Consultancy & Maintenance: A PropTech Guide for Resilient Real-Estate Operations

Costs Are Climbing

Operating pressures are mounting on landlords and property managers. Research into rent-stabilised buildings shows that New York’s Price Index of Operating Costs (PIOC) increased 6.3 % in 2024 and has risen 28.1 % over the past five years. Landlords across the U.S. are raising rents primarily because of cost inflation: 85 % increased rents in 2024 and nearly a third raised them by 6–10 %. Surveys indicate that 60 % of landlords cite property taxes, 57 % cite maintenance/repairs and 49 % cite utilities as the biggest contributors to cost spikes. These increases compress margins and erode debt-service coverage ratios (DSCRs); analytics firm Trepp found average DSCRs have fallen from 1.6-2.0× pre-2021 to about 1.35× in 2025.

Regulatory Burdens and Capital Constraints

Compliance is also becoming more complex. Landlords must navigate tenant-protection laws, ESG disclosures and building-performance standards. A recent landlord survey reported that 17 % view compliance as a significant challenge, and an industry newsletter noted that New York City tenant-improvement allowances are now nearly 70 % higher than pre-pandemic levels, reflecting higher build-out costs. Commercial developers face refinancing pressures as loans come due, while policy changes and environmental standards increase development costs. Supply-chain disruptions and rising material costs further complicate maintenance planning and capital projects.

Tenants Demand More

Today’s tenants expect intuitive digital experiences, responsive maintenance and sustainable operations. A Forbes article citing an EY survey observed that 87 % of real-estate respondents consider data collection a top business priority, underscoring demand for real-time performance data. The EY Greater Bay Area PropTech White Paper reports that 79 % of companies view proptech as strategically important and 88 % of top management prioritise proptech. Yet legacy systems and talent gaps hinder adoption; only 44 % of companies have implemented at least one proptech solution. In this context, owners must adopt data-driven tools to deliver the seamless experiences tenants expect while meeting increasingly stringent ESG standards.

Revenue Growth and NOI Improvements

Digital transformation has moved from buzzword to bottom-line driver. McKinsey’s research shows that real-estate companies integrating AI and advanced analytics have increased NOI by more than 10 %. A McKinsey-summarised study found that digitizing leasing operations, renegotiating energy and maintenance contracts and centralizing data can raise NOI by 10 % or more. The MIT Real Estate Innovation Lab found that deploying smart-building solutions can increase rents by up to 7.7 % and add 20.6 % to property values, while PropTech platforms report savings of €5–15 per m² through automation and portfolio-wide insights.

Cost and Energy Savings

Smart building technologies deliver significant cost reductions. According to PropTech OS, energy-management solutions can save up to 36 % on electricity. Venturous Group notes that building-management systems (BMS) powered by digital twins and AI can reduce energy costs by up to 30 % and that more efficient buildings can increase asset value by 7 %. Predictive maintenance further improves asset performance: IBM research cited by the same article indicates predictive maintenance can cut maintenance costs by 25–30 %. In addition, JLL’s sustainability studies show that buildings with green certifications such as LEED or BREEAM command 6 % higher rents and an 8 % sales premium.

Investment Intentions and Data Readiness

Market sentiment supports continued investment in PropTech. Deloitte’s commercial real-estate outlook reports that 40 %of companies plan to increase spending on smart-building and facilities-management technology, highlighting the imperative for data-driven decision-making. Similarly, the EY white paper shows that the majority of executives emphasise PropTech’s strategic importance. Many property managers are already experimenting: a landlord survey found that 93 % have adopted at least one technology solution, though 35 % cite cost as the primary barrier. Addressing costs and integration challenges through strategic consulting is therefore critical.

Delivering Strategic Clarity

The proliferation of point-solutions can overwhelm asset managers who lack time to assess ROI or plan long-term technology roadmaps. Our consultancy practice engages clients in a phased approach:

• Diagnostic & Benchmarking – We evaluate portfolios against market benchmarks such as NOI growth, operating expense ratios and energy intensity. By leveraging industry data showing that predictive maintenance can reduce maintenance costs by up to 30 % and energy-management solutions can save 36 % on electricity, we quantify potential savings and map them to clients’ assets.
• Strategy & Roadmap – We co-develop a tailored roadmap that prioritizes technologies with the highest ROI. Drawing on research that digital implementation can increase NOI by 10 % or more, we build business cases that resonate with lenders and capital partners. This includes evaluating ESG impacts; given that the built environment accounts for 40 % of global greenhouse-gas emissions and that green certifications boost rents, sustainability initiatives become financial imperatives.
• Implementation Planning – We create robust implementation plans covering vendor selection, integration with existing systems and change management. Awareness of compliance challenges—such as tenant-protection laws and regional environmental regulations—ensures solutions meet regulatory requirements.

Operational Efficiency Through Maintenance Expertise

Beyond strategy, our maintenance service provides hands-on execution. Our experts incorporate predictive analytics to schedule repairs proactively and reduce downtime. Industry studies show that predictive maintenance can increase equipment uptime by 20 % and reduce unplanned breakdowns by 70–75 %, according to Deloitte’s analyses of industrial applications. While these figures come from broader industrial settings, applying similar methodologies to building systems delivers comparable benefits—reduced maintenance spend, extended equipment life and improved tenant satisfaction.

Our technicians also negotiate with energy providers, implement smart meters and oversee retrofits that deliver immediate cost reductions. For example, renegotiating energy and maintenance contracts contributed to NOI increases of 10 % or more in digital transformation programs. By continuously analysing performance data, we refine maintenance schedules, ensuring resources are directed to assets with the highest impact on income and risk mitigation.

Future-Proofing and ESG Alignment

Emerging regulations, tenant preferences and investor scrutiny demand a forward-looking approach. We help clients achieve green certifications and improve energy performance, tapping into rent and sales premiums documented by JLL studies. Our consultants guide ESG reporting—essential as investors and regulators increasingly require disclosures—and integrate cybersecurity by design, as highlighted by EY’s recommendation to embed cyber risk into digital transformations. By aligning operations with environmental and social goals, owners not only mitigate risk but enhance asset liquidity and long-term value.