In a rapidly evolving real estate landscape, technology is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. Proptech has reshaped how properties are bought, sold, and managed, bringing transparency, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making to an industry that has traditionally relied on manual processes. Aayush Puri, Founder of ANACITY & Proptech Innovator at ANAROCK, shares his insights in an exclusive interaction with Krishna Mishra of Elets News Network on the rise of broker aggregation platforms, the integration of technology in brokerage, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

As a Harvard graduate and someone deeply involved in proptech, how do you see technology transforming real estate today?

The shift is happening at an unprecedented scale. The proptech sector globally was valued at around $33.57 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to nearly $90 billion by 2032. This isn’t just incremental change; it’s a structural transformation. In India, where real estate has been heavily fragmented and opaque, the role of technology is even more pronounced. From AI-driven property recommendations to blockchain-based secure transactions, we are moving towards a model that prioritizes efficiency, transparency, and ease of use for all stakeholders – brokers, developers, and homebuyers alike.

The real estate brokerage model, in particular, is undergoing a major overhaul. Traditionally, brokers relied on personal networks, offline listings, and in-person negotiations. Now, digital platforms have created a more structured, data-backed approach. Broker aggregation platforms are a perfect example of this shift.

Can you elaborate on the role of broker aggregation platforms and how they are changing the real estate brokerage model?

Broker aggregation platforms are a game-changer for the industry. They bring together scattered listings, streamline deal flow, and create a structured ecosystem where brokers, buyers, and sellers operate with much greater efficiency. Instead of relying on fragmented sources, brokers now have a centralized, AI-powered platform that can provide property data, pricing trends, and buyer preferences in real-time.

This has several benefits. First, it increases transparency in pricing and property availability. Second, it improves speed and efficiency, reducing turnaround times for transactions. Third, it significantly enhances the customer experience. When buyers and sellers know they are operating in a structured ecosystem with verified listings and real-time market insights, trust in the transaction process increases.

Globally, we’ve seen platforms like Zillow and Redfin lead this transition. In India, we are still in the early stages, but the market is moving rapidly in this direction. By 2026, broker aggregation is expected to account for over 35% of all secondary market real estate transactions in India. That’s a massive shift from just a few years ago when everything was hyper-local and offline.

With the rise of technology in brokerage, do you see traditional real estate brokers struggling to stay relevant?

I don’t think it’s about brokers becoming irrelevant – it’s about adaptation. The brokerage profession isn’t disappearing; it’s evolving. Brokers who adopt technology, leverage digital platforms, and use data-driven insights will be the ones who thrive. Those who stick to outdated methods may find themselves losing market share.

The key here is that technology doesn’t replace human expertise—it enhances it. A broker who has access to market analytics, buyer preferences, and pricing trends through a proptech platform is far more valuable to a client than one who only operates based on intuition. In fact, a recent survey found that 80% of homebuyers still prefer working with a broker, but they expect their brokers to offer digital tools, virtual tours, and instant market insights.

What we are seeing is the rise of the “tech-enabled broker”—someone who combines local expertise with digital tools to offer a superior experience to their clients. Broker aggregation platforms help them do exactly that.

What are some of the biggest challenges in proptech adoption, especially in markets like India?

One major challenge is the fragmentation of data. Unlike more mature real estate markets, India doesn’t yet have a single, standardized database of listings. Property data is scattered across different developers, brokers, and government registries. This makes it difficult to create a truly unified proptech ecosystem.

Another challenge is adoption at scale. While larger developers and brokerages are embracing technology, smaller brokers and individual agents are still catching up. Many of them see digital platforms as a threat rather than an enabler. That mindset needs to shift.

Regulatory frameworks also need to evolve to keep pace with proptech innovation. In markets like the US, blockchain-based property transactions are gaining traction. In India, we still have a long way to go in terms of making digital transactions fully secure and legally binding.

Where do you see the biggest opportunities in proptech over the next five years?

There are three key areas of opportunity. First, AI-driven property discovery. The way people search for homes is evolving. Instead of manually browsing listings, we’re moving towards AI-powered recommendations that match buyers with properties based on their preferences, budget, and lifestyle.

Second, blockchain-based transactions. Title fraud is a massive issue in Indian real estate. Blockchain can bring a level of security and transparency that traditional processes simply cannot match. Over the next five years, I expect to see more real estate registries experimenting with blockchain-based property records.

Third, the rise of real estate super-apps. Right now, different aspects of a real estate transaction—searching, financing, documentation, and legal verification—are all spread across different platforms. The future is an integrated super-app that brings everything into one seamless ecosystem.

We’re already seeing early signs of this shift. By 2030, India’s proptech sector is expected to be valued at over $1 trillion, driven by digital transformation, smart city initiatives, and the expansion of online brokerage models.

As a Harvard alumnus, how has your education influenced your approach to proptech?

Harvard’s approach to problem-solving is deeply analytical and structured, and that has influenced how I look at the real estate sector. Real estate is traditionally seen as an industry driven by relationships and intuition, but at its core, it is also about data, efficiency, and process optimization. Harvard reinforced the importance of bringing structured, technology-driven solutions to industries that have long resisted digital transformation.

It also exposed me to global real estate trends. The way proptech is evolving in markets like the US, Singapore, and the UAE offers valuable insights into what’s possible in India. The key is knowing how to adapt global innovations to local market realities.

Finally, what advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to enter the proptech space?

Three things—first, solve a real problem. Proptech is not about building flashy technology for the sake of it. It’s about fixing inefficiencies, improving access, and creating value for buyers, sellers, and brokers.

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Second, adoption matters more than innovation. The best technology is useless if people don’t use it. Focus on user experience and make adoption seamless. Third, stay ahead of the curve. Real estate is changing fast, and the next five years will see more innovation than the last two decades combined. Be ready to adapt and evolve as the industry moves forward.

Real estate and technology are no longer two separate worlds—they are now deeply intertwined. The next generation of real estate leaders will be those who embrace this shift and build businesses that redefine how we buy, sell, and experience property.

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