One of the hardest aspects of managing a property is staying on top of the upkeep and maintenance of the units and grounds at each property. Whether it’s buying the right appliances that will last longer, hiring enough maintenance employees to keep up with requests, or simplifying the process for residents in order to mitigate the amount of downtime when work needs to be done, it can be difficult to stay on top of everything. Luckily, advancements in AI technology have started to creep into maintenance, resulting in better experience for employees and residents alike. Below are three of the top maintenance related AI use cases that you can implement today.

Multilingual communication

Communicating with someone who doesn’t speak the same language as you can be frustrating for both parties, especially when trying to convey something technical or something you’re not familiar with. For example, if a resident is having a plumbing issue and is trying to explain the problem in English to a maintenance worker who speaks English as a second language, the issue isn’t going to be resolved as quickly as either party would like. This problem is easily addressed through AI, which can automatically translate messages into the receiver’s primary language. Having this ability mitigates any of that frustration that might have occurred in the past when the only option was going back and forth using Google Translate or some other third-party program. It also increases the likelihood that the work order will be done right the first time.

Maintenance request automation

There are AI solutions out there that streamline the process of submitting, tracking, and resolving maintenance requests. With the use of natural language processing, chatbots can read, route, prioritize, and respond to maintenance requests from residents. Having the ability to prioritize on the fly saves time and ensures major problems are solved more quickly, while ensuring the right technician is sent down the first time. As noted previously, AI will notify residents to keep them informed of timelines, when maintenance workers will be at their apartment, when everything is resolved, and finally collect feedback and reviews once the work is completed.

Predictive maintenance

Predictive maintenance helps you know in advance when major appliances need service or need to be replaced by tracking data from sensors inside of smart appliances. It’s a strategy that leverages data analysis and machine learning to predict potential equipment failures before they happen. This is made possible by layering generative AI capabilities with predictive analytics to improve the overall process.

Another benefit of predictive maintenance is it helps you schedule and hire maintenance workers or contract third parties based on the amount of work you expect to happen. For example, if you foresee the likelihood of repairs increasing, you can staff up your maintenance team or contract a third party before it happens. Currently, many properties are experiencing a shortage of maintenance workers and being able to know when workloads are going to increase will be beneficial. Additionally, doing so reduces the amount of downtime for residents while also increasing the lifespan of appliances and reducing overall maintenance costs.

Learn more

Learn more about how generative AI tools from Entrata can increase efficiency at your properties while improving the resident experience by requesting a demo today. For more information about how AI is being used in the multifamily industry download our latest ebook, How to Improve Resident Communication with AI.