Artificial intelligence seemingly is everywhere you turn in commercial real estate. Proptech companies line up to announce how deeply and broadly they've integrated AI in what they're doing, often without being too specific about exactly what it's supposed to be doing for users.

More importantly, perhaps, is that such somewhat mysterious capabilities are available only in suites of software that require the embrace of the vendor's world. That is often impractical for firms that have an existing workflow with software already licensed. Throw out what you have to install some promising behemoth? Thank you, no, let's go back to firing up that reliable spreadsheet.

Sticking with what you have may be the entirely wrong choice in a larger context. You might be limiting yourself from potential benefits. And yet, to toss the old, bring in the new, get it installed, train everyone, and rework long-established habits and workflow requires money, time, business disruption, and effort for the promise of something better. Many companies are wary for good reason.