TenantBase Blog

How Brokers Can Get Digital in a Hurry

92% of CRE firms have piloted AI, but only 5% say they've achieved their goals with it. How tenant-rep brokers can close the digital gap fast by partnering rather than building.

By TenantBase

How Brokers Can Get Digital in a Hurry — Blog Header
92% of CRE firms have piloted AI, but only 5% say they've achieved their goals with it — how brokers can close the digital gap fast.

Commercial real estate brokers are feeling the pressure to modernize — and the data backs up why. Adoption just hasn't kept pace with what's actually available, and the gap between firms using technology well and firms still doing things the old way is only getting wider.

Quick Answer

92% of CRE firms have piloted AI or digital tools, but only 5% say they've actually achieved their goals with them1 — most brokers are experimenting, few are executing. The fastest way to close that gap without building your own tech stack is partnering with a platform that already has it built: tenant matching, a public profile, and streamlined deal flow, ready on day one.

Brokers get matched with active tenant requirements. No cost beyond standard commission.

The Adoption Gap Is Real — and Measurable

The technology itself isn't the bottleneck anymore. AI, matching algorithms, and digital deal flow tools have all arrived in commercial real estate. What's lagging is execution: 92% of CRE firms report having piloted AI in some form, but only 5% say they've fully achieved their goals with it.1 That's a wide gap between experimentation and real results — and it's exactly where the opportunity sits for brokers willing to move faster than their peers.

The upside for those who do close the gap is concrete. Firms that have genuinely adopted AI-driven tools expect 31% portfolio growth in 2026, compared to just 12% for firms that haven't.1 Deloitte's 2026 industry survey similarly finds that tenant relationship management, lease drafting, and portfolio management are now among the top areas where AI is actually being put to work — not just discussed.2

There's pressure from the client side too. More than 72% of tenants now say they prefer a digitally enabled search and leasing experience.3 Brokers who can't offer that are increasingly competing at a real disadvantage, regardless of how strong their market knowledge is.

Why Partner Instead of Build

Closing the adoption gap doesn't have to mean building a tech stack from scratch — for most independent brokers and small firms, it shouldn't. The global proptech market is projected to grow from $45.1 billion in 2025 to $50.1 billion in 2026, expanding at a 12.6% compound annual rate.4 That kind of investment has produced real, mature platforms — the fastest path to modernizing is partnering with one rather than trying to replicate it independently.

TenantBase is one option built specifically around this idea. It's a tech-enabled marketplace that connects tenants searching for commercial space with local tenant-rep brokers, letting brokers plug into an existing digital pipeline instead of building their own.

What Joining TenantBase Actually Provides

Warm tenant matches, not cold outreach. Tenants share their requirements — location, size, budget, timing — directly through the platform. Brokers whose coverage and specialty fit are matched automatically, replacing cold calling with pre-qualified introductions.
A public broker profile. Your market expertise, coverage areas, and track record are visible to tenants searching in your market — building your digital presence without you having to manage it separately.
Streamlined deal flow. Tools for managing tenant matches and moving deals forward digitally, without a separate software subscription layered on top of your existing commission structure.

Get Digital Without Building It Yourself

Join TenantBase's broker network and start getting matched with tenants actively searching in your market.

Join as a Partner Broker

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I join TenantBase as a broker?
Visit TenantBase's broker partner page to get started. Brokers create a profile, indicate their coverage markets and specialties, and begin receiving matches with tenants actively searching in their area.
Is there a cost for brokers to join TenantBase?
TenantBase's platform is built around standard commission structures already common in commercial real estate. There's no separate software fee on top of that to access tenant matches, broker profile pages, or deal flow tools.
How does TenantBase match brokers with tenants?
Tenants share their requirements — location, size, budget, and timing — through TenantBase's platform. Brokers whose coverage and specialty match those requirements are connected directly, replacing cold outreach with warm, pre-qualified introductions.
What digital tools does TenantBase provide to brokers?
Brokers get a public profile page that showcases their market expertise and track record, a streamlined deal flow process for managing tenant matches, and exposure to tenants actively searching — without needing to build or maintain their own tech stack.
References
  1. TechnBrains. AI in PropTech 2026: Adoption, Impact, and Real-World Outcomes.
  2. Deloitte, cited in Northspyre. 2026 PropTech Trend Predictions.
  3. ORIL. PropTech & Real Estate 2026: What's Actually Changing.
  4. Grand View Research. PropTech Market Size, Share & Trends Report, 2026–2033.
Join as a Partner Broker

Get matched with tenants actively searching in your market — no separate software fee.