Digital upgrades, talent key to better property services

Property management companies need to strengthen digital capabilities and develop a more professional workforce to improve service quality, industry executives said during recent exchanges in Guangzhou, capital of South China's Guangdong province.

The exchanges took place during a visit by overseas industry representatives to Chinese property services provider A-Living Group's headquarters and its Cambridgeshire residential project, on the sidelines of the Guangzhou International Smart Property Expo.

Ch'ng Ewe Lee, marketing operations director of Malaysia's Comet Catcher, the company behind the Condo Master property management platform, said digital tools can streamline operations and improve residents' experience.

Technology's value extends beyond cutting costs and raising efficiency to reshaping how property services are delivered, he said.

Teo Poh Siang, founder of Singapore-based consultancy Wisely 98, called for healthier competition and greater recognition of property management as a profession. Raising its professional standing would help make the sector a more attractive career choice for younger workers, he said.

Attracting and retaining staff is a shared challenge for property management companies worldwide, said Zhao Yu, vice-president and director of A-Living Group.

She said corporate culture and care for employees are central to building stable teams. Protecting employees' health and dignity and strengthening their sense of security and worth can help them better serve residents, she added.

Pepe Gutiérrez, CEO of Spain's Megafincas Alicante, expressed hope that more Chinese property management companies would expand into Europe, the Americas and other markets, bringing quality services to local communities.