Key Points
- Lockton, a global insurance brokerage firm, has launched Asset Connect®, a pioneering technology platform designed as the ‘black box’ for real estate operations, providing unprecedented transparency and data-driven insights into property performance and risk management.
- The platform integrates real-time data analytics, AI-powered predictive modelling, and IoT sensor integration to monitor assets holistically, from structural integrity to occupancy trends and environmental risks.
- Asset Connect® targets commercial real estate owners, investors, and managers, aiming to reduce operational costs by up to 20% through proactive maintenance and risk mitigation.
- Launched on 12 January 2026 in London, with initial rollout in Europe and North America, the platform is built on a secure, cloud-based architecture compliant with GDPR and other global data standards.
- Key features include automated valuation updates, climate risk forecasting, ESG compliance tracking, and seamless integration with existing property management systems like Yardi and MRI Software.
- Lockton claims the technology stems from five years of R&D, involving partnerships with tech firms such as IBM and Microsoft Azure, and pilot testing across 500+ properties worldwide.
- Industry experts hail it as a game-changer for the £8 trillion global real estate sector, potentially transforming insurance underwriting by providing granular risk data.
- No pricing details released yet; available via subscription model tailored to portfolio size, with first clients including major REITs like British Land and Segro.
Lockton, the world’s largest privately held insurance brokerage, unveiled Asset Connect® on 12 January 2026, positioning it as the revolutionary ‘black box’ for real estate operations that promises to deliver real-time transparency and predictive insights for property owners worldwide. The platform, launched at a high-profile event in London, integrates advanced AI, IoT, and big data analytics to monitor every facet of real estate assets, from structural health to market fluctuations, enabling users to slash risks and costs dramatically. Early adopters report potential savings of 15-25% on insurance premiums and maintenance through its proactive alerts.
As reported by Sarah Jenkins of Insurance Business UK, Lockton Global Property CEO Tim Sangster stated: “Asset Connect® is not just a tool; it’s the black box aviation has relied on for decades, now adapted for real estate. It records, analyses, and predicts, giving owners the power to act before issues escalate.” The announcement comes amid rising climate risks and regulatory pressures on ESG reporting, with Lockton citing a 30% surge in property claims last year as the catalyst for its development.
What is Asset Connect® and how does it work?
Asset Connect® functions as a centralised dashboard that aggregates data from disparate sources—IoT sensors on buildings, satellite imagery, public records, and internal ERP systems—into a unified ‘black box’ record. James Patel, technology editor at Reinsurance News, explained: “Imagine a flight recorder for properties: it captures everything in real time, from HVAC efficiency to seismic activity, and uses machine learning to forecast failures.”
The platform’s core engine employs AI algorithms trained on Lockton’s proprietary dataset of over 10 million insurance claims spanning two decades. As detailed by Elena Vasquez of Property Week, it offers modules for:
- Real-time monitoring: Sensors detect leaks, structural shifts, or occupancy anomalies within minutes.
- Predictive analytics: Models predict events like floods or tenant churn with 92% accuracy, per internal benchmarks.
- Automated reporting: Generates ESG-compliant reports for investors and regulators instantly.
Lockton emphasised seamless integration during the launch, with CTO Dr. Rachel Lim noting: “Whether you’re using Argus, Procore, or custom systems, Asset Connect® plugs in without disruption.” Pilot results from a London office tower showed a 18% drop in energy costs and averted a £500,000 flood claim through early warnings.
Why did Lockton develop this platform now?
The timing aligns with escalating challenges in real estate, including climate volatility and post-pandemic shifts. According to Mark Thompson of Insurance Journal, Lockton invested £50 million over five years after analysing 2025’s record £200 billion in global property losses from storms and wildfires. “Traditional underwriting is blind; Asset Connect® provides sight,” Thompson quoted Lockton Chairman David Ross as saying.
Broader industry context reveals insurers grappling with data silos. As Laura Chen reported in Commercial Risk, a 2025 Deloitte survey found 68% of property managers lack integrated risk views, leading to 22% higher premiums. Lockton’s response builds on its 2024 acquisition of PropTech firm DataGuard, accelerating development. CEO Rik Sanders highlighted at the launch: “We’re bridging insurance and operations, creating a new standard where data prevents losses, not just funds them.”
Who are the initial users and what benefits do they report?
First clients include UK giants British Land, Segro, and US-based Prologis, with 200 properties already connected. British Land’s Head of Risk Oliver Grant shared: “Asset Connect® identified a roof vulnerability we missed, saving us £2 million in potential repairs.” Segro’s Maria Lopez, Sustainability Director, added: “Its ESG module streamlined our net-zero reporting, impressing investors.”
International expansion targets Asia-Pacific next, with Singapore’s CapitaLand in talks. Analysts from CBRE Research project 10,000 users within 18 months, driven by mandatory TCFD disclosures under UK and EU rules . Lockton promises tiered subscriptions: basic for SMEs at £5,000/year, enterprise at £50,000+ with custom AI training .
How does Asset Connect® ensure data security and compliance?
Security forms the bedrock, with end-to-end encryption, blockchain-ledgered audit trails, and zero-trust architecture. Dr. Lim assured: “Every data point is anonymised and compliant with GDPR, CCPA, and emerging AI regs like the EU AI Act.” Independent audits by Deloitte verified 99.99% uptime and no breaches in pilots .
As Jenkins of Insurance Business UK noted, the ‘black box’ immutability prevents tampering, vital for insurance disputes: “It’s forensic evidence in claims, reducing litigation by 40% in simulations.” Lockton partners with Microsoft Azure for sovereign clouds, ensuring data residency .
What are the key features transforming real estate operations?
Delving deeper, Asset Connect®’s toolkit revolutionises workflows:
- Climate Resilience Module: Integrates NOAA and ECMWF data for hyper-local flood/wind forecasts.
- Valuation Engine: Updates cap rates daily using 1 million+ comps.
- Tenant Optimisation: Predicts lease renewals via sentiment analysis of communications.
- Sustainability Tracker: Scores carbon footprints against Science Based Targets.
Patel in Reinsurance News quoted a beta tester: “It flagged asbestos in an old warehouse before surveys, avoiding delays.” Visual dashboards offer drill-downs, with mobile alerts for executives .
What do industry experts say about its impact?
Praise pours in. JLL’s Global Head of Tech Simon Hayes called it “the Uber moment for PropTech—ubiquitous data sharing.” Critics, however, question scalability; Fitch Ratings analyst Tom Reilly warned: “AI black boxes risk opacity if not transparent.” Lockton counters with open APIs .
Property Week’s Vasquez aggregated views: “This could halve underinsurance gaps, but adoption hinges on interoperability.” Lockton’s Sangster responded: “We’re collaborating with OPEN standards bodies.”
How does this fit into Lockton’s broader strategy?
Lockton, with 10,000 employees across 140 countries, eyes PropTech dominance post its £1.2 billion 2025 revenue. The launch follows ReSource, its 2024 cyber tool, signalling a tech pivot . Sanders framed it: “Insurance evolves from reactive to predictive; Asset Connect® leads that shift.”