How Property Management Companies Are Using AI To Strengthen Human Connections

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way property management companies operate—streamlining routine tasks while allowing teams to focus more on building community and tenant relationships.

At Marigold Venture Partners, AI plays a central role in daily operations, said CEO Joe Zylka. From rent collection to bill payments, automation simplifies processes across the board for the property services division of Goldenrod Cos. This efficiency frees up time for staff to connect with tenants on a more personal level.

“If you’re not integrating AI into every part of your property management business right now, you’re going to fall behind—period,” Zylka said during Bisnow’s Dallas-Fort Worth Property Management Summit at The Westin Galleria Dallas. “I can’t stress it enough.”

For firms just beginning to explore AI, timing and implementation strategy are crucial, according to Sarah Turner, Senior Vice President at J Street Property Services.

“Any rollout without full team buy-in will cost you—both in dollars and in people,” Turner warned.

Turner joked that the AI at her company sometimes gets more attention than she does—it’s been known to successfully schedule property tours and even receive flowers from prospects.

AI systems are also impressing tenants at Stream Realty’s The Quad in Uptown Dallas. The mixed-use project, which opened last year with 345,000 square feet of office space and five retail buildings, uses AI to enhance tenant experience.

“It can summon elevators upon garage entry and customize office temperatures before employees arrive,” said Tiffany Marano, Managing Director of Property Management. “I’m genuinely amazed at what’s possible. And this is just the beginning.”

Property managers are leveraging tech in other innovative ways, too. Weitzman, for example, uses Placer.ai to analyze foot traffic through cell phone data.

“This helps them refine tenant mixes in their retail centers to match real consumer behavior,” said Senior Vice President Sandi Scott.

At Bradford Cos., tech tools help guide major spending decisions. The firm has pivoted from retail to focus on suburban office and industrial properties, using analytics to evaluate ROI on capital improvements, said Julianna Brooks, VP of Business Development and Strategy.

While adoption continues to grow, cost remains a challenge. Marano said she’s eager for the day when technology integration becomes more financially accessible.

“We’re still figuring out how to implement this across various asset types—whether that’s industrial, retail, or office,” Marano said. “But eventually, the cost curve will level out.”

Despite the tech talk, panelists agreed that property management is ultimately about relationships—and sometimes, that means showing up when it matters most.

Turner shared how her team responded during recent flash flooding in Kerrville, Texas, where they’ll soon begin leasing a multifamily development.

“We were on the phone with the city manager in the middle of the night, asking how we could help,” Turner said.

During the pandemic, Turner also witnessed tenants come together to support local restaurants and businesses in their mixed-use communities.

Zylka emphasized that authentic relationships are essential to any successful development. When Goldenrod proposed a mixed-use project in West Dallas, they first worked to rebuild trust with a community that had seen developers break promises in the past.

“My job is to build trust so people feel safe being honest with me,” Zylka said. “Only then can I be honest with my team and with the community we want to create.”

As the Dallas-Fort Worth region continues to grow, panelists see a bright future for property managers who balance technology with a human touch.

“There’s an enormous opportunity for everyone in this room to thrive,” Brooks said.

Source: Bisnow