernadette Dancet, President of Wohnbaugenossenschaft Warmbächli, Bern
Open source software as the basis
The solution set up by Marco Steinacher at Warmbächli and now supplemented and maintained by Tegonal in the long term is not a completely new development. It contains and is based on proven components and platforms. These are cleverly combined and can be further expanded to map additional data structures and workflows. The technologies used are open source and the parts we have added are also accessible as free software. This means that they can be further developed as required and all users benefit from new functions.
How can we support you?
As a housing cooperative or real estate manager, you probably already have a solution in place. Often, however, additional requirements cannot simply be covered by this solution. Our strength is the integration and expansion of proven systems with new functionality that is currently required. Examples include community chats, room reservation systems including billing, etc.
We are available for a non-binding exchange. Please do not hesitate to contact us.