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eadingRE’s Global Symposium in Prague brought together 31 member firms to examine how AI and data are reshaping real‑estate practice worldwide. The event’s centerpiece, “The Digital Edge: How AI and Data Are Transforming Real Estate,” featured a panel of three global leaders—Berry Everitt, CEO of Chas Everitt International (South Africa); Wolfram Gast, Chief Digital Officer of VON POLL IMMOBILIEN (Germany); and Abhii Dabas, proptech and UX specialist at Intric Technologies (Singapore)—moderated by COO Kate Reisinger.
**CEO‑driven AI at Chas Everitt International**
Everitt emphasized that AI must be a strategic priority set by top leadership, not a technical afterthought. “AI isn’t a CIO issue; it’s a CEO‑driven strategy,” he said. His firm has deployed AI‑powered chatbots on WhatsApp and digital agents that operate 24/7, cutting lead response times and boosting client retention. Despite a slowing South African market, Chas Everitt reported 23 % revenue growth and 15 % rise in rentals last year—proof that disciplined innovation pays off. Everitt cautions that AI costs can climb sharply as usage scales, urging firms to model ROI over three to five years. His approach blends enthusiasm with operational realism, a hallmark of successful AI leadership in real estate.
**VON POLL IMMOBILIEN’s AI ecosystem**
Gast described a two‑fold use of AI: enhancing agent performance and enriching customer experience. The German agency automatically generates property descriptions, market insights, and AI‑avatar video tours, producing professional marketing material in minutes. A hyper‑personalized financing assistant compares over 700 banks to deliver tailored loan options. Internally, agents use an AI tool that pulls data from the CRM to create listings and micro‑location summaries with a single property ID. Cultural change is as critical as technology; with an average agent age of 50, Gast introduced AI incrementally, proving value before scaling. The result: agents now drive innovation, and VON POLL IMMOBILIEN earned national acclaim as Germany’s most innovative real‑estate agency.
**Investor‑centric AI from Singapore**
Dabas offered a different angle, focusing on AI as an analytical co‑pilot for investors. His platform is buyer‑driven, community‑based, and global, helping investors spot cross‑border opportunities efficiently while preserving human judgment. Dabas warns against over‑automation: “When AI tries to do too much, it becomes irritating.” He stresses that the most valuable platforms blend intelligence with empathy, delivering insights that enhance, not replace, human decision‑making.
**Balancing technology and human touch**
Reisinger highlighted a common concern: brokers fear technology will erode personal relationships. Everitt counters by redefining AI as a teammate that writes better copy, analyzes data, and speeds client connection—“It doesn’t replace you; it makes you stronger.” Gast shared how an AI‑driven lead‑scoring system alerts agents when a potential seller is ready to list, reducing friction and fostering adoption. The consensus is clear: AI adoption hinges on mindset, not merely tools. When agents see tangible time savings and value, resistance turns into curiosity, and innovation becomes self‑sustaining.
**Looking ahead**
Reisinger concluded that technology is a bridge, not a destination. “Our goal is to expand minds,” she said. AI and data unlock endless possibilities, but the true opportunity lies in reconnecting technology to people—agents, clients, communities. From predictive analytics to conversational assistants and automated valuations, the tools evolve rapidly. Yet, as the panel demonstrated, the most successful implementations amplify empathy, trust, and professionalism at scale.
The symposium underscored that the future of real estate belongs to those who harness technology to enhance, not replace, the human touch. For more details, visit https://www.leadingre.com/.
