One Source, One Future: Why OneKey Unified Its MLS Backend
Courtesy of the WAV Group
Many MLSs offer multiple system options to provide flexibility and choice for their subscribers. But OneKey® MLS—serving the Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS® and the Long Island Board of REALTORS®—has taken a different path that offers other MLS operators some good fodder for long term strategic thinking.
OneKey transitioned to a single MLS platform. WAV Group sat down with OneKey CEO Richard Haggerty to talk about the strategic thinking behind this shift.
“For many reasons, OneKey MLS felt it was in our members’ best interest to have a unified front- and back-end solution,” Haggerty said. “This wasn’t just a technical upgrade. It was a foundational shift—one that touched every part of our system and, more importantly, impacted the professionals who depend on us every day. Substantial progress often comes wrapped in inconvenience, but we took this step because we believe in building an MLS that isn’t just functional, but future ready. We didn’t make this move just to fix problems—we made it to create room for what’s next: smarter tools, deeper insights, and better collaboration with our industry partners. You can’t build that on a foundation split in two.”
Being Future Ready
Having a unified (think single) backend database is a keynote to being future ready. With this move, OneKey transformed their data schema to the RESO standards. This is such an important choice. At the surface level, listing input matches listing output – like what you would display on an agent website, flyer, CMA, etc. On a technical level, every application that connects to the MLS – albeit an MLS application offering, a data share, or any technology vendor that may be authorized by a participant can have confidence in the data mapping as a result of RESO standardization.
From its inception, OneKey MLS was designed to align with how brokers and agents do business across the region. Formed just a week before the COVID-19 shutdown, the MLS prioritized minimizing disruption. The best path at that time was to mirror data across two legacy systems – and two legacy data schema – avoiding the complexity of training agents on a new interface during a period of intense uncertainty. While significant field adjustments were made to unify the data model, the underlying structure still required extensive translation to maintain and synchronize fields and lookups between platforms.
“At the time, reducing disruption for agents was the right call,” Haggerty explained. “Our goal was to solve a data problem for our members. OneKey shouldered the heavy lift and expense of managing both systems behind the scenes so agents wouldn’t feel the strain. That approach solved the ‘overlapping market disorder’ that had long challenged brokers and agents and paved the way for the successful merger of two adjacent markets”.
Operating two parallel systems meant OneKey had to duplicate efforts across data management, training, compliance, and support. “Each platform had its strengths,” said Haggerty. “We shared data in real time to create as seamless an experience as possible. But even the best handshake between systems isn’t the same as a sole source of truth. As the market evolved and expectations around speed, accuracy, and flexibility grew, we realized that what once served us well was now holding us back. So, we did the challenging thing—we unified.”
OneKey MLS unified its backend on Matrix to streamline operations, boost data accuracy, and deliver smarter, future-ready tools for real estate professionals across NY.
In 2024, nearly five years after its founding, OneKey consolidated all users onto Cotality’s Matrix platform.
Under a single MLS system, OneKey has built a strong, future-ready foundation. Today, the organization is focused on delivering a curated set of solutions—what Haggerty calls a “solution-based strategy” rather than a product-centric one. The idea of adopting a product just to see if it sticks is inefficient and often ineffective,” Haggerty said. “Everyone wants the next shiny toy, but we have to ask: will this actually solve a pain point for our members?”
With Matrix, OneKey is focused on operationalizing one system, relieving the complexity of data management, system integration, and support for the MLS staff. Haggerty reports that the organization is nimbler today and has heightened its ability to deliver solutions more seamlessly.
New OneKey Strategic Solutions
Knowledge Base:
To better support subscribers, OneKey launched a digital Knowledge Base—a self-service tool akin to an FAQ or Wiki. The goal is to empower members to find answers quickly and reduce call center volume. More importantly, Haggerty notes, “we want every inbound call to feel like a private micro-training – something personalized and goal-focused.”
The next step for OneKey is to launch an AI-driven support center trained on the Knowledge Base content. The vision is a 24/7 support agent that can assist users in any language, continuing OneKey’s commitment to serving a diverse subscriber base for a wide range of common support needs.
Ocusell Listing Management:
OneKey also partnered with Ocusell to support brokerages managing listings in multiple MLS systems. OneKey provides MLS services surrounding New York City and Long Island, and soon firms in the Borough of Manhattan will be able to publish listings directly into Matrix via Ocusell, streamlining the process and reducing duplication of effort.
Front-End Choice vs. Single MLS System
While multiple front ends can help remove barriers for markets to merge, it is not an inexpensive proposition. The cost of normalizing the data and keeping it synchronized in real time requires specialized data management personnel and data transport costs. Making changes to the systems also demands skillful management. If one field is changed, it needs to be changed twice, and coordinated perfectly with multiple vendors.
If the strategy is important, the effort is worth it. For OneKey MLS, the front end of choice option was a catalyst to merge MLSs. Today, having converted to a single system, OneKey has streamlined operations, and liberated resources for providing other solutions to better serve their customers.
That doesn’t mean the door is closed on future options. “We’re not opposed to offering alternative front ends if there’s a compelling reason that better serves the needs of our customers,” said Haggerty. “But simply offering choice for choice’s sake has limited benefits and many challenges. The leadership at OneKey is committed to delivering the tools and solutions that help our customers succeed. Every decision is made with intention—and with our subscribers’ success in mind.”
