GETTING SMARTER ABOUT PROPTECH AND SMART TECHNOLOGY: AN INTERVIEW WITH CRIS KIMBROUGH
RENT Magazine recently spoke with Cris Kimbrough, Chief Strategy Officer at SKBM, to gain insights into the evolving world of PropTech and its impact on multifamily housing. With years of experience in both telecom and PropTech, Kimbrough shares her expertise on how landlords can make smarter investments in technology, improve tenant experiences, and measure return on investment (ROI).
A TECH-DRIVEN JOURNEY TO MULTIFAMILY Cris Kimbrough’s career path highlights a deep engagement with technology. “I came into tech around 2008,” she recalls, “starting in telecom and transitioning into PropTech. About three years ago, I moved to focus entirely on multifamily.” As Chief Strategy Officer, her role is clear: “My main goal is to put strategic partnerships in place with well-vetted providers. We ensure our clients have best-in-class solutions across PropTech categories. This way, we can fully serve them by providing tailored options.”
WHAT IS PROPTECH AND SMART TECHNOLOGY?
Defining PropTech can sometimes be tricky due to the wide range of tools it covers. Kimbrough explains that “Smart technology can mean so many different things. It includes smart access controls, unit locks, thermostats, and leak detectors. Tenants can move through a property using their phone to control everything.” But there’s a key distinction: connectivity. “A leak detector that is not connected to a centralized It’s that connectivity that makes it ‘smart.’” Kimbrough also touches on software-based tenant experience tools that streamline communication between property staff and tenants, highlighting the breadth of PropTech solutions available.
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