Must-Have Tech

Toronto recently hosted its very first Yardi Executive Briefing exclusively for multifamily clients. Participants explored the latest innovations in RentCafe and smart home technology. Below, we’ve highlighted the latest and greatest multifamily technology that you’ve got to have.

Re-imaging Real Estate through Innovation

Seven technologies are changing the future of multifamily housing:

  1. Untethered Connectivity: Voice-activated digital assistants handle everything from rent payments, maintenance requests, and adjusting the thermostat in a unit. Renters love the convenience, which adds to a unit’s perceived value.
  2. Smart Home Accessibility: Artificial intelligence and wireless connection unite to make smart home technology accessible to renters on the go. Via machine learning, apps within a smart car can determine when users are heading home. They can adjust the thermostat and fulfill other user preferences.
  3. Broadband Rules: Broadband connectivity is replacing cable as users complain of high cable prices and obnoxious bundled services. Begin negotiation with local broadband providers to offer services to your renters.
  4. Virtual Fitness: Don’t scrap your rarely used fitness center. Instead, give it a makeover by adding virtual fitness services. Renters value the option to have a virtual coach help them through workouts.
  5. Sleek + Chic: Renters appreciate smart home technology but don’t want bulky hardware interrupting their interior design. Technology needs to work on demand while blending functionality with interior design.
  6. Welcome the Robots: Drones for package delivery are a hot trend in metropolitan areas. If you haven’t already, plan and implement a concierge service to handle package deliveries. While you’re at it, designated parking spots and charging stations for autonomous vehicles may soon be a necessity.
  7. Modular Building is Cool Again: Unlike the first wave of prefab buildings in the 1930s, today’s modular homes are durable and highly customizable. Units can easily convert based on current needs and altered as your needs change. Users can add or remove square footage. Transitioning from multifamily to commercial applications is also an option.

Not all technologies are appropriate for all multifamily firms and their properties. Learn more about the possibilities for your assets on our Technology page.

SHARE POST

Facebook LinkedIN

AUTHOR

Erica Rascón specializes in online content creation and social media. She joined Yardi in 2011 after receiving her bachelor's degree from Kennesaw State University and serving in the Peace Corps. Erica's interests include sustainability, philanthropy, and the arts.

Recent articles

Forbes Best Awards 2026

Yardi is a Forbes Best Company & Best Large Employer for 2026

Yardi earned the No. 388 spot on Forbes’ “America’s Best Companies for 2026” list and No. 477 on the “America’s Best Large Employers” list.

Woman looking sternly into laptop

What to do when CRE feels harder than it should

Many CRE performance issues stem from disconnected systems, not people. Learn where gaps appear across the lifecycle, plus how they increase cost and risk.

02 / 18 / 26

Exterior of multifamily building

2026 multifamily reports: Download the latest from Yardi Matrix

Using with the multifamily industry’s best market intelligence, Yardi Matrix's monthly reports summarize trends and forecasts that support well-informed investment decisions.

02 / 18 / 26