Breaking Property News 31/07/25
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OpticWise – ‘Buildings should not be static assets—they should evolve’
The Value of Listening Buildings – Data Feedback Loops for Continuous Improvement
Welcome to Week 10 of our 52-week journey exploring how data and digital infrastructure are reshaping the built world. I’m Bill Douglas, CEO of OpticWise and co-author of Peak Property Performance. Each week, we dig deeper into the foundational systems behind NOI, asset value, and tenant experience.
Last week, we explored why experience itself is now part of the infrastructure equation. This week, we introduce the idea of the “listening building”—a property that doesn’t just provide shelter or services, but one that actively receives signals from its users and systems, interprets them, and evolves in response.
Think of it like this: the best-run businesses obsess over customer feedback, continuously refining their offerings. Why should buildings be any different? When your digital infrastructure is mature, you gain visibility into patterns, friction points, usage behaviors, and unmet needs. That data becomes your feedback loop—and it’s the key to continuous operational improvement.
Most buildings are functionally deaf. They rely on assumptions, outdated models, and delayed reports. A listening building, by contrast, is equipped with interoperable systems—connectivity, controls, access, metering, automation, and analytics—that capture real-time data about what’s actually happening inside the space.
This is more than a tech play. It’s a mindset shift. Buildings should not be static assets—they should evolve. But evolution requires information. Listening is how a property learns.
At OpticWise, we help owners build the digital infrastructure required for this feedback loop to work. It starts with the PPP Digital Infrastructure Review, which identifies silos, signal gaps, privacy risks, and underutilized systems. From there, we map a path to proactive operations—where your building tells you what it needs before tenants complain or equipment fails.
When you combine connectivity with context, you can anticipate, personalize, and optimize. You can make data-informed decisions that boost NOI, extend asset life, and enhance tenant satisfaction.
So ask yourself: Is your property just collecting rent—or is it collecting intelligence?
Let’s build buildings that learn.
Andrew Stanton Executive Editor – moving property and proptech forward. PropTech-X
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