Latest news with #proptech
The Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald
Innovate Africa: Can tech fix Africa's property puzzle? Proply's Wesley Roos thinks so
Buying property in Africa is often a minefield, complex, expensive and slow — but Wesley Roos, founder of Proply, believes that with the right tech, it doesn't have to be. In this interview we explore how his platform is cutting through the red tape, giving property buyers, sellers and professionals a smarter way to close deals and manage the process. Proply is a digital tool that simplifies property transactions by automating admin, reducing paperwork and giving all parties, from agents to banks, a single place to collaborate. More than that, it has the power to help ordinary Africans enter the property game and win, making the process more transparent, affordable and accessible. With South Africa as its testing ground, Roos is now looking at how this home-grown proptech could transform markets on the continent. I sat down with Roos to unpack the opportunity. We spoke about the messy middle of property sales, what Africa needs from its next generation of real estate tools and how Proply could help shift the sector from old-school to scalable. TimesLIVE
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE proptech start-up aims to boost developers' profit by over 10%
UAE property developers could increase their profits by more than 10 per cent from projects, without making major changes to the designs from start-up Kaizen AI's proprietary technology, which is entering the UAE and GCC real estate and construction sectors to help the industry. As the GCC real estate landscape continues to evolve, one company is emerging as a game-changer — quietly, yet powerfully. Kaizen AI is an India-born proptech startup that is redefining the economics and sustainability of large-scale real estate development through Artificial Intelligence (AI). If deployed on time, this technology offers 10.27 per cent profitability in each project through optimisation - that has so far delivered $5.4 billion in added value across 150 projects optimised across seven countries in the last few years. More than Dh265.9 billion ($72.45 billion) worth of properties were sold or changed hands through 80,400 transactions between January and May 28 this year, according to Dubai Land Department data. Developers of all these properties could optimise their projects to book a 10.27 per cent additional profit by deploying Kaizen AI technology which allows developers to change internal arrangements in on-going projects without changing the overall project - to a certain extent. An estimated $590 billion (Dh2.16 trillion) worth of projects are being constructed in the UAE, which is 15 per cent of the overall Middle East and North Africa total project pipeline value of $3.9 trillion (Dh14.31 trillion). At a rate of 10.27 per cent cost saving, Kaizen AI could help the industry save $400.53 billion (Dh1.47 trillion), if implemented properly. Kaizen AI officials have already started meeting UAE developers, architects and designers to deploy the technology in projects. The global real estate market is projected to reach $654.39 trillion by 2025, with residential real estate accounting for $534.37 trillion, according to market intelligence firm Statista. With a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.69 per cent, the market is expected to surpass $727 trillion by 2029. In this massive and increasingly competitive landscape, Kaizen AI empowers developers and architects to unlock millions in added value — using advanced AI to optimise space planning, reduce costs, and improve project efficiency without compromising design intent. The company's expansion into the GCC region, including Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, and Riyadh, marks a new chapter for the firm, whose platform has already delivered an average 10.26 per cent increase in project value for leading developers. These results are achieved without altering the architect's design intent, making Kaizen AI a seamless and scalable solution for design and planning optimisation. 'Our goal is simple: to maximise profitability, enhance sustainability, and help developers and architects make smarter, faster design decisions using AI,' said Jay Shah, Founder and CEO of Kaizen AI. Kaizen AI's platform leverages multi-parameter optimisation to analyse and improve a wide range of design variables — from built-up area and efficiency ratios to cost and carbon footprint — delivering tangible ROI for clients. In one example, Kaizen AI helped Godrej Properties, India's largest real estate developer, reduce costs by 15.4 per cent, while also unlocking significant environmental gains. In total, the company has helped reduce 5.67 million square feet of constructed area and saved 712 million metric tonnes of CO₂ — the equivalent of grounding all commercial flights globally for eight months. A Dubai-based property analyst said, 'Property developers or project owners usually make anywhere between 25-35 per cent profit per project depending on the size, scale, location and other factors. If Kaizen AI could guarantee 10 per cent more profits, this translates to an overall profitability of 35-45 per cent per project - again depending on certain factors! This is huge gain for project developers, architects and designers. This could change the entire real estate and construction market.' The firm is now working with multiple publicly listed companies across the US, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. With its entry into the UAE, Kaizen AI is targeting partnerships with developers, architects, and cost consultants who are ready to embrace data-driven efficiency and future-forward planning. Shah, who studied AI optimization during his graduate studies at Columbia University in New York, spent over a decade as an architect on large-scale global projects before founding Kaizen AI. This blend of technical expertise and real-world design experience sets Kaizen apart in a space often dominated by theory-heavy, impractical tools. 'We're not here to replace anyone — we're here to amplify the capabilities of entire project teams,' says Jay Shah. 'For developers, we unlock millions in hidden profitability by helping make smarter, faster decisions at the earliest stages — before a single brick is laid. For architects, we provide data-backed design scenarios that preserve creative intent while meeting commercial and environmental goals. The built environment is one of the largest contributors to climate change and capital expenditure. With Kaizen, we're enabling stakeholders to build not just more profitably — but more responsibly.'
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Kaizen AI, a quiet disruptor, is set to transform $654.39trln global real estate market with AI
UAE property developers could increase their profits by more than 10 percent from projects, without making major changes to the designs from start-up Kaizen AI's proprietary technology, which is entering the UAE and GCC real estate and construction sectors to help the industry The global real estate market is projected to reach US$654.39 trillion by 2025, with residential real estate accounting for US$534.37 trillion; Kaizen AI's proprietary technology offers more than 10 percent cost savings by optimising projects; With over 150 projects optimised across seven countries and US$5.4 billion in added value, Kaizen AI is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most impactful players in global proptech; An estimated US$590 billion worth of projects are being constructed in the UAE, which is 15 percent of the overall Middle East and North Africa total project pipeline value of US$3.9 trillion. Dubai, UAE: As the GCC real estate landscape continues to evolve, one company is emerging as a game-changer—quietly, yet powerfully. Kaizen AI, an India-born proptech startup, is redefining the economics and sustainability of large-scale real estate development through Artificial Intelligence (AI). With over 150 projects optimised across seven countries and US$5.4 billion in added value, Kaizen AI is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most impactful players in global proptech — and one to watch closely in the UAE. The global real estate market is projected to reach US$654.39 trillion by 2025, with residential real estate accounting for US$534.37 trillion, according to market intelligence firm Statista. With a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.69 percent, the market is expected to surpass US$727 trillion by 2029. An estimated US$590 billion worth of projects are being constructed in the UAE, which is 15 percent of the overall Middle East and North Africa total project pipeline value of US$3.9 trillion. In this massive and increasingly competitive landscape, Kaizen AI empowers developers and architects to unlock millions in added value—using advanced AI to optimise space planning, reduce costs, and improve project efficiency without compromising design intent. The company's expansion into the GCC region, including Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Muscat, and Riyadh, marks a new chapter for the firm, whose platform has already delivered an average 10.26 percent increase in project value for leading developers. These results are achieved without altering the architect's design intent, making Kaizen AI a seamless and scalable solution for design and planning optimisation. 'Our goal is simple: to maximise profitability, enhance sustainability, and help developers and architects make smarter, faster design decisions using AI,' said Jay Shah, Founder and CEO of Kaizen AI. Kaizen AI's platform leverages multi-parameter optimisation to analyse and improve a wide range of design variables—from built-up area and efficiency ratios to cost and carbon footprint—delivering tangible ROI for clients. In one example, Kaizen AI helped Godrej Properties, India's largest real estate developer, reduce costs by 15.4 percent, while also unlocking significant environmental gains. In total, the company has helped reduce 5.67 million square feet of constructed area and saved 712 million metric tonnes of CO₂—the equivalent of grounding all commercial flights globally for eight months. The firm has gained the trust of 8 of the 10 largest real estate developers in India, and is now working with multiple publicly listed companies across the U.S., Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. With its entry into the UAE, Kaizen AI is targeting partnerships with developers, architects, and cost consultants who are ready to embrace data-driven efficiency and future-forward planning. Jay Shah, who studied AI optimization during his graduate studies at Columbia University in New York, spent over a decade as an architect on large-scale global projects before founding Kaizen AI. This blend of technical expertise and real-world design experience sets Kaizen apart in a space often dominated by theory-heavy, impractical tools. 'We're not here to replace anyone—we're here to amplify the capabilities of entire project teams,' says Jay Shah. 'For developers, we unlock millions in hidden profitability by helping make smarter, faster decisions at the earliest stages—before a single brick is laid. For architects, we provide data-backed design scenarios that preserve creative intent while meeting commercial and environmental goals. The built environment is one of the largest contributors to climate change and capital expenditure. With Kaizen, we're enabling stakeholders to build not just more profitably—but more responsibly.' Unlike many AI ventures that rely on speculative valuations and VC capital, Kaizen AI runs on a performance-based, fee-for-service model—charging a percentage of the value it creates. This approach has made even the most traditional real estate players eager adopters. As the UAE and wider GCC continue to prioritize sustainable development, smart cities, and innovation-led infrastructure, Kaizen AI is poised to become a powerful enabler for the region's ambitious vision. About Kaizen AI Kaizen AI is a cutting-edge proptech company at the intersection of architecture, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. Purpose-built for developers, architects, and cost consultants, Kaizen's platform enables data-driven decision-making from the earliest stages of design. By simulating thousands of design possibilities in minutes, Kaizen AI helps project teams unlock hidden profitability, reduce environmental impact, and accelerate approvals. Headquartered in India and expanding rapidly across the GCC and global markets, Kaizen AI is redefining how real estate is planned, optimized, and built.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Skyloov introduces voice-activated AI search, marking a new phase in UAE proptech
Dubai, United Arab Emirates – In a significant leap for voice-first real estate technology in the region, Skyloov, the UAE's rapidly growing digital property platform, has rolled out its latest innovation, an AI-powered voice search assistant integrated into its mobile app, enabling users to search for properties using conversational, natural language. Whether a user says, 'I need a studio in Dubai Marina' or 'Show me villas for rent with a pool in Jumeirah,' Skyloov's new voice assistant, internally dubbed Silvia, processes the request in real time and returns relevant listings from its extensive property database. Powered by advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and real-time filtering algorithms, the new feature reduces friction in the property discovery process by eliminating the need for complex dropdowns or keyword inputs. Instead, it provides a hands-free, intuitive, and highly personalised experience, reflective of broader consumer trends toward voice tech adoption in search-driven industries. ' Voice-led search is the next logical step in enhancing user experience in proptech,' said Dr. Abdulaziz Albwardi, Chairman of the Board at Skyloov. ' As consumer expectations evolve, the future of property search must be faster, smarter, and closer to how we naturally think and communicate. This innovation is about reducing barriers between intention and discovery. ' Skyloov's implementation of voice technology aligns with a growing regional demand for AI-driven tools that not only simplify workflows but also enable greater personalisation and responsiveness. With mobile-first usage dominating the UAE real estate journey, particularly among millennial and Gen Z users, voice interfaces are increasingly seen as a natural evolution of property search. The voice feature supports a broad spectrum of inputs, from property types and price ranges to locations and amenities. Importantly, it understands and adapts to the local context, recognising variations in how people describe neighbourhoods or search intents, an area many global platforms struggle to localise effectively. The rollout of voice search comes as Skyloov continues to expand its suite of proprietary tools, including Broker Connect and real-time listing verification, further positioning itself as a technology-first player within the UAE's competitive proptech landscape. Key advantages of the voice search feature include: Conversational UX: Users can speak naturally without structured prompts Real-Time Matching: AI processes and returns listings instantly Localised Language Understanding: Built to recognise common search patterns used in the UAE Hands-Free Convenience: Optimised for users on the go, supporting mobile-first usage behaviours As platforms across industries explore the commercial potential of voice interfaces, Skyloov becomes one of the first real estate platforms in the region to embed AI voice search natively into the app experience, a move that signals where real estate discovery is headed next. About Skyloov Skyloov is the UAE's most comprehensive and fast-growing real estate property portal, committed to empowering users with advanced technology and fair practices. Designed to simplify property searches and deliver tangible results, Skyloov caters to buyers, renters, and investors with intuitive features like voice search and AI-powered property matchmaking. Brokers benefit from tools that prioritize flexibility, transparency, and genuine leads, ensuring real success in a competitive market. With seamless integration into Dubai's real estate ecosystem and a mission to reduce the hassle of finding properties, Skyloov is redefining how real estate transactions happen in the region. For more information, visit For media inquiries, please contact: NAME: Anisha Sharma EMAIL: anisha@
Travel Daily News
19-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Spanish REIT Vivenio adopts proptech platform Lavanda
Vivenio will leverage PMS to support the continued development of its Flex Living line. Roll-out of new line will be gradually ramped up across Vivenio's 6,400+-unit portfolio. MADRID – Vivenio, the Spanish REIT participated by Dutch fund APG and the Australian fund Aware Super, has adopted proptech platform Lavanda to facilitate the development and delivery of its flexible rental strategy. Vivenio, one of Spain's leading build-to-rent developer-operators, will leverage Lavanda's cutting-edge property management system to enable Flex Living across its portfolio. The strategy, which is currently being trialled in a number of properties, will expand across Vivenio's 6,400 plus-home portfolio in the coming year. This will enable Vivenio to tap into growing demand for more short- and medium-term rental options alongside long-term rentals, catering to the needs of a broader range of tenants, guests and travellers. The REIT currently manages more than 50 operational assets located across Spain in Madrid, Catalonia, Málaga, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands. Elias Esayag, COO, Vivenio said: 'Lavanda PMS will enable us to complement our core portfolio of long-term rentals to leverage new capabilities in the Flex-Living space across our strong track record in the rental sector. 'The demand for more flexible rental options is there, but this in turn demands a new level of agility and innovation in property management. Lavanda's PMS provides us with the platform needed to meet those, creating new revenue streams. 'Ultimately, this partnership will allow us to efficiently manage our properties, respond swiftly to occupier needs and maintain our commitment to excellence as we expand our Flex Living portfolio.' Established in 2017, Vivenio has rapidly expanded its presence in the Spanish Build-to-Rent market. Last year, the company acquired four residential buildings in Madrid – adding 556 homes to its portfolio – bringing the total number of homes to more than 6,400 and the total asset value more than 1.8 billion euros. Fred Lerche-Lerchenborg, CEO, Lavanda, added: 'With Lavanda's advanced PMS, Vivenio will be able to implement their Flex Living strategy with unprecedented efficiency and flexibility. Our technology is purpose-built to support BTR operators develop and deliver on their Flex strategies, and we look forward to supporting Vivenio in setting a new benchmark in the Spanish market for adaptable rental solutions.'
