MRI made a strong, unmistakable impression at OPTECH last week, showing up with purpose, clarity, and a message the industry is ready to hear. The team spent the week connecting with partners and clients across the multifamily ecosystem, all while spotlighting the momentum coming out of their October’s Ascend user conference in Nashville on the NOFOMO stages.
At Ascend, CTO Terry Kettler and Carla Hinson, Vice President, NA Solution & Innovation, offered MRI users a firsthand look at how the company is shaping the next era of property technology. A major theme this year: AI isn’t just coming—it’s already here. Their sessions highlighted Agora, MRI’s agentic AI designed to elevate the work of property managers, streamline operations, and unlock smarter, faster decision-making.
But equally important was the conversation around transparency. MRI doubled down on what many in the industry are craving: AI that users can trust. Terry and Carla spent time unpacking the company’s approach to responsible AI innovation: how insights are generated, why explainability matters, and what it means for property managers who rely on clarity, not black boxes.
From the main stage, Terry joined AppFolio, Entrata, Real Page and Yardi, for a critical industry discussion on advancing data governance in the housing market. When asked about the biggest opportunity for cross-platform standards—given MRI’s diverse customer base—Terry offered a concise, powerful framework for unlocking innovation without sacrificing operator choice.
He highlighted three essential standards:
- Open, consistent data and API frameworks
- Shared workflows across the renter and property lifecycle
- Security and compliance as universal foundations
These elements, he noted, are central to the future of interoperability. They’re also deeply aligned with MRI’s philosophy: an open and connected ecosystem where technology works together, data flows freely, and operators maintain flexibility. Agora isn’t about dictating the software stack. It’s about standardizing meaningful connections. That mindset has been in MRI’s DNA for decades, and the industry is now fully embracing it.
MRI underscored that open-ecosystem vision on the show floor with a newly designed booth that quickly became a standout. Intuitive kiosks, touchscreen demos, and a clean, modern layout made it easy for attendees to explore MRI’s broad solution set and see how each piece can plug into any tech stack.
At OPTECH, MRI didn’t just participate. They delivered clarity on where the industry is headed and why openness, transparency, and responsible AI will drive the next wave of innovation.
