Yardi Support vs. Consulting: What Does Your Team Actually Need?

When your organization encounters challenges with Yardi, determining the right type of assistance isn't always straightforward.

Some issues require immediate troubleshooting, while others involve larger operational challenges that cannot be resolved through a single support request.

Understanding the difference between Yardi support and consulting can help real estate organizations select the right services, improve system performance, and maximize their technology investment.

Whether you're experiencing recurring reporting issues, preparing for a system enhancement, or simply need dependable day-to-day assistance, knowing when to use each service is an important first step.

What Is Yardi Support?

Yardi support focuses on helping employees resolve software-related issues and maintain efficient daily operations.

Support services typically address questions or challenges that arise while using an existing Yardi environment.

Common Yardi support activities include:

• Troubleshooting system issues.
• Assisting with accounting and reporting questions.
• Helping employees navigate workflows.
• Providing user training and guidance.
• Reviewing database health.
• Addressing recurring operational challenges.

For organizations without extensive internal Yardi expertise, ongoing support can provide valuable access to knowledgeable professionals.

What Is Yardi Consulting?

Yardi consulting generally focuses on broader projects designed to improve how an organization implements, configures, or uses its ERP system.

Unlike routine support, consulting engagements typically involve evaluating business requirements, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing strategic improvements.

Common Yardi consulting services include:

• New system implementations and data conversion.
• Business process reviews and gap analysis.
• System configuration and optimization.
• Financial reporting improvements.
• Integrations and automation.
• Project management and governance.
• Training and change management.

Consulting services are particularly valuable when organizations need to address underlying process challenges or prepare for significant operational changes.

5 Key Differences Between Yardi Support and Consulting

1. Immediate Issues vs. Long-Term Improvements

Yardi support typically addresses immediate operational questions or software issues.

For example, an accounting employee experiencing difficulty completing a recurring task may need assistance troubleshooting the workflow.

Consulting focuses on evaluating whether the workflow itself could be improved.

The difference: Support helps resolve the immediate issue, while consulting can address the underlying process.

2. Ongoing Assistance vs. Project-Based Engagements

Support services often provide ongoing access to experienced professionals.

Consulting engagements are generally structured around defined objectives, deliverables, and project timelines.

For example, an organization may use support services for everyday questions while engaging consultants to redesign financial reporting processes.

The difference: Support maintains daily operations, while consulting helps implement broader improvements.

3. Troubleshooting vs. System Optimization

Support professionals help users navigate existing functionality and resolve technical or operational challenges.

Consultants evaluate whether current configurations, workflows, and system utilization align with business requirements.

For organizations experiencing recurring problems, consulting may provide an opportunity to address issues more comprehensively.

The difference: Support helps employees use the current environment, while consulting helps improve the environment itself.

4. User Guidance vs. Business Process Transformation

Support often includes answering employee questions and providing guidance on established procedures.

Consulting may involve reviewing processes across accounting, finance, property management, and IT to identify opportunities for standardization or automation.

For example, a consultant might evaluate how recurring accounting activities could be streamlined to reduce manual work.

The difference: Support improves day-to-day usability, while consulting can support larger operational changes.

5. Operational Continuity vs. Strategic Planning

Support services help organizations maintain reliable access to assistance as business needs arise.

Consulting services help organizations plan for future requirements, including portfolio expansion, reporting enhancements, and technology improvements.

Both can contribute to long-term system success.

The difference: Support helps keep operations running, while consulting helps organizations prepare for what's next.

When Does Your Organization Need Yardi Support?

Ongoing support may be the right solution if your organization:

• Experiences recurring software questions or minor issues.
• Needs additional assistance with accounting or reporting workflows.
• Has limited internal Yardi expertise.
• Requires employee training and guidance.
• Wants dependable access to experienced support professionals.

For these organizations, flexible support services can help reduce disruptions and improve employee productivity.

When Does Your Organization Need Yardi Consulting?

Consulting may be more appropriate when your organization:

• Is implementing Yardi or migrating from another system.
• Needs to redesign accounting or operational workflows.
• Experiences significant reporting inefficiencies.
• Wants to introduce automation or integrations.
• Has outgrown its original system configurations.
• Needs a comprehensive business process review.

These situations often require structured assessments, project planning, and specialized implementation expertise.

Why Some Organizations Benefit From Both

Yardi support and consulting are not mutually exclusive.

In fact, many real estate organizations benefit from combining ongoing support with periodic consulting engagements.

For example, a company may use support services to address daily accounting questions while working with consultants to improve reporting processes or implement automation.

This approach allows organizations to maintain operational continuity while pursuing longer-term improvements.

How REdirect Consulting Provides Both Yardi Support and Consulting

REdirect Consulting has been a member of Yardi's Independent Consultant Network (ICN) since 2011, providing specialized services to real estate organizations using Yardi.

REdirect offers both ongoing support and project-based consulting to help organizations manage their technology throughout its lifecycle.

REdirect Assist: Ongoing Yardi Support

Through REdirect Assist, organizations can access flexible software support, including troubleshooting, employee training, database health checks, and operational assistance.

REdirect Assist offers a guaranteed response time of less than four hours and maintains a 95% client satisfaction rating.

REdirect Consulting: Strategic System Improvements

REdirect also provides consulting services focused on:

• Business process reviews and gap analysis.
• Yardi implementation and data conversion.
• System optimization and configuration.
• Financial reporting and analytics.
• AI and automation.
• Project management and training.

By offering both services, REdirect helps organizations address immediate challenges while identifying opportunities for long-term improvement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Yardi Support and Consulting

What is the main difference between Yardi support and consulting?

Yardi support focuses on troubleshooting, user assistance, and daily operational needs. Yardi consulting focuses on implementations, system optimization, reporting improvements, and broader business process changes.

Can a Yardi support company also provide consulting services?

Yes. Some firms, including REdirect Consulting, provide both ongoing support and project-based consulting services.

When should I hire a Yardi consultant instead of using support?

Consider consulting when challenges involve recurring inefficiencies, major configuration changes, reporting redesign, integrations, or broader operational improvements.

Does REdirect Assist provide Yardi support?

Yes. REdirect Assist offers flexible Yardi support services, including troubleshooting, training, database health checks, and a guaranteed response time of less than four hours.

Can Yardi consulting reduce ongoing support needs?

Potentially. Addressing underlying configuration issues, improving workflows, and providing employee training may reduce recurring problems and support requests.

Find the Right Yardi Expertise With REdirect Consulting

Whether your organization needs dependable day-to-day support or strategic consulting assistance, having access to experienced Yardi professionals can help improve operational efficiency.

REdirect Consulting provides both Yardi consulting services and flexible ongoing support through REdirect Assist, helping real estate organizations maximize the value of their existing technology.

Contact REdirect Consulting to discuss your Yardi challenges and determine the right level of support for your organization.