Why CRE Owners Must Rethink Digital Infrastructure
Welcome to the first instalment of a 52-week exploration into the intersection of data and digital infrastructures, tenant experience, and operational performance in commercial real estate.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR & Editor of Proptech-X – ‘Over the past nine years I have worked 1:1 with over 160 founders and CEO’s of companies grappling with the challenges and opportunities that new technology is bringing to the global real estate sector, the plan, sale, lease and management of property assets, the things we live in and the things we work in.
Some years ago I started working with Bill Douglas and his company Opticwise, and to me he is a true visionary understanding that more revenue and more profit can be driven if you dare re-imagine how the component parts of an operating system can be better aligned to serve all stakeholders. And I am very proud that Bill has entrusted me and my publications and network with the distillation of many years of work – that he now wishes to share in his own words with anyone who has an interest in commercial real estate, and wants to de-risk their operations. Please do make direct contact with Bill as he has my full endorsement.’
Introduction
‘Hello, I’m Bill Douglas, CEO of OpticWise, where we help property owners turn their digital underlay into a strategic asset. This series is inspired by insights from my book, Peak Property Performance: Game-Changing AI and Digital Strategies for Commercial Real Estate (Fast Company Press, June 2025), and is designed to help CRE leaders better understand how to drive NOI, improve tenant satisfaction, and future-proof their portfolios. Each week, I will unpack practical steps, real-world case studies, and key concepts shaping the new era of digitally driven intelligent buildings.
Week 1: The Invisible Assets: Data and Digital Infrastructures
In commercial real estate (CRE), traditional assets like square footage, location, and curb appeal have long driven value. But there’s a critical asset hiding in plain sight: digital infrastructure. Often misunderstood or delegated to third-party vendors, digital infrastructure is what connects your building’s operations to your tenants’ and your employees’ daily lives. It includes analog and digital operations systems, boundless/private/secure internet, IoT systems, smart building controls, and the data network underlay that powers them all. Increasingly, this infrastructure is not just operational—it’s financial.
Why CRE Owners Can’t Ignore It Anymore
As AI adoption, hybrid work models, and tenant digital expectations escalate, buildings with outdated infrastructure are falling behind. Lack of digital ownership leads to:
– Missed revenue from technology services sold to tenants
– Lower tenant satisfaction and lease renewal rates
– Operational inefficiencies and increased expenses from disconnected systems
– Inability to harness operations data for efficiency improvements such as energy optimization or predictive maintenance
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
New law – Landlords & Tenants must be PEP and Global sanctions checked
Mandatory AML checks now enforced for Landlords and Tenants
From 14th May, 2025 new UK legislation requires that all landlords and tenants be screened against global sanctions and PEP (Politically Exposed Persons) lists. These checks are now a legal obligation, with no exceptions, and failure to comply could lead to severe penalties — fines of up to £1 million or 50% of the estimated value of the breach, whichever is higher.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
When someone is screened against global sanctions lists, their name is checked against official records from governments and international authorities (such as the UN, EU, UK, and OFAC in the US). These lists include individuals and entities who are subject to sanctions because of involvement in criminal activities, terrorism, or threats to international peace and security. Being on one of these lists may mean the person is banned from certain financial transactions or subject to asset freezes.
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) are individuals who hold or have held prominent public positions—like government ministers, judges, senior military officers, or directors of state-owned enterprises—or are closely connected to someone who does. Because of their influential roles, PEPs present a higher risk for bribery, corruption, or money laundering. AML regulations require enhanced scrutiny for these individuals to ensure financial integrity and compliance.
In essence, this legislation means all letting agents and landlords must ensure that no tenant or landlord involved in a property transaction is a known financial risk, either through direct criminal links or association with high-risk individuals.
FCC Paragon’s AML Check Service: A Compliance Essential
In an era where financial crimes are increasingly sophisticated, FCC Paragon offers a comprehensive Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Check Service designed to help organisations meet regulatory obligations and shield themselves from financial misconduct.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
Ascendix: Bridging Innovation and Real Estate
A global technology powerhouse, specializing in custom software development
Recently I was asked why I so heavily endorsed the services of co-founders Wes Snow and Todd Terry’s company, and one of the biggest reasons is that they are forever inovating and re-investing to ensure that they are ahead of the curve, so when supplying the vital insight required to de-risk and speed client operations – they just deliver the goods time after time.
Though I am Editor of Proptech-X, my day job is working 1:1 with tech founders in the real estate industry, in the UK and globally, so I have a pretty good idea of what excellent looks like. And ‘Ascendix Technologies has grown into a global technology powerhouse, specializing in custom software development, CRM consulting, and real estate technology solutions. With over two decades of experience, Ascendix combines deep industry knowledge with technological expertise to help businesses digitally transform and grow.
A Global Company with Local Expertise
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Ascendix maintains development centers in Europe, creating a unique global delivery model. This structure allows the company to offer the perfect blend of quality, flexibility, and cost-efficiency to clients worldwide.
The team is comprised of over 200 professionals including developers, business analysts, UX/UI designers, and project managers, all committed to delivering high-quality software solutions tailored to each client’s needs.
Habito has partnered with Mastercard’s Business Bonus Scheme to make mortgage support faster, simpler, and completely free for SME owners across the UK.
Business owners will now be able to access Habito’s team of expert mortgage advisers at no cost, whether they’re buying a home, refinancing, or investing in a rental property. The goal? To give entrepreneurs the clarity and support they need to make confident decisions, without jargon or unnecessary paperwork.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
Andrew Stanton Founder & Editor of 'PROPTECH-X' where his insights, connections, analysis and commentary on proptech and real estate are based on writing 1.3M words annually. Plus meeting 1,000 Proptech founders, critiquing 400 decks and having had 130 clients as CEO of 'PROPTECH-PR', a consultancy for Proptech founders seeking growth and exit strategies. He also acts as an advisory for major global real estate companies on sales, acquisitions, market positioning & operations. With 200K followers & readers, he is the 'Proptech Realestate Influencer.'
- Andrew Stantonhttps://proptech-x.com/author/andrew-stanton/
- Andrew Stantonhttps://proptech-x.com/author/andrew-stanton/
- Andrew Stantonhttps://proptech-x.com/author/andrew-stanton/
- Andrew Stantonhttps://proptech-x.com/author/andrew-stanton/
