Takeaways from YASC 2025 Commercial Spotlight

By Lee Ann Stiff on September 4, 2025 in Events Technology

At YASC 2025, the Commercial Spotlight delivered an inspiring look at how commercial real estate (CRE) is adapting to rapid change — and how Yardi technology is helping clients turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.

From fresh insights into markets and trends to live product demos, the session highlighted not only the realities shaping CRE today but also the exciting possibilities on the horizon. Here’s a recap of key innovations and strategies covered.

Strategic tech trends: Digital transformation

CRE is undergoing change and proptech is enabling more efficient operations, smarter asset management and data-driven decision-making. Brian Sutherland, vice president, opened with a discussion of the three pillars of digital transformation currently impacting CRE and creating new possibilities:

Pillar 1: Platformization

This means bringing everything together in one connected ecosystem for a single source of truth and deeper insights. Tools like Yardi Elevate support asset and operational workflows while Yardi Voyager manages financials and property data. Integration reduces friction and enables smarter decisions.

Pillar 2: Data as a strategic asset

Once enterprise data is connected, the next step is unlocking value. Yardi’s platform captures rich, structured data across operations and financials. Data can be used internally or pushed externally via Yardi Replicate for BI tools, data lakes or AI models.

Pillar 3: Artificial intelligence

AI is already transforming CRE. Yardi Virtuoso’s Composer enables intelligent agents for automation and insights. Collaboration with Claude/MCP and native AI enables natural language interfaces for easier data interaction.

The clear message: the future is intelligent, connected and data-driven. Sutherland emphasized that Yardi is uniquely positioned to deliver on all three pillars and empower clients to reduce costs, improve efficiency and make smarter decisions.

Commercial real estate lifecycle: Driving performance across operations

A major theme was achieving operational excellence to drive results. Andrea Curley, director and Jim Lyons, senior manager, emphasized the importance of linking the entire CRE lifecycle from leasing through accounting to eliminate silos, reduce errors and maximize asset performance. With competition intensifying, connected platforms are essential to achieving more with fewer resources.

Voyager 8 unpacked: Smart features, tangible results

The spotlight turned to Voyager 8, Yardi’s next-generation platform. Built on Yardi’s mature and trusted foundation, Voyager 8 integrates intelligent tools throughout the modernized user experience, including the popular new period close dashboard. Neille Kommer and Regan Heydari, directors, shared their favorite features along with real world examples and demonstrated how clients are:

Automating routine tasks
Leveraging analytics for deeper insights
Making faster, data-driven decisions

Attendees enjoyed seeing firsthand how Voyager 8 empowers teams to work smarter while driving measurable results.

Yardi Virtuoso: 3 pillars of artificial intelligence

From smarter marketing to cleaner data and stronger leasing strategies, AI is already helping CRE organizations improve accuracy and performance. Yardi’s commitment to incorporating artificial intelligence featured prominently, and David Franklin, industry principal, focused on real applications beyond the hype, including Smart Lease for AI lease abstraction and a solution for building custom AI chat agents.

The takeaway: AI is no longer a future concept. It’s delivering value today for owners, managers and tenants.

Connected enterprise solutions: Visualize space, manage documents & data

Looking ahead, Kevin Fodrey, manager, explored emerging proptech poised to reshape the industry including Yardi Data Connect, and discussed driving value and efficiency across asset classes using emerging solutions, including:

Expanding AI and data applications to enhance decision-making
Using AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) tools to transform marketing and leasing experiences

The session closed with a reminder that innovation isn’t optional. Staying relevant requires adopting tools that help teams move faster and adapt to constant change.

Beyond the spotlight: Transforming disruption into opportunity

The Commercial Spotlight showed how far CRE has evolved — and revealed the potential that lies ahead. Following the session, attendees dove deeper through a range of classes spanning accounting, asset management, investment management, procurement, tenant engagement and training. And beyond the transformative learning and energizing connections made, the renowned Yardi Party kicked off another unforgettable gathering in San Diego.

Learn more about Yardi solutions for commercial real estate and how we can help your organization stay ahead.