In a strong sign of accelerating digital transformation within commercial real estate, mid-June 2025 brought two major technology rollouts poised to redefine property access and leasing operations. Amazon and AppFolio, two influential players in the tech and property management spaces respectively, unveiled new platforms aimed at reducing friction for building owners, operators, and tenants alike.
On June 10, Amazon launched its Key Access Control System, a comprehensive smart entry platform for multi-family residences and gated communities. The system integrates directly with the Ring app, enabling digital access through mobile devices and virtual key sharing. The announcement was quickly followed by another significant development at the Apartmentalize 2025 conference, where AppFolio debuted Realm-X Performers, a suite of autonomous AI agents designed to automate leasing, maintenance, and tenant communication workflows across large property portfolios.
These launches mark a critical shift in how commercial property owners are approaching tenant experience, security, and efficiency—an evolution driven by emerging proptech demands and post-pandemic expectations for digital convenience.
Amazon’s Key Access Control System builds on the company’s existing Ring infrastructure, offering a scalable solution for landlords looking to modernize traditional intercom and key systems. Four product variants serve different types of properties—from minimal add-ons to high-tech touchscreens.
The Virtual Key feature allows residents to grant app-based access to visitors and delivery personnel. Other options include Intercom Boost, which enhances legacy call boxes, and Intercom Plus, a premium interface that combines video, PIN code entry, and resident directories.
Early adopters, such as Charney Property Management, reported significant improvements in building security and logistics, especially for high-volume delivery management. The integration with Amazon’s delivery network ensures seamless package drop-offs, eliminating the need for manual buzz-ins or on-site concierge staff.
The move represents Amazon’s deeper push into smart infrastructure and residential technology—a strategy that could give it a strong foothold in property management ecosystems, particularly in urban multi-tenant complexes.
At the Apartmentalize 2025 conference, AppFolio showcased Realm-X Performers, an AI-driven platform built to streamline repetitive and time-consuming property management tasks. The announcement drew wide attention for its practical application of autonomous agents in the field of leasing and facility operations.
Both agents operate within Realm-X Flows, a larger automation engine designed to orchestrate leasing lifecycles and maintenance task management. AppFolio claims its early adopters have experienced time savings of over 10 hours per week, a 73% rise in lead-to-tour conversions, and significantly faster service response times.
By embedding AI into the operational fabric of property management, AppFolio aims to transition firms from manual oversight to performance-based automation—prioritizing tenant satisfaction and cost control.
Despite the benefits, industry experts caution that full-scale adoption will require overcoming hurdles related to interoperability and privacy. Many older buildings lack the infrastructure needed to install smart hardware, and integrating disparate platforms—especially between Amazon’s system and third-party property management tools—remains a challenge.
Additionally, tenant data management poses new regulatory concerns. AI agents handling communications and access logs must comply with data privacy laws and maintain transparency in decision-making processes.
As these technologies gain traction, stakeholders will likely demand clearer standards for cybersecurity, performance metrics, and ethical AI deployment in residential and commercial spaces.With major players like Amazon and AppFolio rolling out advanced access and automation tools, the commercial property sector appears to be entering a new era of intelligent operations. What was once a fragmented set of technologies—smart locks, automated leasing software, maintenance ticketing—now coalesces into holistic ecosystems aimed at reshaping how properties are managed and experienced.
As demand for responsive, tech-enabled living and working environments grows, early adopters of these tools may gain a competitive edge in tenant retention, cost control, and market agility.