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The Levels of Autonomous Property

Which level is your portfolio?

Six levels, from scattered data to AI that runs the whole property. Most commercial real estate organizations sit between Level 0 and Level 1 today. HqO delivers Level 3.

L0AnalogL1AwareL2UnifiedL3AssistedL4AdaptiveL5Autonomous

The definition

What is an Autonomous Property?

A property that automates the outcomes tenants and stakeholders need, guided by your team.

From reactive management to continuous operation. Three things make it possible.

  1. 01

    One record

    One database for every building, space, company, person and lease.

  2. 02

    Live Scores

    Catch issues early. Grow to renewal and success.

  3. 03

    An AI operator and central intelligence

    Continuously optimizing performance.

The path

From managing software to managing outcomes.

The path to the Autonomous Property.

  1. Yesterday

    Systems of record

    Software stores information. People coordinate the work.

    L0 · Analog
  2. Today

    Connected platforms

    Applications share data. Teams see across operations.

    L1–L2 · Aware, Unified
  3. Tomorrow

    Systems of action

    People set the objective. REX coordinates the work. Humans oversee.

    L3–L5 · Assisted to Autonomous

The six levels

Six levels. One direction.

Each level builds on the one before it, starting with getting the data in one place.

Level 0

Analog

Data scattered, no AI.

Building data lives in spreadsheets, inboxes, binders and point systems that do not talk to each other. Nothing is connected and there is no AI. Most of the work is people chasing information.

Most CRE orgs today

Level 1

Aware

Dashboards and generic AI explain some of what is happening.

The data still lives in separate systems, so the picture is partial and someone has to connect the dots by hand.

Most CRE orgs today
What’s happening

Level 2

Unified

All of your properties' data in one place.

The scattered pieces come together into one record of the building, in the Digital Grid. It is the foundation that Scores, workflows and every later level depend on.

Building data

Level 3

Assisted

AI recommends specific actions, and humans approve and execute.

AI moves from explaining to recommending a specific action. A person reviews it, approves it, and carries it out. The human is still the one pulling the lever.

HqO today
Recommended action Floor 3 Approve Dismiss

Level 4

Adaptive

AI acts on its own in defined systems, and humans supervise.

Inside clearly defined systems, AI acts without waiting for approval. People set the boundaries and supervise, stepping in when something looks off.

Human supervisesDefined systemsHVACLightingAccessAI

Level 5

Autonomous

AI runs the building toward tenant and stakeholder outcomes guided by your team.

AI runs the building end to end against the outcomes tenants care about, such as satisfaction, renewal and business growth. Property teams spend their time on tenant success. People still set the goals and guardrails and can override anything.

The destination
! Exception Human

Why we publish it

Autonomous, and still under your direction.

"Autonomous" is an easy word to overclaim. We'd rather show exactly where HqO is today, and where the industry is going. At Level 3, REX recommends specific actions and your team approves and carries them out, so your properties run more autonomously without your team ceding control.

Find out which level your portfolio is at.

A few questions about how your buildings run today, and a clear picture of what the next level would take.

Start the assessment

Choose the answer that sounds most like your portfolio today.

  1. 01How do problems in your buildings come to light?
  2. 02What happens when a tenant sends a service request?
  3. 03How do you know a tenant might not renew?
  4. 04How do you get reports and answers about the portfolio?
  5. 05How is maintenance on building equipment run?
  6. 06Where does your team spend most of its time?