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What is built-in furniture vs. freestanding furniture?
Built-in furniture is custom-designed and permanently fixed into a room's structure such as a wardrobe fitted into a recessed wall or kitchen cabinetry extending to the ceiling. Freestanding furniture, by contrast, is independently supported and can be moved or relocated at any time. Both approaches have distinct advantages depending on the space, lifestyle, and budget.
Built-In Furniture
- Permanently fixed to walls, floor, or ceiling
- Fully customised to room dimensions utilises every inch including alcoves
- Seamless look no gaps between furniture and walls
- Expensive to remove or modify once installed
- Ideal for kitchens, wardrobes, home offices, and TV units
- Adds to the property's resale value
Freestanding Furniture
- Not attached to the structure can be moved or replaced easily
- More flexible for renters or those who move frequently
- Wide range of off-the-shelf options more affordable
- Doesn't utilise corner or wall space as efficiently
- Ideal for dining tables, sofas, beds, and accent pieces
- Easier to sell or take when moving home
The best interiors typically combine both built-in and freestanding furniture strategically. Built-ins maximise storage and create a polished, bespoke look, while freestanding pieces provide flexibility and character to the overall design.
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What’s Driving Rental and Coliving Demand in India in 2025?
The size of rental market in India is estimated to be USD 13.9 Bn by 2025. Around 50% of this is attributed to the Gen-Z population, and 30% to the millennial population. Demographic profile of India’s work force, changing behaviour of gen-Z and millennials, rapid urbanisation, digital behaviour and capital allocators preference are the five key factors are driving this increased trend in rental real estate. Demographic profile of the work force Around 52% of the Indian population comprises of Gen-Z and Millennials. In 2023, millennials constituted 70% of the Indian work force have emerged as the backbone of many Indian companies. Indian technology sector workforce comprises of 86% to 90% of Gen-Z and Millennial work force. The innate behavioural traits, real estate requirement patterns, lifestyles and purchasing power are often intrinsic to their nature of real estate consumption patterns. Changing behaviour of gen-Z and millennials. Internet penetration has shaped the consumer across industries including real estate. 50% of Gen Zs and millennials say they live paycheck to paycheck with high cost of living is their top societal concern. Big life decisions like buying a house and starting a family are often postponed to later stage. Ability to maintain a positive work/life balance and not live their life on their own terms, and not necessarily to live up to societal expectations. This has shifted the consumption pattern of with increasing demand for rental real estate. The behavioural pattern of consumers of community and experiential living with a value that meets their pocket has given rise to the Co-Living segment. Rapid urbanisation Industrial growth, rise of services sector has shaped rapid urbanisation. In India, contribution component of urban growth is segmented into three categories according to a study by International Institute for Population Sciences. In India, it is estimated that more than 500 million individuals, i.e. approximately 35% of the population stays in urban areas. As the decade progresses, India will witness addition of 100 million urban dwellers, which will further rise to 60% by 2050. (Ref: Macrotrends, Urban Development Ministry, Govt. of India) It is estimated that 28% of the urban households stay in rental housing. This number shall be higher in mega cities. The demand for rental living, is 5.7 million units across top 30 cities (Tier I, II, II) in the country -comprising of working singles living on rent (migrants and domicile) and unmarried student population. This together adds up to 5.7 million across top 30 cities (Tier I, II and III) in the country. Digital behaviour of consumers: There is a remarkable increase in internet penetration, adoption and consumption across enterprises and consumers in India. 700 Mn internet users across the country, 470 Mn social media users and 350 Mn digital payment users. 80% of digital consumers in India prefer searching and discovering new products online before visiting physical stores or seeking offline. 69% of digital consumers prefer digital communications for customer support and interactions. Convenience, value and trust are key drivers across most internet platforms with Capital allocators preference for real estate supply The sector interest has increased after a funding winter for two straight years. Investments in the sector dropped from USD 148 million in 2021 to USD 21.7 million in 2022 and USD 6 million in 2023. With strong fundamental demand backed by urbanisation, consumer behaviour and digitisation, institutional investors and global funds favour co-living and data centres as an alternative asset class. The understanding of private equity funds is also well defined in international markets where co-living is a mature sector. Recently, Singapore’s CapitaLand Investment announced CLARA II: A $600 Million private equity fund for serviced apartments and co-living properties. Brookfield Asset Management, which has a real estate AUM of USD 690 billion globally is also looking to invest more in the coliving, rental housing and serviced apartment asset class.
PropTech Pulse Editorial
7th March 2024
Technology and Innovation
Evolution of Customer Relationship Management tools
‘‘The purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer’’, Peter Drucker, a famous writer, and management consultant said prolifically. The realm of CRM scope covers customer discovery, interactions, service, care, retention, and loyalty. The term Customer Relationship Management (CRM) was coined in the early 1970s when management at business units realized it would be better to be customer emphatic rather than product emphatic. Customer relationship management tools has evolved gradually from Rolodex’s of 1950s to Generative AI in 2020. What started as a record-keeping tool gradually evolved into digital documentation, sales automation, enterprise resource planning, social marketing, to the present age hyper personalised automated communication form. 1956 - First CRM Gadget - Rolodex In 1956s, Danish engineer Hildaur Neilsen, chief engineer of Zephyr American invented Rolodex, a card index system used to store customer contact information. It was a desk gadget that stacked and stored business cards and index cards that people could spin and flip through. Digital Rolodex, Tele sales and advent of computers The 1980s saw an evolution in sales, marketing and customer retention tactics with the advent of digitisation. Tools such as direct mail, brochures, and product catalogues being sent to a database of customers to get them to buy something were prevalently used in the 1980s. Database marketing and digital Rolodex came to the fore. The late 1980s saw the advent of telesales for customer communication. Computers were also accessible for enterprises and became a means of storing information about customers. In 1987, the software programme ACT (Activity Control Technology) was created by Mike Sullivan and Mitch Muhney, officially known as the first CRM software. This was essentially a digital Rolodex that allowed storage and management of the entire customer lifecycle information on the software. With its usage of Customer Relationship Management software, Act! demonstrated the advantages of scalable software that utilized consumer information to help a firm better manage its connections. 1990 - Sales Automation and progression into CRM systems By 1990s, one saw a progression of database management into customer lifecycle management and sales force workflow automation. Tools like enterprise resource planning, and marketing were added to the software’s contact management functions. This was the emergence first CRM systems. Tom Siebel, founder of Sieble Systems, coined the term CRM (Customer Relationship Software) for the first time. The post-introduction of the same CRM took off exponentially, with other companies also providing CRM solutions. Siebel Systems was later acquired by Oracle for over USD 5 billion in 2005. Late 1900s - First Mobile CRM, SaaS business model and Salesforce Inc. Post invention of PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices, tasks, emails, and calendar management became mobile. It allowed sales individuals to access customer data from central databases on the go, which proved to be a game changer as one didn’t have to be on the desk to work out these tasks. Salesforce.com was launched in 1999 and offered a new business model, offering software services as subscriptions (SaaS), wherein the upfront implementation cost, effort, and maintenance would be taken care of by Salesforce. 2000 - Cloud based CRM, Open-Source CRM and Social CRM In 2007, internet boom and cloud storage led to the advent and proliferation of Cloud-based CRM. With the increased internet adoption, Salesforce’s subscription model became popular as it could be scaled up very quickly. Open-source software also came to the fore, with the most prominent one being Sugar CRM, invented by computer scientists and ex-IBM and Hewlett-Packard employees Clint Oram, John Roberts, and Jacob Taylor. With the increased proliferation, and exponential growth of social media platforms, CRMs were combined with social media tools to offer SCRM. 2010 - Artificial Intelligence and CRM Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed the CRM space substantially with automation and intelligence. AI can be used for lead scoring, identifying customer needs, and providing recommendations. With enormous data being generated across every consumer by way of their digital footprint, CRM with AI and data analytics makes it simple to extrapolate consumer behaviour and requirements in real-time. 2020 and Now - Generative AI Generative AI is a subset of AI but unique in its ability to learn from underlying patterns to create new data that mirrors the training data set. The power of creation has a multifold impact across industries, and consumer communication is only to benefit from this capability. Managing customer interactions with Gen AI has the potential to enable a better connection between brands and customers. This however requires creative ability to engage customers and ability to execute to deliver better performance results and employee experiences. A combination of Gen AI and CRM can impact functional domains of marketing, sales, commerce, service and customer success. The true potential of Gen AI can be unlocked best when used in combination with predictive AI, voice to text, experience management and workflow optimisation. The CRM journey has reached an interesting point with AI, and the future looks promising for this space. The Total Addressable Market is set to grow to USD 290 billion by 2026. Salesforce Inc, an early mover, and a global market leader grew 10x in revenue in a decade. In 2013, its revenue stood at USD 3.1 billion which stands at USD 34 billion in FY 2022. CRM, which started as a simple Rolodex, has evolved into a complex system laced with artificial intelligence that helps organisations manage customer data and engage them with it in a self-assisted automated format, bringing huge implications for cost, efficiency, and the experience of consumer communication. As we advance further into the coming decades, CRM software systems will become more intelligent, integrated and intuitive with powerful AI capabilities, greater emphasis on self-service, enhanced experience for customers, hyper-personalisation, integrated API networks and ecosystems, and a single source of truth for businesses. Peter Drucker will be smiling in his grave looking at the advancement in this space.
PropTech Pulse Editorial
12th April 2024
Rental Market
Home Renting for Rookies: A First-Time Renter’s Guide to Flat Hunting in India
If you’re about to dive into the world of working full-time in a new city, first off, congrats! Now, let’s talk about the not-so-glamorous part—finding a place to call home that isn’t a PG. If you’re ready to move beyond the shared bed and curfew life and want to take on the glorious chaos of living independently, buckle up because this post is your ultimate survival guide. Step 1: Define Your Budget The first step in finding your ideal flat is setting your rent limit. This is non-negotiable. Rule of Thumb: Your rent should not exceed 20% of your monthly income. Stretching the Budget: In rare cases (like finding your dream flat), you might stretch it to 30%, but be cautious. Example: If your monthly income is ₹50,000, aim for a flat with rent around ₹10,000 to ₹15,000. This ensures you have enough left over for food, utilities, and fun without living paycheck to paycheck. Step 2: Research Like a Pro Start your research at least a month before you move to the city. The internet is your best friend here. Best Websites for Listings: Nestaway, Housing, NoBroker, MagicBricks, and 99acres. Check Trends: Look for price ranges in different neighbourhoods. Note down patterns—this will help when it’s time to negotiate. Pro Tip: Create a shortlist of 5-6 properties that meet your criteria to save time during house visits. Step 3: Choose Your Flatmate Wisely Flatmates can be the deciding factor between a comfortable living situation and a nightmare. Why Flatmates Matter: They help share costs, including rent and utilities. Things to Look For: Similar schedules, compatible habits (cleanliness, noise levels), and shared interests. Red Flag: If they seem unreliable during initial interactions, trust your gut and look for someone else. Remember, a good flatmate can make even an average flat feel like home. Step 4: Location, Location, Location Finding the perfect location is like striking gold. Your flat’s location impacts your commute, lifestyle, and even your expenses. Proximity to the Office: Aim for a commute under 30 minutes if possible. Nearby Amenities: Grocery stores, gyms, public transport. Safety: Check the neighbourhood's safety rating or ask locals. Pro Tip: Visit the area during different times of the day to get a feel for noise, traffic, and overall vibe. Step 5: The Art of Negotiation Renting isn’t just about picking a flat; it’s also about getting the best deal. How to Negotiate: Use your research to highlight average rents in the area and point out any flaws in the property (if any). Be Ready to Walk Away: If the landlord isn’t willing to budge, don’t feel pressured to agree. Pro Tip: Landlords are often more flexible towards the end of the month when they’re eager to fill vacancies. Step 6: Broker or No Broker? You’ll likely come across brokers during your search. They can be helpful but also come with costs. When to Use Brokers: If you’re short on time or struggling to find options on your own. How to Choose the Right Broker: Focus on those with multiple listings that match your preferences. Pro Tip: Negotiate the broker’s fee upfront. The standard is one month’s rent, but you can often negotiate it down to half. Step 7: Visit Flats with a Checklist When visiting flats, don’t just rely on the first impression. Use this checklist to evaluate each property: Condition of the Flat: Look for leaks, mould, or damage. Connectivity: Check mobile and Wi-Fi signals inside the flat. Appliances and Furniture: Confirm what’s included in the rent. Neighbours: Friendly or noisy? Pro Tip: Take photos during visits to compare later, especially if you’re seeing multiple flats in a day. Step 8: Seal the Deal Once you’ve found the perfect flat, it’s time to finalise the agreement. Read the Lease Agreement Thoroughly: Ensure it includes details like rent, deposit, notice period, and maintenance charges. Get Everything in Writing: Avoid verbal agreements to prevent future disputes. Pro Tip: Check if the flat requires any immediate repairs and ask the landlord to address these before you move in. Bonus Tips for First-Time Renters Prepare Your Documents: Landlords often ask for ID proof, employment details, and a security deposit. Have these ready to speed up the process. Beware of Scams: Avoid paying deposits without visiting the property in person. Plan Your Move: Arrange for packers and movers in advance if needed. Conclusion: Finding Your Home Sweet Home House hunting for the first time can be overwhelming, but with the right strategy, it becomes manageable—and even enjoyable! Remember, the goal isn’t perfection; it’s finding a place that balances your needs and feels like home. Good luck on your flat hunt, and welcome to the adventure of independent living!
PropTech Pulse Editorial
23rd December 2024
Investment Opportunities
What’s Driving Rental and Coliving Demand in India in 2025?
The size of rental market in India is estimated to be USD 13.9 Bn by 2025. Around 50% of this is attributed to the Gen-Z population, and 30% to the millennial population. Demographic profile of India’s work force, changing behaviour of gen-Z and millennials, rapid urbanisation, digital behaviour and capital allocators preference are the five key factors are driving this increased trend in rental real estate. Demographic profile of the work force Around 52% of the Indian population comprises of Gen-Z and Millennials. In 2023, millennials constituted 70% of the Indian work force have emerged as the backbone of many Indian companies. Indian technology sector workforce comprises of 86% to 90% of Gen-Z and Millennial work force. The innate behavioural traits, real estate requirement patterns, lifestyles and purchasing power are often intrinsic to their nature of real estate consumption patterns. Changing behaviour of gen-Z and millennials. Internet penetration has shaped the consumer across industries including real estate. 50% of Gen Zs and millennials say they live paycheck to paycheck with high cost of living is their top societal concern. Big life decisions like buying a house and starting a family are often postponed to later stage. Ability to maintain a positive work/life balance and not live their life on their own terms, and not necessarily to live up to societal expectations. This has shifted the consumption pattern of with increasing demand for rental real estate. The behavioural pattern of consumers of community and experiential living with a value that meets their pocket has given rise to the Co-Living segment. Rapid urbanisation Industrial growth, rise of services sector has shaped rapid urbanisation. In India, contribution component of urban growth is segmented into three categories according to a study by International Institute for Population Sciences. In India, it is estimated that more than 500 million individuals, i.e. approximately 35% of the population stays in urban areas. As the decade progresses, India will witness addition of 100 million urban dwellers, which will further rise to 60% by 2050. (Ref: Macrotrends, Urban Development Ministry, Govt. of India) It is estimated that 28% of the urban households stay in rental housing. This number shall be higher in mega cities. The demand for rental living, is 5.7 million units across top 30 cities (Tier I, II, II) in the country -comprising of working singles living on rent (migrants and domicile) and unmarried student population. This together adds up to 5.7 million across top 30 cities (Tier I, II and III) in the country. Digital behaviour of consumers: There is a remarkable increase in internet penetration, adoption and consumption across enterprises and consumers in India. 700 Mn internet users across the country, 470 Mn social media users and 350 Mn digital payment users. 80% of digital consumers in India prefer searching and discovering new products online before visiting physical stores or seeking offline. 69% of digital consumers prefer digital communications for customer support and interactions. Convenience, value and trust are key drivers across most internet platforms with Capital allocators preference for real estate supply The sector interest has increased after a funding winter for two straight years. Investments in the sector dropped from USD 148 million in 2021 to USD 21.7 million in 2022 and USD 6 million in 2023. With strong fundamental demand backed by urbanisation, consumer behaviour and digitisation, institutional investors and global funds favour co-living and data centres as an alternative asset class. The understanding of private equity funds is also well defined in international markets where co-living is a mature sector. Recently, Singapore’s CapitaLand Investment announced CLARA II: A $600 Million private equity fund for serviced apartments and co-living properties. Brookfield Asset Management, which has a real estate AUM of USD 690 billion globally is also looking to invest more in the coliving, rental housing and serviced apartment asset class.
PropTech Pulse Editorial
7th March 2024
Technology and Innovation
Evolution of Customer Relationship Management tools
‘‘The purpose of a business is to create and keep a customer’’, Peter Drucker, a famous writer, and management consultant said prolifically. The realm of CRM scope covers customer discovery, interactions, service, care, retention, and loyalty. The term Customer Relationship Management (CRM) was coined in the early 1970s when management at business units realized it would be better to be customer emphatic rather than product emphatic. Customer relationship management tools has evolved gradually from Rolodex’s of 1950s to Generative AI in 2020. What started as a record-keeping tool gradually evolved into digital documentation, sales automation, enterprise resource planning, social marketing, to the present age hyper personalised automated communication form. 1956 - First CRM Gadget - Rolodex In 1956s, Danish engineer Hildaur Neilsen, chief engineer of Zephyr American invented Rolodex, a card index system used to store customer contact information. It was a desk gadget that stacked and stored business cards and index cards that people could spin and flip through. Digital Rolodex, Tele sales and advent of computers The 1980s saw an evolution in sales, marketing and customer retention tactics with the advent of digitisation. Tools such as direct mail, brochures, and product catalogues being sent to a database of customers to get them to buy something were prevalently used in the 1980s. Database marketing and digital Rolodex came to the fore. The late 1980s saw the advent of telesales for customer communication. Computers were also accessible for enterprises and became a means of storing information about customers. In 1987, the software programme ACT (Activity Control Technology) was created by Mike Sullivan and Mitch Muhney, officially known as the first CRM software. This was essentially a digital Rolodex that allowed storage and management of the entire customer lifecycle information on the software. With its usage of Customer Relationship Management software, Act! demonstrated the advantages of scalable software that utilized consumer information to help a firm better manage its connections. 1990 - Sales Automation and progression into CRM systems By 1990s, one saw a progression of database management into customer lifecycle management and sales force workflow automation. Tools like enterprise resource planning, and marketing were added to the software’s contact management functions. This was the emergence first CRM systems. Tom Siebel, founder of Sieble Systems, coined the term CRM (Customer Relationship Software) for the first time. The post-introduction of the same CRM took off exponentially, with other companies also providing CRM solutions. Siebel Systems was later acquired by Oracle for over USD 5 billion in 2005. Late 1900s - First Mobile CRM, SaaS business model and Salesforce Inc. Post invention of PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) devices, tasks, emails, and calendar management became mobile. It allowed sales individuals to access customer data from central databases on the go, which proved to be a game changer as one didn’t have to be on the desk to work out these tasks. Salesforce.com was launched in 1999 and offered a new business model, offering software services as subscriptions (SaaS), wherein the upfront implementation cost, effort, and maintenance would be taken care of by Salesforce. 2000 - Cloud based CRM, Open-Source CRM and Social CRM In 2007, internet boom and cloud storage led to the advent and proliferation of Cloud-based CRM. With the increased internet adoption, Salesforce’s subscription model became popular as it could be scaled up very quickly. Open-source software also came to the fore, with the most prominent one being Sugar CRM, invented by computer scientists and ex-IBM and Hewlett-Packard employees Clint Oram, John Roberts, and Jacob Taylor. With the increased proliferation, and exponential growth of social media platforms, CRMs were combined with social media tools to offer SCRM. 2010 - Artificial Intelligence and CRM Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed the CRM space substantially with automation and intelligence. AI can be used for lead scoring, identifying customer needs, and providing recommendations. With enormous data being generated across every consumer by way of their digital footprint, CRM with AI and data analytics makes it simple to extrapolate consumer behaviour and requirements in real-time. 2020 and Now - Generative AI Generative AI is a subset of AI but unique in its ability to learn from underlying patterns to create new data that mirrors the training data set. The power of creation has a multifold impact across industries, and consumer communication is only to benefit from this capability. Managing customer interactions with Gen AI has the potential to enable a better connection between brands and customers. This however requires creative ability to engage customers and ability to execute to deliver better performance results and employee experiences. A combination of Gen AI and CRM can impact functional domains of marketing, sales, commerce, service and customer success. The true potential of Gen AI can be unlocked best when used in combination with predictive AI, voice to text, experience management and workflow optimisation. The CRM journey has reached an interesting point with AI, and the future looks promising for this space. The Total Addressable Market is set to grow to USD 290 billion by 2026. Salesforce Inc, an early mover, and a global market leader grew 10x in revenue in a decade. In 2013, its revenue stood at USD 3.1 billion which stands at USD 34 billion in FY 2022. CRM, which started as a simple Rolodex, has evolved into a complex system laced with artificial intelligence that helps organisations manage customer data and engage them with it in a self-assisted automated format, bringing huge implications for cost, efficiency, and the experience of consumer communication. As we advance further into the coming decades, CRM software systems will become more intelligent, integrated and intuitive with powerful AI capabilities, greater emphasis on self-service, enhanced experience for customers, hyper-personalisation, integrated API networks and ecosystems, and a single source of truth for businesses. Peter Drucker will be smiling in his grave looking at the advancement in this space.
PropTech Pulse Editorial
12th April 2024
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