The real estate sector is undergoing a profound shift. No longer defined solely by bricks and mortar, buildings today are increasingly measured by the quality of their digital infrastructure and the services housed within them. For operators and investors, this is not just about keeping pace with resident expectations, it’s about protecting asset value and ensuring long-term competitiveness.
Over the years we have seen first-hand how digital transformation is reshaping the landscape across Europe. From purpose-built student accommodation to build-to-rent, investment in smart technologies and digital infrastructure is becoming central to both operational efficiency and resident experience.
Digital infrastructure as the foundation
Every digital service, from the apps on a resident’s phone through to core building systems like smart access control depends on a robust connectivity layer. Managed Internet services are no longer a utility that sits in the background for residents to connect devices to; they are the foundation which all other smart systems rely upon.
From 2026, WiFi 7 is being introduced as our forward standard for new projects - giving operators confidence to specify now and future-proof their assets. As WiFi 7-enabled tech becomes the norm, the scale of opportunity becomes even clearer. Ultra-fast, high-capacity, and reliable networks will enable buildings to support thousands of devices seamlessly, catering to residents’ everyday needs to powering complex building management systems. For investors, this is about future-proofing assets and enabling the technology that runs them. For residents, it’s about living in an environment where everything just works.
A platform for innovation
Connectivity is only the beginning. The most forward-thinking real estate strategies treat digital infrastructure as a platform for innovation, enabling new services that both delight residents and reduce operational burden.
Take Parcel SafePlace, the smart parcel management solution recently acquired by ASK4. With e-commerce volumes at record highs, unmanaged deliveries drain operational resources and frustrate residents enormously. Parcel SafePlace provides secure, automated parcel management that saves staff time, streamlines operations, and gives residents the convenience they expect. These types of amenities are gradually becoming the norm, and it’s easy to see why. Based on our delivery data, the average BTR property receives 6 parcels per unit each month. That’s an astonishing 3,000 parcels per month for a 500-unit building (rising to 4,500 during peak periods), all requiring storage and management, with significant time spent collecting and distributing to residents.
Managing this volume of parcels can stretch teams and frustrate residents. By integrating smart solutions like Parcel SafePlace with wider building management systems, operators ease pressure on staff, streamline operations, enhance resident satisfaction, and generate valuable data to inform long-term asset strategy. This integration results in a building that runs more efficiently, delivers a better living experience and creates lasting value for investors.
Setting the standard
Digital transformation in real estate is not about isolated technologies though. It is about strategic investment in the infrastructure that makes buildings smarter, more resilient, and more competitive.
The business case is clear:
- Operational efficiency – automation reduces staff overheads and improves margins.
- Resident experience – digital services meet the expectations of a generation that lives online.
- Asset value – future-ready buildings avoid obsolescence and command premium rents.
- Data and insight – smart systems generate intelligence that supports ESG targets and long-term portfolio strategy.
Christopher Holloway, Chief Revenue Officer at ASK4 highlights the imperative for investors to look at their digital infrastructure investment strategy: “The best-performing assets over the next decade will pair strong physical design with invisible, resilient digital infrastructure.”
ASK4’s task is to help operators realise the potential for creating sector-defining buildings. By providing both the connectivity that underpins smart living and the services that build on it, we are enabling buildings that are not only fit for today, but ready for what comes next.
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Meet ASK4 at Expo Real
The conversation about digital transformation will be central at Expo Real 2025. ASK4 will be in attendance, and we’d welcome the opportunity to explore how digital infrastructure can support your assets, your operations, and your residents.
