365 Connect CEO highlights new PropTech partnership model in multifamily

365 Connect CEO Kerry W. Kirby released a new podcast episode examining why multifamily operators are shifting from transactional software purchases to value-driven PropTech partnerships. The episode is streaming on MultifamilyBiz and major podcast platforms as the industry weighs AI, trust and long-term operating outcomes.

Why it matters: - Multifamily operators are under pressure to improve efficiency and growth without piling on disconnected software. - The episode argues that PropTech vendors are increasingly being judged on business outcomes, not feature lists. - The shift matters as AI changes how communities market, lease and support residents.

What happened: - 365 Connect said CEO Kerry W. Kirby released a new podcast episode titled "The Great Vendor Reset: The Rise of Value-Driven PropTech Partnerships Across the Multifamily Industry." - The episode is streaming on MultifamilyBiz and across major podcast platforms worldwide. - The podcast focuses on how operators are building strategic partnerships instead of chasing the next software trend. - Kirby frames the change as a move from transactional vendor relationships to long-term business partnerships.

The details: - Kirby said the next generation of PropTech leaders will be defined by the partnerships they build, not the products they sell. - Kirby said sustainable success will come from technology partners that combine innovation, transparency and measurable business outcomes. - Kirby said partnership will become the industry's greatest competitive advantage. - Ernest F. Oriente of PowerHour joined the discussion. - Oriente is an industry veteran and the author of SmartMatch Alliances. - Kirby and Oriente have co-hosted nearly 200 podcasts. - Their shows have reached millions of listeners worldwide through Spotify, iHeartRadio and Apple Podcasts. - The pair bring a combined 50 years of experience in multifamily housing. - Their programming has won numerous global awards. - Oriente said the episode reflects a shift from buying technology based on features to choosing partners based on long-term business value. - The podcast is available at MultifamilyBiz.com. - 365 Connect describes itself as an AI-driven marketing, leasing and resident engagement platform for multifamily communities. - The company says its platform is built to reimagine the renter journey and help property managers scale faster and operate smarter. - 365 Connect was founded in 2003.

Between the lines: - The episode positions PropTech less as a software category and more as an operating strategy. - That framing reflects a broader industry reset as operators look for tools that can integrate with people, processes and automation instead of creating more fragmentation. - The emphasis on trust and measurable outcomes suggests buyers may be more selective in a crowded vendor market.

What's next: - Kirby says the next stage of innovation will depend on organizations that rethink how people, processes and technology work together. - 365 Connect is continuing to push a human-centered model that blends intelligent automation with digital experiences. - The company is positioning that model as a way for multifamily operators to navigate future technology changes with more confidence.

The bottom line: - In multifamily PropTech, the value proposition is shifting from software features to durable business partnerships.