As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes property technology, the challenge for property managers is not simply adopting new tools, but using them strategically to improve operations and create value, according to Jessica Beck, CEO and co-founder of property management firm Arqline.

But adopting new technology for its own sake isn't the answer. The real value lies in giving property managers more time to focus on the work that matters, Beck said.

“Technology is really an enablement function. It’s a way of giving people tools to help them have more time in their day or get the outcome they’re seeking faster and better,” she told TechNX in an interview.

Beck cautions against viewing AI as a solution in itself. Instead, property managers should focus on how technology can improve resident experiences, support asset performance and create value for stakeholders.

“What’s going to move the needle is thinking about how you create experiences that lead to renewals, or what’s an interesting underwriting thesis to renew assets. I believe that the promise of technology is to give people back time so they can do more of the work that really matters, and is creating value for each of the different stakeholders in the space,” she said.

Building a new property management model

Arqline was founded earlier this year and is the “first PM (property management) 3.0 company,” according to Beck.

It was a natural step for Beck and Alfred co-founder and executive chair Marcela Sapone. The pair founded Alfred in 2015.

“Through the journey of building Alfred, we saw that there was a lot of opportunity to combine property management operations with data and technology and resident experience, and if we could do that, we thought we could offer a different type of property management platform,” Beck said.

“Arqline is based on that premise and is the management arm of Alfred.”

Its unique name comes from two of the company’s acquisitions, she explained. “One was Alfred, which is the A, and then the other two: one was called RKW Residential. That was the first management company that we acquired, and we merged that with Quarterra Living, and that’s the Q.”

“So it’s really a nod to the founding companies for the future of the industry.”

‘One-stop shop for owners’

Arqline provides integrated property management services for multifamily apartment owners, combining day-to-day operations, technology and resident services.

“We offer owners of multifamily apartment buildings the ability to have us run their property, so we take over an asset and we will help lease it up. We provide all the resident experiences. We collect rent. We manage the books. We provide the technology to do it.”

“We’re really a one-stop shop for owners that want a completely integrated operations, technology, and resident-forward management company,” she said.

When considering AI as something that can assist a property manager, it's important to first have a clear idea of what you are trying to achieve, Beck explained.

“AI is only as good as the underlying data and context that you can give it, and if the data environment that you have isn’t set up for that, or you don’t have the right time to give it context, it’s not going to do what you want it to do.”

“So for a management company that’s starting out, I think it’s important to have a clear objective, and then partner with companies that can help you experiment with that,” she said.

When setting up AI within the organization, it’s key to “recognize that adopting AI is actually a people thing; it’s not really a technical one,” and understand that it’s a journey.

“If you can do those things, then you have a nice environment where you can experiment and build capabilities, or partner with vendors who give you capabilities, and that gets very interesting.”

The New York-based company manages approximately 45,000 units across the U.S. in 31 different markets.

Outlook for proptech

Beck is optimistic about the future of property technology, particularly as AI expands the industry's capabilities.

“I’m bullish on proptech. I think the promise of proptech is more present today than it was five, 10 years ago. The ability to use AI alongside people and software, I think, makes it more impactful.”

The proptech industry raised $450 million in Canada in 2025, according to Toronto-based non-profit Proptech Collective.

The appetite for growth is also strong from the venture capital community but it carries plenty of risk.

“It’s never been easier to start a company but it’s also never been harder to scale a company. So I think the key is in the early days doing as much as you can to demonstrate that your product has the right legs for adoption and for scale,” Beck said.

“The challenge is no longer in the starting; it’s in the growing.”

For Arqline, the company is focussing on a market that itself is ready to grow, which it typically was considered a second choice for people looking for a place to live.

“Rental is its own asset class. I think we’re seeing a lot of renters by choice, and that could be because they value flexibility because they think it’s a more worthwhile investment, and that to me suggests that the consumer in the rental market is maturing in a way that is different than it would have been five or 10 years ago.”