Google buys into UK property management platform AskPorter
The search engine giant has made the investment via its Google Assistant business and is the first proptech move its made outside the US.
Google has made its first investment in UK proptech with an undisclosed cash injection into artificial intelligence (AI) based property management service AskPorter.
As well as money, the company is to receive technical and product development help from the search engine giant, which has made the investment via its Google Assistant technology platform, its own AI product that sits on most Android phones and Google home hubs.
AskPorter has also revealed that it has partnered with 15 estate agents and institutional landlords across the UK and will work with them to automate their property management systems.
Called ‘Porter’s Pioneers, over the next six months the programme will see AskPorter’s technical and property team working closely with these estate agencies, property managers and landlords to automate how they qualify potential leads and issue ASTs, collect service charge payments, reconcile invoices and deal with maintenance and service issues.
“We will combine pioneering natural language processing and machine learning technology alongside a consultative approach, working closely we will provide these companies with a state-of-the-art AI property management platform,” says Curran McKay (left), its Chief Commercial Officer.
“Providing end-to-end management in one platform, Porter Pioneers will shape the future of this industry.”
McKay, who recently arrived at AskPorter from rental platform Canopy, says AskPorter has received enquiries from some 130 property companies across the world about its platform. In March the company announced that it had received a £500,000 investment from David Newnes, the former executive director of LSL Property Services.
