Alto's AI Skills Platform Reshapes Estate Agent Operations in 2026

AI Tools Move Beyond Support to Complete Agency Tasks

Alto, a property software provider serving over 6,000 UK agents, has launched a transformative suite of AI "skills" designed to automate core sales and lettings functions. The new Alto Intelligence platform marks a significant shift in how technology supports estate agencies, moving beyond text generation towards systems that analyse agency data, make assessments and produce completed work ready for approval.

The distinction between AI features and AI skills is crucial to Alto's approach. Whilst features help agents complete jobs, skills are designed to do the jobs themselves. The CEO, Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson, illustrated this with a practical example: a negotiator typically spends Friday afternoons sorting through 40 sales, identifying transactions at risk and writing follow-up communications to solicitors. Alto's Progression Chaser skill automates this entire workflow, ranking transactions by perceived risk and drafting communications automatically.

Six Customisable AI Skills Tailored to Agency Workflows

Alto has introduced six core AI skills, each designed to handle specific agency operations. Critically, each skill is customisable to reflect how individual businesses operate—recognising that no two agencies work identically.

Appraisal Builder produces property appraisal reports and identifies comparable properties using an agency's existing data. Agents can adjust valuation criteria and writing style to match their brand. Property Matcher identifies suitable applicants when properties list or prices change, consolidating updates into single communications rather than flooding contacts with individual property emails.

Listing Writer generates property descriptions, key selling points and room-by-room copy, learning from an agency's previous listings to replicate preferred style and tone. Progression Chaser analyses sales pipelines, ranking transactions by risk of falling through and drafting follow-up communications automatically.

Alto IQ allows agents to query their business data in plain English, receiving answers through figures, tables and charts—building on existing Alto Analytics capabilities. Message Writer drafts emails in an agency's preferred tone, supporting both standalone communications and other AI tools.

From Software-Defined Workflows to Agency-Defined Automation

Alto's approach represents a philosophical shift in how enterprise software serves estate agencies. Traditionally, software providers build standardised workflows that agencies must adopt. Alto is reversing this model, allowing agencies to define their own processes within the platform.

The platform will enable agencies to create custom AI skills without writing code, using plain English descriptions of tasks, required data records and desired outputs. Existing skills can be modified or combined into different workflows, allowing individual agencies to automate processes around their unique operating models rather than forcing adoption of standardised approaches.

This flexibility addresses a longstanding challenge in agency software: the tension between standardised functionality and the operational diversity of independent and multi-branch agencies. Iannucci-Dawson noted that "the good ones have a way of doing things that's genuinely theirs." Alto's architecture now accommodates this reality.

Agents retain full control and responsibility for all AI-generated output, approving content before use—a critical safeguard for maintaining compliance and brand consistency. The launch builds on Alto Intelligence, which introduced five AI tools in spring 2026 supporting individual agency roles. With these new skills, Alto is moving from supporting roles to completing the work those roles entail.

For agencies looking to enhance operational efficiency, streamline client communications and reduce manual administrative work, the platform offers significant potential to reclaim staff time for higher-value client interaction and business development activities.

Source: Property Industry Eye.