Automated workflows replace manual commercial real estate admin
In commercial real estate (CRE), brokers spend countless hours on manual tasks such as entering data, drafting emails, scheduling meetings, and searching for properties. The rise of AI-enabled CRM tools promises to transform that workflow by automating repetitive tasks and letting brokers focus on high-value activities. In the Ascendix video tutorial, (link at the end of this article) CEO Wes Snow (pictured) walks through how an AI agent integrated with CRM can shape a brokerโs typical workday. Wes covers:
What Is an AI Agent in CRM?
An AI agent โ such as one built on Salesforceโs Agentforce platform and augmented by Ascendixโs technologies โ acts as a digital assistant inside your CRM. These agents:
- Listen to natural language (typed or spoken)
- Perform administrative tasks
- Extract and record data
- Draft client communications
- Automate scheduling and other workflow elements
The result is a CRM that responds to voice or text commands rather than requiring manual clicks and manual entry.
Morning: Cutting the Admin Burden with Voice-Driven Data Entry
Traditionally, after client meetings or calls, brokers would manually enter contact details, company information, property data, and follow-up tasks into the CRM. With an AI agent:
- You speak or type a summary of a call
- The agent parses the details and creates structured CRM records
- Contacts, properties, and relationships are automatically linked
This shifts the process from typing into fields to speaking in natural language โ saving significant time and reducing the risk of data omissions or errors.
On-Demand Property Search and Task Automation
Once basics like contacts and properties are captured, AI can assist with:
- Faster searches: Instead of building complex filters by hand, brokers can request specific lists (e.g., โFind office properties under $500,000 in Dallasโ) and receive results instantly.
- Task scheduling: AI can set follow-ups, reminders, calendar events, and to-dos based on natural language instructions.
- Email drafting: Generating client emails directly from CRM data or meeting notes becomes fast and reliable without repetitive typing.
This frees brokers from clicking through CRM screens and lets them focus on client strategy rather than screen navigation.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
tlyfe App โ further backed by the TDS redefines the tenant experience in UK rentals
This month the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has deepened its connection with tylfe app, by signing a multi-year continuation of their joint partnership with tlyfe, covering the whole of the UK
Neil Peers, Chief Operating Officer at TDS comments, โฆ โWith tlyfeโs rapid growth and proven impact, this partnership helps us deliver clearer, more supportive experiences for tenants across the UK.โ
CEO of Openbrix Adam Pigott, the parent company of tylfe adds, โRenewing our partnership with TDS gives us the platform to accelerate innovation, broaden our reach and continue building tools that genuinely empower tenants.โ
In an increasingly competitive private rented sector, tlyfe has rapidly positioned itself as a leading tenant lifecycle tool, one that blends core rental administration with modern digital-first services aimed at simplifying every stage of the tenancy journey. The app is available for free on the UK App Store for iPhone users and is also supported via web platforms.
Now with The Rentersโ Rights Act, coming in to play in just two months, there will be a seismic change to the lettings industry, the end of no-fault evictions and abolition of fixed-term tenancies, together with other industry levers to modernize the sector.
Many tenants are unaware of these changes, luckily the tlyfe app has all of the key intel that renters need to fully understand the changes and the new rental landscape.
What tlyfe Does
At its core, tlyfe seeks to turn a traditionally fragmented renting process into a consolidated digital experience for tenants.
Rent Ready & Pre-Qualification โ With many properties now receiving 20+ applications, the appโs Rent Ready tool lets tenants build a compelling profile that can be shared with agents and landlords, helping them stand out in crowded applicant pools.
Deposit Management โ Integrated with the government-backed Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS), tlyfe allows tenants to view and manage their protected deposit details, download certificates, and track return status without digging through paperwork.
Credit Building โ One of the most talked-about features is the ability to link on-time rental payments to credit reporting โ helping renters build or strengthen their credit history simply by paying rent.
Marketplace & Concierge Services โ The app includes a marketplace with discounts on energy, broadband, insurance and more, plus a tenant concierge service to assist with personalised support through the rental process.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
Week 40: Distributed Edge Infrastructure โ Monetizing Your Data Room
In this weekly series, we explore how the commercial real estate industry is being transformed by data and digital infrastructure. Guided by the principles in Peak Property Performance, we unpack a new idea every week to help owners unlock value, reduce risk, and future-proof their portfolios. Learn more about OpticWise and Bill Douglas, the authors of this series.
Most buildings have a data room. But what if that data room could become a revenue stream?
With the rise of edge computing, buildings are no longer just endpoints on the networkโtheyโre potential mini data centers. Owners who understand this shift are already exploring ways to monetize their space, bandwidth, and connectivity infrastructure.
This is not a fantasy future. Itโs already happening in forward-looking CRE portfolios.
Why Edge Infrastructure Is Moving to the Building Level
Enterprise and cloud providers are under pressure to reduce latency, improve performance, and push compute resources closer to where data is generatedโat the โedge.โ
And what sits at the edge?
- Multi-tenant buildings
- Retail centers
- Mixed-use developments
- Industrial flex spaces
In short: your CRE property.
By leveraging distributed edge infrastructure strategies, CRE owners can turn underutilized physical spaces into high-performance digital hubs. These edge environments serve real needs for:
- AI model training and inference
- IoT device orchestration
- Smart building control systems
- Private 5G deployments
- Remote data processing for tenants
From Data Closet to Profit Center
Traditionally, the server or โIDFโ closet in a building has been a cost center. It holds switches, maybe a router, and some patch panelsโbut itโs not viewed as strategic.
But when that closet is outfitted with:
- Redundant power and cooling
- Secure, fiber-connected infrastructure
- Edge compute devices or micro data center enclosures
- Remote access and uptime monitoring
- Ownership of the core networkโฆ
โฆyouโve got the beginnings of a monetizable digital node.
Some revenue-generating models emerging today include:
- Micro colocation: Lease rack space or edge nodes to service providers and local enterprises.
- Edge-as-a-Service: Offer compute or storage capacity as an add-on amenity for tenants.
- Bandwidth resale & carrier agreements: Monetize connectivity flowing through your network.
- Cloud offload partnerships: Collaborate with hyperscalers seeking low-latency points of presence (PoPs).
- Marketplace participation: List your edge-enabled properties on platforms looking for distributed compute space.
Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR
