Can proptech ever replace people?

Proptech. It’s a whole new world reshaping the lettings industry, and the last two years have seen an explosion of supporting technologies and automated systems. It’s all sold to us as time and money saving but at what expense?

Let’s get this straight from the start. More automation can definitely streamline operations. We even harness the power of digital brilliance here at ARPM, with Fixflo, Goodlord, Qube and Adobe e-sign all complementing our processes. Proptech is a smart solution in many cases but it’s not the savior of the property management industry.

We strongly feel that proptech should always be combined with real people – especially when it comes to property management. Phasing out the human touch in a bid to reduce overheads and slash costs is a really narrow minded way of thinking.

Successful property management in today’s lettings sector is just as much about support as it is management. Phased changes (tax relief and MEES, for instance) and an increasing number of legislative measures mean landlords need someone to turn to when they’re confused or questioning their future in property investment.

Proptech can’t have a conversation with a landlord who needs to understand a deposit scheme provider’s terms and conditions. Automation can’t make a judgment call when weighing up two contractor quotes. We’re working in an industry where customer service is under intense scrutiny and online reviews are playing a bigger part in a client’s choice of service provider. Reducing the amount of expert human judgment, professional intuition and hands-on management to is detrimental to the lettings industry as a whole, and may result in chronic under servicing.

Is there a happy medium? We believe we have found the right blend at ARPM. The specialist software and proptech we invest in is designed to make processes quicker and our departments more accountable. Our staff are knowledgeable and experienced – always ready to dispense advice, have a friendly conversation and provide reassurance at the end of a telephone. Our outsource status means we offer the value-for-money that agents desire – only paying for the services they need, when they need it.

Our combination of people and proptech can help agents and managers future proof their operations. Already there’s strong evidence of the proptech sector consolidating and realigning as start-ups fail to get off the ground and over-ambitious suppliers scale back to meet the true industry demand. Using ARPM can provide immunity to the industry fluctuations, while freeing you of management and administration tasks so you can concentrate on new business.

Why not leave us to explore prop tech and disruptive technologies? We’ll research, try, test and employ only the most efficient and useful services on your behalf – a great perk if you’ve baffled by the myriad of proptech options. Those using ARPM also have the added peaceful-of-mind that there’s a real person in charge of property management seven days a week – working proactively, reactively and with that personal touch that people still crave.

Written by Simon Duce – simon.duce@arpm.co.uk

EAN Content

Content shared by this account is either news shared free by third parties or sponsored (paid for) content from third parties. Please be advised that links to third party websites are not endorsed by Estate Agent Networking - Please do your own research before committing to any third party business promoted on our website. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

You May Also Enjoy

Home and Living

High Quality Modular Homes for the UK

Are you looking for added accommodation space in your garden / on your land? Modular Living Homes by tutumHOUSE offer a new way to live – minimalist in form, rich in experience. “There are approximately 9.6 million homes in the UK with a garden shed, and around 52% of the population owns one.” asgardsss There…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

The most stressful places to move to in the UK

With more people in the UK moving homes during summer than any other season and the average cost of moving in the UK rising to over £14,000, picking the right place to move to has become more crucial than ever. Luckily, new research from Pay Less for Storage reveals the UK cities that make life easiest…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Time-Traveling Estate Agent Sequel Climbs Amazon Charts

A UK Estate Agent Currently Bringing Joy to People’s Lives – Shame He’s Fictional…   Eric Meek, the fictional estate agent created by author Dale Bradford, is back for a second outing in The Time‑Travelling Estate Agent 2, a sequel that is already climbing Amazon’s bestselling time‑travel rankings. Estate agents were recently highlighted as the third…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Is it finally time for lenders to back green homes?

Andrew Smith weighs the risks and rewards Property developers are increasingly pitching green homes to lenders; however, with sales cycles slowing down and repair costs rising, is now the right time to back sustainable builds and at what price point is there market demand? Sustainability is continuing to shape our future of construction with the…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 24/07/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   OpticWise – digital infrastructure in commercial real estate If your building were a product, how would it perform on the user experience scale?  Week 9: Experience as Infrastructure – Designing for Human-Centric Buildings Welcome to Week 9 of our 52-week journey into the future…
Read More
new build homes colchester essex
Breaking News

UK Housebuilding Falters as Construction Hiring Flatlines

New research from Inventory Base reveals that UK construction industry employment has increased by almost 11% in the past five years, but there has been less than 1% growth in the past 12 months. Inventory Base’s analysis of the UK construction industry shows that in 2024 (latest data available) it employed an estimated total of…
Read More