TECH SHE CAN: WOMEN LEADING TECHNOLOGY TRANSFORMATION

The real estate ecosystem is continually evolving, shaped by consumer-focused design, sustainability, and digital transformation. Women are leading this change, driving both innovation and inclusion across the industry. According to Karandeep Singh Nanda, Head - North & West Region, Embassy Services Pvt. Ltd., technology is not only bridging physical distances but also enabling hyper-personalized experiences, such as QR codes delivering customized property content, helping buyers make faster and more informed decisions.”

We’re building a We’re building a portal that tracks portal that tracks the entire customer the entire customer journey - not just from journey - not just from lead generation to after-sales, but lead generation to after-sales, but even up to repeat purchases even up to repeat purchases f ive or ten years later. f ive or ten years later. – Karishmah Siingh

Sheetal Bhilkar, CEO, Founder Director, Urja Building Services Consultants Pvt Ltd (UBSC), said, “Having been part of the industry for nearly three decades, I’ve witnessed its transformation – from manual drafting on drawing boards to AutoCAD, then BIM, and now advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and digital twins.” From the human resources perspective, Manisha Kadagathur, Senior Advisor - HR, Anarock, added, “Executive coaching is increasingly delivered through digital platforms like Ezra and BetterUp, allowing access to personalized coaching from anywhere – not just via video calls, but through AI-enabled systems that adapt and learn over time. This reflects a broader move toward inclusive, tech-driven learning experiences, raising the question of how effectively the real estate sector is leveraging similar platforms – some organizations have embraced them, while others have yet to catch up.”

From the Gen Z perspective, Sanya Runwal,Director Retail, Runwal stated, “Brands these days use real-time search data to guide rapid product iteration, while strong branding remains essential in earning loyalty, especially from Gen Z, who align their identity with the brands they support.”

The real estate industry is undergoing a major transition said Karishmah Siingh, President – Sales, Marketing & CRM, Sattva Group. “Technology is redefining how people access and experience property. We’re currently focused on building a portal that tracks the entire customer journey – not just from lead generation to after-sales, but even up to repeat purchases five or ten years later. Imagine a platform that, based on over 40 data points, recognizes a family who bought a 3BHK three years ago, anticipates their evolving needs, and proactively suggests their next best investment – combining advanced technology with deeply personalized service.”

“Shaifali Singh, Vice President, DivyaSree Developers, added, “In the past, adapting to technology was a challenge for many, but today’s platforms are built with the assumption that users may not be highly trained – leading to intuitive interfaces that cater to everyone from CRM teams to tech-averse individuals, making extensive training less of a barrier. As for after-sales service, dissatisfaction often stems from a lack of transparent information, but technology is now bridging that gap.”

Today’s platforms Today’s platforms are built with the are built with the assumption that assumption that users may not be users may not be highly trained – leading to highly trained – leading to intuitive interfaces, making intuitive interfaces, making extensive training less of a extensive training less of a barrier. barrier. – Shaifali Singh

Efficiency Through Technology
Technology plays a key role at the operational level, especially in enhancing efficiency across building design, processes, and – most importantly – people. At the heart of it all is the end customer, and while the focus may shift between people, product, and finance, everything ultimately centers on meeting that customer’s evolving needs. Shaifali Singh expressed that both operational efficiency and forward looking areas like capital deployment and risk mitigation rely heavily on data. While developers have accumulated decades of it, the real impact comes from how quickly and effectively it’s analyzed and applied – through technology, yet always shaped by human experience and insight.”

Karishmah Siingh concurred that with the help of technology, organizations now carry an institutional memory – capturing every customer interaction from the first point of contact to the final purchase, including preferences, behavior, and family dynamics, which naturally increases accountability but, it’s not enough to collect data; the real value lies in analyzing and applying it to enhance customer experience.” Sanya Runwal, added, “Across our commercial assets, we’ve seen not only improved operational efficiency but also a 30–40% reduction in electricity, water use, and manpower, thanks to technology that enables remote monitoring and predictive maintenance. Beyond efficiency, this also supports sustainability by reducing utility waste and contributing to greener, more community-friendly buildings.”

Manisha Kadagathur added, “The core is personalization – technology has moved us beyond one-size-fits all approaches, from real estate to supporting workforce, allowing us to create more targeted, data-driven solutions.”

While technology While technology helps us target and helps us target and support these women support these women through smarter through smarter recruitment, the deeper recruitment, the deeper challenge of domestic challenge of domestic responsibilities still holds many responsibilities still holds many back. back. – Manisha Kadagathur

Tech-Driven, Human-Centered Realty Sector
Today, real estate is leveraging AI & ML tools to make smarter, more sustainable decisions – such as using IoT-enabled moisture sensors in residential projects to automate irrigation and conserve water, or shifting from preventive to predictive maintenance, thanks to real-time data. Sharing her view on emerging technologies like IoT, digital twins, and BIM transforming design and construction Sheetal Bhilkar, said, “While smart lighting and automation are advancing rapidly, it’s essential to include manual overrides, especially to accommodate elderly users and others who may not be comfortable with fully automated systems. When selecting such technologies, the priority must be on simplicity, ease of maintenance, and user-friendliness, rather than getting carried away by overly complex or flashy solutions.”

Technology can be Technology can be a great enabler in a great enabler in improving realty improving realty sector through sector through collaboration and by creating a collaboration and by creating a level playing field for men and level playing field for men and women tech leaders. women tech leaders. – Karandeep Singh Nanda

Manisha Kadagathur added, “From AI-powered chat assistants that engage with leads at any hour (and are often perceived as women), to platforms like Ana City led by women and designed to track real time office movement, we’re applying these insights to develop programs that increase female workforce participation and enhance user experiences across offices, malls, and homes.”

When it comes to When it comes to technology success technology success hinges on understan- hinges on understan- ding customer behaviour ding customer behaviour through data& then actively through data& then actively feeding those insights back into feeding those insights back into product development. product development. – Sanya Runwal

Shaifali Singh stated, “I believe both technology and industry are inherently gender agnostic – what matters most is the ability to adapt and grow, especially as AI and automation make routine roles obsolete. As for technology in real estate, I don’t see it as a disruption but as a transformation – spaces like WeWork have redefined how we work, showing that we are living in a generation where the traditional and the modern are blending in powerful, productive ways.”

Sanya Runwal added, “Across our residential, office, and mall developments, personalization and convenience – both for operations and the customer – are at the heart of our technology strategy. We’re leveraging data not just to enhance experiences like concerts or farmers markets, but to understand which events truly drive sales and how customers engage across shopping and entertainment touchpoints. From piloting personalized offers based on shopping and dining habits to analyzing homebuyer behavior and optimizing parking, we’re using technology and BI tools to create smarter, more seamless experiences at every level of engagement.”

Karandeep Singh Nanda added, “Digital twins, much like a health tracker for buildings, allow us to monitor and optimize performance continuously, and while adoption in residential sectors requires client education, sustainability efforts like addition of EV charging stations and improved traffic flow, is equally important for technology to make it simple and reliable to adopt.”

Karishmah Siingh further stated, “On one hand, we talk about the power of AI, yet on the other, we often struggle with something as basic as a faulty Wi-Fi connection – highlighting the need for simplicity in technology. Today’s AI is increasingly designed to reduce complexity for users, but if the interface isn’t intuitive, even the most advanced tech can fail to deliver real value.”

By enabling real- By enabling real- time updates on time updates on construction, construction, property details, and property details, and documentation, technology documentation, technology brings clarity to what was once brings clarity to what was once a frustrating experience. a frustrating experience. – Sheetal Bhilkar