By Sachi Wickramage
“Do I believe AI will replace service agents like property and asset maintenance managers? Not at all.
However, I am convinced those who embrace AI will outshine those who don’t.
Just months into my role as i4T Global’s CEO, I’ve already witnessed a transformative shift in the PropTech and Field Service Management (FSM) sectors unfold at lightning speed.
The property management sector stands at a pivotal crossroads: One path leads to AI-driven operational efficiency, superior decision-making capabilities, and an enhanced tenant experience. Another path is fraught with skepticism and the perception there’s no immediate need for AI or plans to adopt it.
Navigating the uncertainties of AI requires a delicate balance. Yet, consumer demand is undeniable. AI in property management promises quicker responses, easier self-service, less invasive inspections, and better-maintained properties.
This brings us to why we designed i4T Global as a customer-centric, highly configurable, and scalable solution.
We’ve repositioned ourselves from focusing on a single vertical to becoming a complete Proptech & FSM ecosystem, connecting industry stakeholders. Our journey reveals a common thread: Customer-centricity is at the heart of our innovations. “
Introducing Yara: i4T Global’s AI Assistant
i4T Global is streamlining property maintenance operations with our first-ever AI Assistant for FSM and property maintenance management. With its beta set to roll out in Q4 of 2024, this development promises to simplify property managers’ work in three key areas:
- Empowering Property Managers with Business Efficiency
Whether you need to pull out a list of suppliers whose compliance certificates are about to expire, or generate a report on pending work orders, Yara’s AI-powered Natural Language Processing (NLP) capabilities deliver organised reports instantly. Our AI-driven search ensures you get precise answers right when you need them.
Leverage AI search to generate instant reports
We asked: Can we help property managers get personalised guidance for specific business problems when their appointment with the business coach is weeks away? The answer is yes! Integration with Large Language Models (LLM) like ChatGPT and Gemini allows property managers to generate interactive conversations, training Yara to act as their business coach, providing immediate advice on crucial matters. While this won’t replace a business coach, it offers the next best thing – presenting options and insights that might not have been considered otherwise.
2. Driving Operational Productivity Gains
Listening closely to our clients, we recognised significant potential for AI automation in administration tasks. From manually filling in quotations and work order details for FSM suppliers, scheduling technicians and managing payments, we sought ways AI could enhance daily tasks for both property managers and FSM suppliers.
Yara can automatically populate work order forms when tenants report issues and classify issues as urgent or routine to expedite emergency maintenance. Quick work order requests are only effective if efficiently processed by service suppliers. Our AI Assistant optimises scheduling by identifying the next available technician and the one closest to the next job. Yara also helps suppliers manage cash flows by reminding them of late payments and sending automated follow-ups.
Create Maintenance Work Orders in Seconds
A common struggle for property managers is communication with clients and suppliers. To address this, we are rolling out AI-Assisted Messaging, enabling property managers to craft professional, customised messages in seconds. Yara can even be trained to mimic a property manager’s unique style over time.
- Adding Precision and Speed to Field Work
Property inspections are a crucial part of a property manager’s responsibilities. While we’re already rolling out smart inspection forms, we realised that visually recording every element can be cumbersome, especially with larger properties and multiple issues. Yara’s Speech-to-Text AI capabilities allow property managers to dictate notes while taking photos, with speech automatically recognised and converted to precise text, simplifying work order creation.
Speak as you snap photos and watch Yara instantly create precise written notes.
Suppliers can use the same feature to document before and after images when completing work orders, accompanied by detailed descriptions as proof of work.
The Bright Horizon of AI
AI’s potential is boundless. Every leap in AI technology feels like the ultimate breakthrough, the pinnacle of efficiency. Yet, innovation always has another surprise, a new horizon that astounds and empowers us.
As we advance, the future of i4T Global, driven by AI, promises not only to solve the toughest challenges for property managers but to redefine, reshape, and reimagine the FSM and Proptech landscape. Our commitment to thoughtful, responsible innovation ensures that as we design, develop, deploy, and expand our AI capabilities, we do so with a focus on genuine impact.
Our journey has laid the groundwork for a future where enhanced efficiency, smarter operations, and unparalleled tenant satisfaction are not aspirations but tangible realities for visionary property managers and field service suppliers. The future is bright, and with AI at our core, we’re ready to lead the charge.
For more details on Yara, our AI assistant.
Sachi Wickramage
Co-Founder & CEO at i4T Global | Board Director & Grand Jury Member at UN WSA (SDGs & WSIS) | Social Impact, Sustainability & ESG Advocate | PropTech & FSM Innovator | Mobile Apps, SaaS, AI, HCI, CX, UX & XM Connoisseur
