Inventory Base has conducted a new UK-wide survey of 436 property professionals, uncovering a sharp divide in how the industry views PropTech software. While some see it as essential, others dismiss it as irrelevant. This split raises a critical question: is PropTech delivering on its promise, or has it lost sight of what property professionals actually need?
The big divide in PropTech software adoption
Our survey highlights just how polarised the market has become:
- 55% of respondents never use PropTech software
- 29% use it daily
- 48% say PropTech is not important to their success
- 25% say it is essential
- 52% believe PropTech delivers little or no ROI
This split shows that enthusiasm and scepticism now sit side by side. For some, PropTech is mission-critical. For others, it has become a distraction.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Inventory Base, explains the challenge:
“When one segment of the industry is fully bought into PropTech and another dismisses it entirely, it shows that the sector is still divisive. Yet to be a force for good, technology needs to unite, not fragment, the industry.”
Where PropTech software is used
Respondents told us they most often use PropTech for:
- Compliance (16%)
- Marketing (14%)
- Admin tasks such as scheduling and invoicing (13%)
- Communication with colleagues and clients (13%)
But fewer than 1 in 3 believe these tools are genuinely effective at addressing their biggest daily challenges. Almost half say PropTech software could and should do better.
This gap highlights a fundamental problem: professionals don’t need more software. They need solutions that integrate directly into their workflows and make life easier.
What’s going wrong with PropTech software?
The survey identified three main barriers that hold back adoption:
- Poor integration: 23% said new tools fail to connect with their existing CRMs. Integration is often promised in marketing, but in practice too many platforms rely on shallow connections that add complexity instead of reducing it.
- Unclear ROI: More than half of professionals doubt the financial value of PropTech software. A fifth of respondents want clearer ROI and more evidence-based results.
- Cost and training: 22% believe PropTech software should be priced more competitively, while 15% want stronger onboarding and support.
Our colleague Sián Hemming-Metcalfe comments:
“The word ‘seamless’ is everywhere in PropTech marketing, but when uptake and satisfaction are so uneven, seamlessness becomes impossible. Yes, there are some incredible, transformational tools out there. But there’s also a lot of noise, too many products solving problems that don’t exist, or demanding that professionals adopt entirely new ecosystems, rather than integrating into the systems already in use.”
The crossroads moment
After more than a decade of innovation, PropTech software is at a turning point. Property professionals are tired of empty promises and fragmented systems. What they want is:
- Software that integrates with their existing CRMs and systems
- Tools that provide measurable ROI in terms of rental yields, operational efficiency, and compliance
- Pricing that reflects market conditions and what landlords measure most: yields and compliance costs
- Clear training, onboarding, and proof that technology will work in practice
Sián concludes:
“After more than a decade of innovation, PropTech remains at a crossroads. Industry professionals are bombarded with new tools and next big things, creating saturation, confusion, and fatigue. The biggest challenge now is closing that gap. Unless PropTech solutions are designed to fit into existing workflows and deliver real, measurable value, the sector will struggle to fulfil its original promise.”
Closing the gap
PropTech software is not dead. But it does need to mature. The future will not be won by the vendors who shout loudest about disruption, but by those who prove they can integrate, reduce risk, and deliver real returns.
At Inventory Base, we believe PropTech adoption must be built on trust, integration, and evidence. That’s why our platform focuses on deep CRM integrations, compliance-first workflows, and measurable ROI.