Here’s a sampling of developments to follow this year. Proptech grows . . . The use of property technology will continue to expand across all real estate sectors. “Property managers and asset managers are leaning into technical solutions for productivity enhancements and operational efficiency. They are digitizing as much information as possible, so that analytics can be applied and data shared throughout the organization,” says Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2020, the 41st annual forecast report compiled by PwC and the Urban Land Institute. “Using analytics to enhance customer experiences will define winners and losers in the coming years.” Much of the multibillion-dollar global investment in proptech “revolves around smart-home and smart-building applications aimed at energy efficiency” and enhances coworking and co-living concepts, the report says. Sensors activated by motion, voice, temperature or weight “are now part of the landscape, and will become more ubiquitous over time.”   . . . and so does ESG Emerging Trends also addresses the growing importance of environmental, social and governance principles to real estate customers, employees, shareholders and communities. “Sustainability evaluation is becoming a checklist item for institutional investors domestically and worldwide” in real estate and other business sectors,” the report says. And with 55% of millennials, 25% of Generation Xers and 11% of baby boomers saying they factor ESG policies and performance into their investment decisions, “the power of ESG to influence capital deployment will be rising over time.” “ESG attracts a more diverse set of investors, aids in recruiting talent and helps generate community support for proposed projects,” notes an unidentified REIT executive and Emerging Trends contributor. Another REIT exec adds, “As ESG data is becoming more widely available, we’re seeing clearer ties between ESG and overall performance.” Along with comprising a standard for due...

Editor’s note: the below perspective on 2020 and the decade ahead for technology and real estate comes from Neal Gemassmer, vice president of international for Yardi. Originally published in Property Week, it is reprinted here with permission. The festive period was an invitation to reflect on the year gone by and the year ahead, even more so than usual. After all, it was the end of one decade and the beginning of another. Naturally enough, all eyes are on Brexit, but from a real estate perspective the impact that technology is having on our industry offers the most interesting food for thought. New technology has had a greater impact on property in the last few years than in the previous three or four decades combined. In 2010, the term ‘proptech’ had not even been coined; today, it is ubiquitous. However, in my view we have barely scratched the surface in terms of its influence. In the years to come, it will redefine how real estate functions. Here are a few ideas as to how. First, consider the build-to-rent (BTR) market. More and more investors are moving into the sector and technology has the potential to act as a major enabler. Digital technologies can allow owners and operators to cut out the middle-man – the letting agent – and communicate directly with potential customers, who can view different buildings and get a feel for the quality of the accommodation and the amenities on offer. Virtual reality lets potential tenants view a property remotely, while online tools can arrange physical visits without the need to call or email ahead. Applications and background checks can also take place digitally and customers will be able to sign their lease and pay their deposit online. The whole process will become virtually...