Hong Kong proptech start-up Butler expands beyond concierge services, signs up Swire, New World and Sun Hung Kai, eyes Singapore
- The company, founded in 2018 to provide services such as cleaning and closet organising, now aims to revolutionise antiquated property-management practices
- Butler has signed contracts with Swire Properties, New World Development and Sun Hung Kai Properties, and is seeking additional funding
From trying to disrupt the domestic work industry in Hong Kong, proptech firm Butler has shifted its focus to providing services to both landlords and tenants in residential buildings, improving on what its founders say is an antiquated “pen and paper” approach to property management.
Hongkongers Jonathan Lam, Angues Chan and Jeffrey Ma founded Butler in 2018, with the aim of providing concierge services to tenants and homeowners in Hong Kong. The company has raised about US$1 million (HK$7.85 million) in initial funding. But the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the latest and worst wave in the city starting in December, drove the trio to adapt and scale the business to offer property-management services for buildings, with developers as target customers.
“We are a proptech that is digitalising the entire property-management function and at the same time enhancing the residents’ and tenants’ experience,” said Chan.
During the pandemic, the company realised that its clients wanted not just the in-home services the company already provided – such as closet organisation, cleaning, and meal preparation – but also information about their building beyond their flat’s doors. “They asked for things like ‘send me a reminder of the lift maintenance’, ‘check if my package has arrived’, ‘check with the reception when is the gym opening’ and ‘double-check that the stairs are sanitised’,” Chan said.
Residents and tenants use WhatsApp messages to arrange for Butler’s service. For property managers, the company developed a dashboard that details visitor trends such as the expected number of visitors for the week and the busiest time for visiting as well as the busiest time for building facilities such as gyms and swimming pools. This gives property managers a clearer picture of when they need to employ more staff to assist residents and anticipate their needs.
Acting as a bridge between residents and property managers positions Butler in the intersection of the real estate industry, technology and the hospitality industry, according to Lam. The company’s platforms, he said, seek to improve and modernise archaic practices in the property-management industry, such as record keeping using pen and paper.
