Simran Sethi
The PropTech (Property Technology) sector is witnessing a dramatic change, with IoT, AI, and data analytics leading the way. As buildings become increasingly intelligent and networked, there's an increasing need for systems that not only automate functions but also increase sustainability, user comfort, and energy efficiency.
Amid this dynamic shift, Simran Sethi has emerged as a data-driven leader in the PropTech space. With more than three years of expertise in fashion tech and property tech startups across Europe, she specializes in building performance frameworks that connect the dots between technical infrastructure and human experience. She draws much of her expertise from KPI development, digital value chain optimization, and real-time analytics, enabling smart buildings to be truly intelligent and responsive to the people who live within.
"In the smart home space, data is only as powerful as the story it tells," says Simran. "KPIs give structure to that story. They help us measure not just efficiency or cost, but the actual quality of life for the people living in these spaces."
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) become the major metrics required in decision making and performance evaluation in smart homes. Research undertaken for Simran addresses construction of KPIs to encompass energy consumption, occupant satisfaction, and operational effectiveness; tracking HVAC and lighting consumption; understanding resident comfort and engagement with in-home technologies. this framework provides an understanding for the transparent performance insights of the building for all stakeholders-from owners, operators, and end users.
Interestingly within her organization, Simran has led initiatives that have delivered tangible business value through the implementation of holistic KPI frameworks. These frameworks span the entire digital value chain - from smart system design to occupant feedback, creating a connected view of how individual components interact. By developing dashboards tailored to different stakeholders, she enables building operators to monitor system health in real time while giving property owners insights into ROI, tenant retention, and sustainability metrics.
Her work on automating data integration from various sources, including IoT sensors and occupant interfaces, has transformed raw data into actionable intelligence, cutting through information overload and enabling efficient, timely decision-making.
In terms of visible success, Sethi's data-driven research into switch press times revealed a one-second upper threshold as crucial for user satisfaction. By identifying delays beyond this threshold and recommending system optimizations, she significantly improved the responsiveness of smart home controls, thereby enhancing the overall living experience.
"People don't always articulate frustration, but they feel it," Simran says. "A one-second delay between pressing a switch and a light turning on can be the difference between loving and loathing your smart home. Metrics like that help us engineer empathy into our systems."
Of course, these innovations have not come without challenges. One of the toughest issues this expert tackled was integrating legacy building systems that were not designed to communicate with modern data platforms. Through modular data architecture and phased modernization, she enabled these older infrastructures to contribute meaningfully to the analytics ecosystem. Balancing the diverse goals of stakeholders from investors and property managers to residents also required a nuanced approach to KPI design, ensuring equitable representation of each group's priorities.
"Respecting user privacy isn't just ethical it's strategic," she notes. "People are more willing to engage with smart systems when they know their data is being handled responsibly."
This professional thought leadership in the field is well-documented through her published works. In All Multidisciplinary Journal, she explored decision-making improvements via KPI dashboards. Her article in the International Journal of Latest Research in Practice (IJLRP) offered insights into AI-driven approaches to energy-efficient urban living. Additionally, she published best practices in smart home technology implementation on Zenodo, providing a roadmap for both emerging startups and established firms in the PropTech ecosystem.
Simran is envisioning AI-enabled predictive analytics strengthening their presence in the smart building systems of the future. As energy data becomes increasingly fine-grained, demand forecasting and user experience tailoring will continue to be heavily reliant on machine learning.
Real-time tracking of carbon footprints will become an incredibly relevant metric for environmentally aware building owners and residents. Simran also foresees building operations interfacing with social engagement platforms, where data will inform facilities management and enable communities to engage in co-designing greener, smarter living spaces. With competence, vision, and tenacity, Simran Sethi is reshaping the future of smart homes into ones that are more sleek, adaptable, and humane.
