The modern resident, guest, or office member has a new set of expectations. They are used to a world where services, from transport to food delivery, are available on-demand via their smartphone. They now expect the same level of convenience and digital integration from the spaces where they live, work, and stay. Simply providing four walls is no longer enough. The focus has shifted from the physical asset to the quality of the human experience within it.
1. What is Experience-as-a-Service (XaaS) in Real Estate?
Experience-as-a-Service is the practice of bundling a curated set of digital and physical services, amenities, and community features, all delivered seamlessly through technology. The goal is to create a complete lifestyle ecosystem, not just a place to inhabit.
Examples of XaaS in practice include:
- On-demand concierge services integrated into a resident app.
- Automated booking for amenities like gyms, pools, and meeting rooms.
- A community platform for events, local business partnerships, and resident communication.
- Integrated smart home features like lighting and temperature control.
- Seamless management of deliveries and visitors.
2. The Technology That Powers the Experience
A successful XaaS strategy is impossible without a robust, integrated technology backbone. At the heart of the connected building is a central application—a resident or guest app—that acts as the single touchpoint for all services.
This requires a shift away from disconnected, single-purpose systems towards an open, API-first ecosystem. The best platforms are not those that try to do everything themselves, but those that are designed to easily integrate with other best-in-class service providers.
3. Why Access Control is the Gateway to Experience-as-a-Service
Of all the technologies in a smart building, access control is the most fundamental and the most frequently used. It is the digital handshake between a person and the space. This makes it the perfect "gateway" to a wider XaaS offering.
When the essential function of entering the building and the private unit is tied to the main resident or guest app, that app's adoption and daily engagement skyrocket. You can't offer premium digital services to people who haven't downloaded your app. The mobile key is the single most powerful driver for getting your digital platform into the hands of your users.
4. The Future is a Curated, Connected Community
The most desirable and profitable properties of the next decade will be those that function less like traditional real estate and more like service-based technology platforms. The winners will be the developers and operators who master the art of curating and integrating the right services to create a vibrant, convenient, and connected community.
This journey begins with a foundational investment in a flexible, secure, and open access control platform—the essential starting point for delivering the future of real estate.
