The RivingtonHark team recently attended PropTech London to explore how AI, data and emerging technology can improve real estate decisions and deliver measurable value for clients. The event brought together industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers examining technology’s impact on the sector.

Executive Director Nick Lee contributed to a roundtable on designing the modern real estate tech stack. The discussion focused on integrating systems, removing operational silos and combining platforms and specialist tools to improve portfolio performance and decision-making.

The team left with practical ideas to test, a clearer understanding of the risks and stronger evidence that technology creates most value when paired with experienced judgement.

Read our key takeaways below:

Where AI is already adding value

AI is already delivering tangible efficiency gains: handling routine administration, processing data at scale and enabling deeper analysis. Examples ranged from organising meetings and drafting enquiry responses to building systems that identify faults early, freeing teams to focus on higher-value work.

The risks, and the discipline required

The opportunities come with clear risks. Models need context, defined objectives and effective prompts, while over-reliance could erode skills. Cyber security also remains a significant concern as the technology evolves rapidly.

Observations from the floor

Much of the technology focused on building design, property and facilities management rather than the asset and development management challenges we address day to day. Some systems also appeared to lack a clear use case. Delegates agreed that successful adoption needs internal champions – and that senior judgement, decision-making and sense-checking remain indispensable.

Our take

In asset and development management, the opportunity is to interpret data, shape useful tools and turn insight into decisions that create measurable client value.

Used well, AI can remove friction, sharpen analysis and give our team more time to focus on clients’ most important priorities.

The conference gave us practical ideas to test, a clearer view of the risks to manage and renewed confidence that technology works best when it strengthens – not replaces -experienced judgement.