In 2025, London once again solidified its reputation as a global hub for innovation in real estate technology by hosting CREtech London 2025—a premier event at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and Proptech disruption. Drawing thousands of property professionals, investors, developers, architects, tech entrepreneurs, and consultants, this year’s conference served as a strategic platform for exploring the future of real estate through the lens of digital transformation and ESG integration.
Scale and Attendees
Held on May 8–9, 2025, at the iconic Olympia London, CREtech welcomed over 3,000 attendees from more than 30 countries, with representation from industry leaders such as JLL, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, Siemens, EDGE Technologies, Google Cloud, and a wide range of Proptech startups.
The event focused on three key pillars:
- AI & Automation: How machine learning is transforming asset management and operations
- Sustainability & ESG: Green construction, carbon reduction, and energy efficiency
- Proptech Innovation: Digital tools, blockchain, and immersive technologies reshaping the built world
Artificial Intelligence: From Theory to Operations
One of the central themes of the event was the real-world application of artificial intelligence in real estate. Panels and case studies demonstrated how AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s already actively optimizing operational costs, enhancing tenant experience, and transforming decision-making.
JLL Technologies presented a case study where AI-enabled building management systems reduced energy consumption by 22% in a major London commercial building. Machine learning algorithms forecasted peak loads and automatically adjusted HVAC systems, lighting, and building occupancy zones.
Other featured applications included:
- Predictive maintenance for facilities management
- Virtual tenant assistants and chatbots
- Dynamic pricing algorithms for commercial leasing
- Lease abstraction automation and legal analytics
Sustainability and ESG as Strategic Imperatives
Sustainability wasn’t just a side topic—it was a core theme that permeated nearly every session. Industry leaders emphasized that ESG strategies are no longer optional but critical to long-term asset value and investor trust.
EDGE Technologies unveiled its latest BREEAM Outstanding–certified project in Amsterdam—a fully digitized smart office using IoT sensors and digital twins to monitor CO₂ emissions, temperature, and energy in real time.
Discussions also addressed:
- Carbon offsetting programs
- Embodied carbon in construction
- Green financing instruments
- ESG scoring frameworks for investors and occupiers
The consensus: Net zero is no longer a distant goal—it’s a measurable, data-driven mandate.
Proptech Innovation: Blockchain, Big Data, and the Metaverse
The Proptech landscape showcased at CREtech London 2025 was bold, immersive, and increasingly mainstream. Innovative startups and established players presented next-generation platforms integrating blockchain, data analytics, and virtual reality.
One notable launch came from BricksChain, a London-based startup offering blockchain-powered transaction ledgers for real estate deals. Their decentralized system promises greater transparency, reduced legal friction, and faster deal closures.
MetaSpace Realty introduced its metaverse-based digital showrooms, allowing investors and tenants to explore properties virtually via VR headsets—with embedded data overlays on energy usage, layout options, and lease terms.
Other trends included:
- Tenant screening via AI and blockchain-backed identity systems
- App-based building management for smart offices
- BIM (Building Information Modeling) integration with real-time operations
- Tokenized property investment platforms for fractional ownership
Strategic Sessions and Key Panels
One standout panel—“Redefining Value: Beyond Price per Square Meter”—brought together thought leaders to debate evolving property valuation metrics. They argued that traditional pricing models are being replaced by hybrid indices that include ESG scores, tenant satisfaction, digital readiness, and building performance.
Another highlight was the session on ethical AI in real estate, exploring accountability in machine learning models, algorithmic bias in tenant evaluations, and the future of human roles in increasingly automated workflows.
Concerns were raised about the shifting skill sets required in real estate roles, with predictions that analysts, brokers, and asset managers will need to become proficient in data science, coding, and AI governance.
Proptech Investment Outlook
CREtech 2025 also highlighted the ongoing boom in Proptech investment. A new report by CREtech Ventures revealed that global Proptech funding reached €28 billion in 2024, marking a 17% year-over-year increase. Key investment hotspots include the US, UK, Germany, and Singapore.
Venture capitalists signaled growing appetite for B2B solutions that target developers, asset managers, and institutional landlords—particularly those that promise to reduce carbon emissions, automate leasing processes, or enhance user experience through intelligent design.
Early-stage startups working on climate-focused Proptech drew particular interest, especially those aligned with EU taxonomy and SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation).
Reactions and Takeaways
Industry professionals praised CREtech 2025 for moving beyond buzzwords and presenting tangible solutions that are already reshaping the built environment.
Key takeaways included:
- AI is actively reshaping how real estate is managed, operated, and valued.
- ESG compliance is a top priority for both investors and occupiers.
- Proptech platforms are streamlining the full building lifecycle—from planning and design to leasing and maintenance.
- The metaverse and blockchain are evolving from niche experiments to scalable, revenue-generating tools.
- Integrated data ecosystems are becoming the new standard in asset intelligence.
Conclusion
CREtech London 2025 proved that the future of real estate is intelligent, connected, and sustainable. Far from being a niche tech gathering, the event demonstrated that technology is now central to how buildings are built, financed, leased, and experienced.
For developers, investors, operators, and startups, attending CREtech was not just about showcasing innovations—it was about understanding the direction of the industry, identifying what’s viable, scalable, and in demand.
As the real estate market continues to evolve at speed, CREtech London remains one of the most important forums for thought leadership, cross-border collaboration, and building the next generation of the built environment.
