Recap: Equiem at Proptech Connect 2024

Equiem had the pleasure of attending PropTech Connect 2024, where we connected with industry leaders, engaged in thought-provoking discussions, and showcased the future of property technology. Our team, including Ben Harris, Global Director of Sales, took part in insightful panels, shared expertise, and gathered valuable takeaways that are helping shape the future of real estate. Here’s a recap of our time at the event.

Ben Harris on the Panel: Digital Transformation in Real Estate

At the heart of our PropTech Connect experience was Ben Harris' participation in a panel alongside industry leaders like Sally Jones and James Kendall from SwiftConnect, Fiona Sawkill from British Land, and Matt Bennett from HID at VineyardConnect. The discussion explored British Land’s innovative deployment of employee badges in Apple Wallet as part of its customer experience program.

Key takeaways from the panel included:

• Touchless experiences: Digital access solutions are evolving beyond just door entry, offering a seamless street-to-seat experience for tenants.
• Community building through technology: Digital access is opening new avenues for tenant engagement, creating stronger communities within buildings.
• Collaboration and integration: Successful digital transformations rely on standards compliance and close partnerships between property owners and tech providers, as seen in British Land's collaboration with Equiem, SwiftConnect, and HID.

The conversation underscored the importance of investing in smart, scalable solutions that enhance tenant experiences and create new opportunities for engagement.

Connected Communities Panel: Integrating Mixed Use Across Real Estate

One of the standout sessions attended by the Equiem team was the Connected Communities panel, led by Olaide Oboh, Alton Hassan, and Finn Carew, and moderated by Steven Pitchford. The discussion focused on the integration of mixed-use spaces, including retail, office, and residential, and the role of technology in creating seamless tenant experiences.

Key insights included:

• Community-focused apps are essential in delivering smooth resident experiences.
• Open APIs and AI-readiness are crucial for better data connectivity, allowing for more informed decision-making in the real estate space.
• Flexible tech solutions are key to adapting to the evolving needs of tenants.

These takeaways highlight the need for dynamic technology that enhances engagement and supports a variety of property types.

Human-First Approach to Smart Buildings: A Deep Dive into Key Pillars

Another valuable session attended by the team was the Human-First Approach to Smart Buildings panel, featuring James Thomas from SES Engineering Services, Tomás G. Mac Eoin from Hereworks, Jonathan Avery from LGIM, and Nick Wright from CBRE, moderated by Dan Hughes from Alpha Property Insight.

The discussion centered around the three core pillars of smart buildings:

• Sustainability: Smart buildings must support eco-friendly practices to reduce energy use.
• Operational efficiency: Technology should streamline building operations, making day-to-day management smoother.
• Tenant experience: Ultimately, smart buildings should enhance the human experience, focusing on the needs and comfort of tenants.

Jonathan Avery emphasized the value of gathering NPS data at the building level, allowing for real-time feedback that helps drive continuous improvements.

The Human Component to Digital Transformation

Finally, Equiem attended The Human Component to Digital Transformation panel, featuring experts such as Ayca Martinez from CBRE, Simon Hayter from Knight Frank, Martin Peterlechner from Cureoscity, and Sean Wright from JLL Spark. This panel focused on bridging the gap between end-users and developers to drive meaningful change in real estate through technology.

Key questions posed during the panel included:

• Are you saving someone time? Effective tech solutions must provide tangible value by improving efficiency.
• Are you adding value? Technology should not be implemented for its own sake—it needs to enhance operations and experiences.
• Tailored solutions: The panel discussed the need for department-specific technologies to better meet the diverse needs within an organization.

PropTech Connect 2024 provided the Equiem team with the opportunity to engage with industry leaders, discuss the future of property technology, and bring new insights back to our clients. We look forward to applying these learnings as we continue to push the boundaries of tenant experience and real estate innovation.

Want to learn more about how Equiem is shaping the future of PropTech? Connect with us for a deeper dive into our latest innovations and explore how our platform can enhance your properties.