There could be many ways to automate like your friend as well.

While there are more and more tools and automation coming I can not foresee it being obsolete any time soon there are too many task needing a real person in the process.

This involves: Running marketing campaigns for dealsStudying local marketsUnderstanding rehab costs and ARVMaking many, many offers on new propertiesNegotiating with sellersNegotiating with banks and private financiersNetworking with other investors, contractors, aldermen, etcManaging the closing of dealsCalling the shots on value-adds and rehabs to existing assetsKeeping the booksCreating quarterly reportsSetting up systems to help automate tasksActing as spokesperson / point man for portfolioUnnamed partner acts an equity partner.

I would like an automated system where they can go in and see their account that automatically calculates late charges.

I recently added a couple units, plan to expand quickly, and am realizing that successful self-management is heavily dependent on systems and automation.

Which is to say they send me a ton of various report and notifications (all automated by whatever software they bought) but it is either poorly thought out or intentionally obfuscated.  

As for apps, I'd make sure you use one that has tenant screening and rental accounting features built in (for some of them, you have to pay extra).The right one will also allow you to collect rent online, automate late fees, link your bank feeds, and more.

I recently started managing a vacation rental.Been researching a lot about the different tools that would make my life easier (Dynamic pricing, automated messages, expenses tracking, ...) and found a few useful ones but having a hard time to decide.Curious to see what others are using and whether you would recommend it or not

We left town so it'll have to wait and the automated messages won't be sent to the guests. 

Well, to answer the titular question, "Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search" was best I could find, and got that from Wikipedia.