Bernie Devine, Senior Director, Asia Pacific, Yardi ((19659001)]Last year artificial intelligence went from headline hype to actual experimentation, and real estate’s attitude towards technology changed. Will momentum turn into maturity? Yardi’s annual Proptech Survey measures how far and fast the sector has moved.
Yardi has been surveying Asia Pacific real estate leaders for more than six years on technology adoption. We’ve confirmed what everyone already knows. Real estate is not leading in tech adoption, but rather lagging behind.
Surprise twist? Last year, the real estate industry made a big move.
By 2024, 26% Asian firms, 27% Australian firms, and 35% of New Zealand firms had begun implementing AI systems. It’s true, only 12-16% of firms had reached a point where they could offer a growing solution. Implementation is not integration. It’s a good start.
We’re watching the gap between testing, and traction this year. Not just who uses AI, but also who is getting value from it and how.
Source: Win, 2024.
AI Climbs Org Chart
We asked AI to write emails in 2024. In 2025, agentic AI will manage our calendars and tasks, and we’ll be chasing us to meet deadlines.
Imagine a digital organisational diagram, where agents receive tasks, report to others agents, and interact directly with their human counterparts. These agents do more than just assist. They execute, escalate, and learn.
Already, we’re starting to see examples embedded in real estate. Think of agents who can triage maintenance requests or manage lease workflows in real-time.
To orchestrate this kind of orchestration, software that speaks fluent AI is required. Our survey asks: who’s ready to put these agents to work?
Bots are coming (for both sides)
While AI is the frontline agent of change, cyber is the battle in the background. Our 2024 survey revealed that the industry was still underprepared. 33% of companies in Asia, 37% Australia, and 53% New Zealand had already experienced a data breach or cybersecurity incident.
AI has now been placed in the hands of hackers. Deepfakes are becoming harder to detect. Phishing has become more sophisticated. Traditional firewalls aren’t designed to handle AI-generated code.
Real estate is catching up. Slowly. We’ve seen a growing investment into auditing and training. This is not a one-time exercise and it cannot be the sole responsibility for the tech team. This year, we want to know if your cyber strategy has evolved as quickly as the threat landscape.
Source: Win, 2024.
Real Estate Hits a Refresh
Real estate has always been a sector that tied its shoelaces before the start of the race. But not anymore. Maybe. Our data from 2024 revealed less resistance to changes and more willingness to try new things.
CIOs now have to deal with a new set questions from their peers and the C-suite. “Can we get AI for that?” This is a fair question but often the incorrect one. It shows a persistent mindset: that technology should be added after the fact rather than used to build a business.
Our focus is on adoption. We want to know what is driving the real impact.
Over To You
In Asia, the 2025 Yardi Proptech Survey has now opened. Australia and New Zealand will launch soon. We want to know what has changed in the last year and what your plans are for the future.
Your insight helps your industry benchmark progress, challenge the assumptions and sharpen collective focus. Smart systems, smart strategies, and shared learning are what create traction. The survey will take you just 5 minutes. Click here to share what you think
