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Connecting Construction & Asset Management with Smart Tech

July 17, 2025 | Brian Sutherland, VP, Commercial, Yardi
3 min read
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Industrial real estate is undergoing transformation. Rapid e-commerce growth, shifting tenant demands and the rise of last-mile logistics are driving operators to rethink how they manage complex development pipelines and geographically dispersed portfolios.

While industry leaders have already implemented connected tech solutions, many organizations still rely on a patchwork of legacy systems, spreadsheets and disjointed workflows to manage billions in assets and projects. But as portfolios scale and complexity grows, efficiency isn’t just an advantage – it’s essential.


The hidden cost of disconnected systems

Using multiple disconnected systems to manage leases, construction, budgeting, capital planning and facilities creates data silos and inconsistencies, delays in decision-making, redundant work and a lack of visibility into performance metrics.


Real-time insight is critical to work efficiently and make smart decisions. Without centralized information, project managers may struggle to track milestones or forecast accurately. Finance teams may find it difficult to tie budgets to live data. Asset managers may miss emerging trends buried in disparate reports.


A strategic shift to an integrated platform

To address these issues, organizations are shifting toward unified, cloud-based platforms that connect property management, construction oversight, capital planning and reporting in a single ecosystem. By integrating tools like Yardi Construction Manager, Yardi Forecast Manager and Yardi Facility Manager, teams gain a comprehensive view of each asset’s lifecycle from initial capital planning through lease-up and ongoing operations. This kind of strategic alignment is no longer aspirational—it’s becoming a requirement for competitive operators.


According to Ryan Alexander, system administrator at Arden Logistics Management LLC, “The Yardi platform brings various company roles spread across the country into a single program, which supports our operations, including construction project management, from the ground up.”


Key outcomes you can anticipate from adopting an integrated platform include:

  • Streamlined communication: field and office teams collaborate in real-time, with shared access to schedules, budgets and documents.
  • Enhanced forecasting & budgeting: live data enables precise job costing, scenario planning and variance tracking.
  • Centralized data & reporting: a single source of truth improves data accuracy, enabling leadership to make faster, evidence-based decisions.
  • Improved sustainability & space optimization: with centralized access to consolidated insights, operators can align leasing, construction and facility use with ESG and operational goals.

Cloud-readiness and agility

As the pandemic accelerated the shift to remote operations, organizations that had already embraced cloud-based platforms were able to maintain momentum and adapt quickly. Those still dependent on desktop-based tools or rigid systems struggled to keep up. This lesson remains relevant. As market cycles fluctuate and tenant expectations evolve, the ability to manage from anywhere — with full data transparency — provides lasting resilience. Operators are no longer asking if they should migrate to the cloud, but how quickly and comprehensively they can make the shift.


In the words of Yardi client Jennifer Plesnicar, vice president of financial systems at CenterPoint Properties Trust, “By centralizing operations, we save time and reduce errors which makes our workflow much smoother. Having all related information in one place has proved crucial for effective management and quicker decision-making.”


From vendor to partner: A collaborative model

Technology adoption across an enterprise is most successful when vendors act as partners, not just providers. The best technology partners engage deeply with client feedback, adapt to industry needs, and co-develop features that drive tangible outcomes.


This partnership model is crucial for industrial operators, whose needs often differ from those of other commercial asset classes. Whether it’s managing service facilities or optimizing portfolio geography for supply chain efficiency, a one-size-fits-all solution won’t suffice. Customization, responsiveness and shared expertise matter.


Looking ahead: Data-driven, agile, sustainable

The industrial sector is no longer a passive beneficiary of proptech innovation — it’s at the forefront. As digital maturity becomes a competitive differentiator, the companies leading the charge are those embracing platform thinking, aligning teams through technology and using data to drive performance. By replacing fragmentation with integration and insight, industrial real estate operators can not only meet today’s challenges but also confidently shape the future.

Brian Sutherland, VP, Commercial, Yardi
Brian Sutherland leads Yardi's commercial sales and marketing organization, overseeing go-to-market strategy across office, retail, industrial, coworking, self-storage, manufactured housing, and corporate real estate. As executive sponsor for Yardi Virtuoso, he helps property and asset managers move from AI curiosity to AI execution across their daily workflows. Before Yardi, Brian spent 15 years founding and leading startup companies.

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Yardi® develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. Established in 1984, Yardi is based in Santa Barbara, Calif., and serves clients worldwide. For more information on how Yardi is Energized for Tomorrow, visit yardi.com.