January 6, 2026: India’s real estate sector is undergoing a rapid transformation as technology, sustainability and global best practices reshape how companies build, sell and manage assets. In 2025, accelerated adoption of digital tools—from ERP and CRM platforms to data analytics and smart building systems—has forced developers to rethink workforce structures and HR strategies. Speaking to Torbit Realty, Tomy Thomas, President – HR, Krisumi Corporation, outlined how people strategy is becoming central to long-term competitiveness.
According to Thomas, one of the biggest learnings of 2025 has been the shift from transactional HR to a more strategic, stewardship-driven approach. “2025 has been a defining year for the sector… reinforcing the belief that people strategy must evolve at the same pace as business strategy – if not faster,” he said. He added that future-ready organisations will focus on agility, cross-functional capability and governance, rather than narrowly defined roles.
Technology-led workforce transformation has emerged as a key trend, with talent increasingly expected to combine domain expertise with digital fluency. “One of the most prominent workforce transformation trends has been the transition from experience-led roles to capability-led roles,” Thomas noted, pointing to the growing importance of analytics, customer experience and tech-enabled project management.
AI, he said, is playing a growing role across hiring, performance management and learning. “AI has emerged as a powerful enabler in reshaping internal people processes,” allowing HR teams to move from intuition-led decisions to insight-driven planning. However, he stressed that AI should complement, not replace, human judgement.
Integrating ESG into workforce culture and hiring is another critical challenge. Thomas emphasised that sustainability must go beyond compliance. “The real shift lies not in adopting sustainability as a compliance requirement, but in embedding it as a core organisational value,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, emerging roles such as PropTech managers, digital project monitoring specialists, BIM experts and data analytics professionals are expected to be in high demand. HR’s strategic roadmap, Thomas said, will focus on precision hiring, continuous reskilling, strong retention frameworks and deeper alignment with operational excellence—positioning HR as a core driver of sustainable growth in real estate.
