PropTech is a catch-all term for technology used to improve the way we use, manage, and transact property. At its heart is the effective gathering and analysis of data to enhance building performance and user experience.
PropTech adds value to buildings and their users in three main ways: sustainability, operational performance and efficiencies, and tenant experience and satisfaction.
Tenant experience and satisfaction have become increasingly important in the fight for talent and the drive to encourage employees back to the office. The prevalence of hybrid working has heightened this need as office attendance has shifted towards ‘peak days.’
In Europe, office attendance is highest on Tuesdays – reaching 68% occupancy – and lowest on Fridays, at 43%, according to Savills figures. A similar pattern is observed in the US. This shift towards “peak days” requires smart management of spaces and facilities.
This is where PropTech comes in. Property managers who leverage the smart technologies, data analytics, and enhanced communication tools available are best placed to satisfy tenant expectations.
Supporting sustainable offices
Smart building system equipment is one key area. Energy management systems now have the ability to monitor the equipment from building management systems (BMS), interpret data and respond to real-time occupancy. Capabilities and applications are set to increase as AI draws from ever-larger data pools. A system might pre-emptively adjust office temperature on the morning of a planned train strike, for example, to account for lower attendance. This will ensure energy savings without compromising the in-office experience for those workers who do make it in.
User engagement apps, already a well-established property technology, are evolving as landlords increasingly look to optimise tenant experience not only within a building but across whole estates or portfolios. Services shared and promoted between office, retail, residential and food and beverage tenants can contribute to wellbeing and build community.
“Once a nice-to-have, tenant-focused PropTech solutions have become essential post-pandemic, enabling enhanced workplace communication and supporting sustainability,” says Sylvain Thouzeau, Associate Director of Property Management at Savills UK. “With an optimised work environment, employers can encourage office attendance and facilitate staff collaboration and idea-sharing.”
Commercial real estate is advancing, with more intelligent buildings that enhance working environments and drive net-zero initiatives. As the crucial technology they rely on becomes better, less expensive and more accessible, we expect PropTech to be more widely and innovatively applied across the industry.
PropTech solutions for enhancing tenant experience
Occupier and tenant engagement apps
Mobile apps and digital platforms streamline communication between tenants and building managers. Such apps have become more important since the pandemic, as employee workplace wellbeing has come to the fore.
Cureoscity, for example, an app designed to enhance tenant experience, allows the booking of amenities, management of deliveries, and access to building services. It also uses near-field communication technology to turn a mobile phone into a building access card. It can integrate with smart building systems to provide real-time data on building usage, occupancy, and environmental conditions. This, in turn, helps optimise building operations, improving energy efficiency.
Automated building receptions
Digital receptions enable employees and guests to check into the office without the need for reception staff. They also automate the receiving of parcels and have the advantage of being available 24/7. This can be particularly valuable when it comes to encouraging employees into the office, so they don’t feel they have to wait at home for deliveries.
Bringme’s Digital Reception is one such system, offering visitor reception and access control for offices. The company also offers a Digital Concierge and parcel management systems for residential buildings.
Building sensors
Building sensors monitor environmental and operational parameters such as temperature, occupancy and air quality. They help enhance comfort and optimise energy usage, while supporting maintenance by providing real-time data and insights on building systems.
Spaceti is a software platform that helps manage office spaces. It includes tools for connecting with smart devices and an Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem, helping real estate managers make better decisions based on occupancy data and the condition of the indoor environment.
The platform monitors the availability of rooms, workspaces, and parking spaces in real time, enabling employees to book them in advance or instantly, improving utilisation efficiency and overall comfort. Additionally, Spaceti provides live updates on indoor air quality with sensors that monitor temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels, and particulate matter. This helps HVAC systems operate efficiently while promoting building sustainability and creating a healthier and more comfortable workplace.
Smart building controls
Environmental impact and the associated ratings systems for buildings have become crucial to owners and occupiers alike. Smart building controls provide predictive analytics to improve emissions and reduce waste and allows the optimisation of both tenant experience in real time.
Smart Spaces offers ‘Smart Building OS’, a cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) platform that collects and reports data and utilises technologies such as digital twins. It integrates various building management systems and devices to provide user interaction via mobile wallets for both property managers and occupants, connecting global enterprise with security, purchasing, bookings and space optimisation.
Robotics
Robotics can be employed to offer concierge services, maintenance, cleaning and security, streamlining services while saving employee costs.
UK-firm Inherent Robotics, for example, offers automated delivery – by robot – of food and parcels, direct to an employee’s desk. Users can order food through their preferred delivery service, and when it arrives it is placed in the robot’s carrying pouch. The robot then navigates to the employee’s desk communicating wirelessly with security gates and elevators to reach its destination.
This is an area to watch, with the future development of robotics intertwined with the development of AI. As the technology advances, robots will become more intelligent and more capable of performing complex tasks.
