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Respect. (from the lat. respectu) n. 1. respect; 2. consideration; high regard; 3. deference; compliance; veneration; 4. honour; worship; 5. relation; refererence...
We believe that everyone should be respected for their work, for their attitudes, opinions and options.
Rigor. (from the lat. rigore) n. 1. harshness; strength; 2.fig., severity; punctuality; accuracy.
There is no "more or less levelled", "more or less upright”, "more or less clean" or "more or less safe", but rather “levelled”, "upright”, "clean” and “safe". The rigour is reflected in our procedures, in time and in the rules to follow. In the light of moral and principles, being severe means being rigorous.
Passion. (from the lat. passione) n. 1. intense and usually violent feeling (affection, joy, hate, etc.) which hinders the exercise of impartial logic; 2. derived from a feeling; 3. great predilection; 4. partiality; 5. great grief; immense suffering...
Under the sign of passion – a text of the Portuguese poet Regina Guimarães – is our icon. Passion is to reveal great enthusiasm for something, favourable encouragement or opposite to something.
It is the sensibility transmitted by an architect or engineer through work.
Passion is the dedication to a project. Passion is a state of warm soul.
Loyalty. (from the lat. legalitate) n. the quality of being loyal; fidelity; sincerity.
Respect for the principles and rules that guide the honour and probity. Faithfulness to commitments and agreements undertaken, staunch character.
To remain loyal to the business partners because we depend on them and they depend on us.
Being trustworthy for being loyal.
Solidarity. (from the lat. solidare) n. 1. the quality of being solidary; 2. reciprocal responsibility among the members of a group, namely social, professional, etc.; 3. sense of sharing another’s suffering.
Being solidary is being a friend, offering our hand with genuine generosity and bringing joy and human warmth to those who, somehow, are marginalized. Being solidary is being more human. A solidary company is recognized as a fair and non-selfish company. A solidary company is a preferred choice in business. It is a more competitive company. Volunteering is a vehicle to solidarity. It is modern, fair, cultured, friend, it is a noble gesture of moral elevation.
Courage. (from the lat. coraticum) n. 1. bravery facing danger; intrepidity; to have audacity; 2. moral force before a suffering or setback; 3. [fig.] to input energy when performing a difficult task; perseverance...
Courage is essential in our life. Courage to face less pleasant situations when complex issues come up, not expecting random resolutions.
It is a value that we must highlight as opposed to the fearful, cowardly and laziness.
The courage to react to criticism not with an attitude of demotivation or sadness, but rather to search for the means and the action to overcome its own reason. This kind of courage, which is also an intellectual courage, is highly recommended.
Ambition. (from the lat. ambitione) n. 1. vehement desire of wealth, honours or glories; 2. expectation about the future; aspiration; 3. lust; greed…
Vehement desire to achieve a particular goal. Ambition not to resign ourselves. Ambition to take the best potential from ourselves. Ambition to deserve ourselves. Ambition to be athletes in our top-level competitive jobs. Ambition to beat our brands. Ambition to get the best deals with the maximum value, due to the high levels of proficiency and efficiency.
Esthetics. ESTHETICS (from the Greek aisthetiké, "sensitive") n.f. 1. Philosophy branch of philosophy that studies the beauty and nature of artistic phenomena; 2. author's own style, time, etc.; 3. harmony of shapes and colors, beauty; 4. set of techniques and treatments that aim to beautify the body.
We decided to build the company's economic foundations under a cultured, cosmopolitan and cool image. Because it is a charming state of being. Good taste because we are sustainable and we respect the planet. Good taste because we are sensitive. Good taste just because.
Responsibility. (from the lat respondere) n. the trait of being answerable to someone for something or being responsible for one's conduct; a form of trustworthiness.
We must be certain that, before a choice, we chose what is best for both of us and not just the best for each one. Each employee is responsible for his negotiated activity and co-responsible if the co-worker does not fulfil his own task, thus preventing the common goal. A team is a set of individuals - is a whole. In the business game, as in social or family contexts, everyone must comply with their own relative position and we shall not permit that one of ours fails to be in our team.
Negócios
From ‘virtual staging' using artificial intelligence to data-driven modular construction, via digital training of estate agents, innovation in the Portuguese property sector is transforming processes, redefining experiences and visualising the cities of the future. Technology is here to stay, but the human touch still counts.
In property, innovation is a gradual, cumulative process, involving both the adoption of new tools and the ongoing training of professionals, explains Paulo Caiado, president of the regional branch of APEMIP – the Association of Real Estate Brokerage Professionals and Companies. “The future is defined every single day. It does not translate into a single moment of jubilation, of overcoming a barrier and everything changing from that moment on”. According to the leader, every step towards technological modernisation means writing the future today, which leads the association to favour a structured approach to innovation.
APEMIP’s main tool for supporting this transformation is its Academy, a project that combines quality and the latest technology. “We have developed courses devoted to technological development and the adoption of new digital tools at the APEMIP Academy, as a means of incentivising continued professional development for industry professionals and promoting the sustained modernisation of real estate brokerage”. The priority is to provide high-quality training, “fully aligned with the needs of the sector”, and to prepare estate agents for a market in which technology is an essential part of their everyday work.
However, the association acknowledges that the reality is unequal. “The real estate sector in Portugal is characterised by great diversity and heterogeneity, which is naturally reflected in varying levels of reluctancy to adopt new digital solutions and tools”. The president admits that some companies and agents are better prepared, while others that still resist the digital transition, arguing that the APEMIP must work to support them all, without exception.
Among the technologies that have had the greatest impact on the sector, Paulo Caiado identifies digital platforms and artificial intelligence. “They represent a precious opportunity to improve the efficiency of real estate brokerage, without undermining the irreplaceable role of the estate agent”. Caiado argues that by enabling a more accurate analysis of the data, these tools contribute to more accurate property valuations and better search personalisation, “by understanding a buyer’s search criteria, such as location, type or price range, in greater detail it is entirely possible for these technologies to build personal profiles for each user, making the brokerage process more efficient”
Technology as a driver of strategy.
This transformation, which Paulo Caiado describes from the point of view of the association, is put into practice by companies that have placed these technologies at the forefront of their strategy. At Libertas group, technological innovation is not just a trend, but a long-term commitment. “At Libertas, this has been a strategic pillar for promoting the sustainability and energy efficiency of our developments, while offering customers a better experience,” states Pascal Gonçalves, Director of the Libertas Investimentos Imobiliários group.
Technology is integrated from the design stage. All projects include energy and water monitoring systems, centralised energy production and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and have an energy efficiency rating of A or A+ and an AQUA + certificate for efficient water use. But it goes further. On a digital level, the company uses tools to improve customer relationships, including a CRM tool that enables personalised management and virtual viewings of properties that are still under construction, 3D simulation of personalised finishes and decor and, more recently, a platform that allows customers to track the construction of the UNIQUE Tagus development in Alcochete in real time.
This innovative approach also has one eye on the future: “We are preparing to implement the BIM methodology, which will enable us to create digital clones of buildings, optimising every stage of their lifecycle”.
Libertas already uses artificial intelligence and data analysis on a daily basis, especially in relation to marketing and digital user experience. “Our site already has embedded AI-based solutions and we harness this technology to create and optimise campaigns, using automated A/B testing and algorithms to help us understand our audience, predict behaviours and adjust our communications in real time”. Platforms such as GoogleAds, with built-in AI tools, are a constant presence in the company’s digital strategy, explains the director.
Despite these technological advances, Pascal Gonçalves believes that technology should reinforce, and not replace, the human dimension of property brokerage. “That’s why we support a hybrid model, which offers customers autonomy when they want it, complemented by personal support whenever they need it”. This belief is reflected in the adoption of digital tools to aid decision-making, particularly for customers buying remotely, such as online personalisation of finishes or real time modelling of profitability, without undermining the importance of direct support.
A new approach to customers
As well as investing in sustainability and the modernisation of construction processes, the transformation of the property sector is also being propelled by new approaches to customer relations. “Technology has played an absolutely transformative role in the real estate sector, particularly in terms of the way we bring together buyers and consultants”, states Patrícia Alvarez, Head of Innovation at Remax Portugal.
This real estate network has implemented digital solutions wisely, with a focus on the practical. “We have made a conscious effort to invest in solutions that genuinely add value, from our internal CRM to our new app, designed from scratch for a fast, intuitive and user-friendly experience”. Speaking about new functionalities, the director highlighted virtual staging using Artificial Intelligence, which allows clients to visualize the potential of a property immediately, creating a deeper emotional connection and speeding up decision-making. But innovation does not stop at the visible. “It also involves improving internal processes, giving teams greater autonomy and ensuring that all of our agents have access to robust, integrated and easy-to-use tools”.
Like Grupo Libertas, Remax has also integrated artificial intelligence and data analysis into everyday operations, with a direct impact on the personalisation of user experience and the tailoring of strategies.
“Data analysis has been essential for better understanding the behaviour of our customers, identifying which areas are growing, which types of property are most in demand and even the best moment to contact a potential buyer or seller”. More recently, Remax has begun exploring generative AI solutions, in particular for automatically writing property descriptions and developing virtual assistants to support agents and customers. “We want to use tools to anticipate needs and make the user experience more and more relevant and personalised”.
According to Patrícia Alvarez, digital platforms and virtual viewings complement, rather than threaten, the traditional model. “Customers today can filter properties much more effectively before they even leave the house, which reduces the time and effort involved for all parties”. But the human touch remains essential: “Buying or selling a house is an emotional process, and a trusting relationship with an experienced agent is irreplaceable”.
A means of tackling structural issues
Innovation in the real estate sector is not limited to digital tools or customer relations; it encompasses the way cities are designed and built. This is the approach adopted by DST Real Estate, who view technology as a means of tackling structural issues. “What cities do we want to have in the future? How will these future cities be built? What is the future of construction work?”, asks the company’s CEO, Ana José Teixeira.
Since 2022, dstgroup has led an innovation and development lab, in partnership with 48 entities, which acts as a centre for researching and testing solutions at full scale. The project, called Living Lab, aims to promote an interdisciplinary approach, in which architecture, design, technology and art intersect to develop more sustainable models of industrial construction – in terms of materials, environmental impact, human conditions and territorial and social efficiency. One of the goals is to “Liberate cities from their status as ‘building sites’”. By transferring part of the construction process to controlled factory environments, the group can increase speed, reduce waste, enhance quality control and improve working conditions.
This commitment has already been put into action in a development in Braga with the same name, LivingLab, which contains almost 100 units divided between five functions: student residences, residential, hospitality, healthcare and housing for the elderly. The aim is clear: to provide a “systematic” industrial construction process, with tried and tested solutions, more predictable costs and timeframes and creative freedom for investors, developers and architects.
In addition to modular construction, artificial intelligence and data analysis are also central to DST Real Estate’s strategy. The company is developing a single platform for centralised management of household systems, from air conditioning to security, using a virtual assistant capable of learning the habits of its users. “Our greatest gamble is incorporating a smart virtual assistant with the ability to suggest improvements to daily routines in order to optimise comfort, energy efficiency and quality of life”.
Access to an extensive database, thanks to dstgroup’s position in the civil construction industry, has allowed the company to train predictive models that help anticipate trends and inform decisions. “Data has become the new oil, and the real estate sector is no exception,” underlines Ana José Teixeira.