Why It’s Time to Rethink What Belongs in CAM

For decades, the line items that made up Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges were relatively predictable: landscaping, cleaning, maintenance, utilities, and security. But as buildings have become more connected, the definition of what it takes to “maintain” them has changed.

Today, some of the most critical systems keeping properties running smoothly aren’t visible to the naked eye. They’re digital, built on automation, data, and machine learning.

It’s time for CAM to catch up.

From Physical Maintenance to Digital Infrastructure

Building management used to be mostly about what you could see: lights that stayed on, floors that stayed clean, elevators that stayed running. But now, digital infrastructure powers those same outcomes, from automated work order routing and predictive maintenance to AP systems that ensure vendor payments and reconciliations happen on time.

These systems require the same upkeep as their physical counterparts. They demand configuration, data management, cybersecurity, and user support. And like traditional building services, they benefit everyone in the ecosystem: owners, property teams, and tenants alike.

If elevators and HVAC are recoverable expenses, why wouldn’t the technology that helps them run more efficiently be viewed the same way?

Technology as an Operational Necessity

AI and automation are no longer experimental tools in real estate; they’re foundational. Every portfolio is under pressure to operate leaner, faster, and with fewer errors. That’s not just about cost control; it’s about protecting relationships and brand reputation.

Tenants today expect accuracy and transparency from their landlords. Late payments to service providers, misallocated expenses, and inconsistent reconciliations all erode trust. Automation directly mitigates those risks by standardizing processes, enforcing business rules, and maintaining audit trails that humans can’t replicate at scale.

Including technology as a legitimate component of operating expenses isn’t a stretch;  it’s recognition that efficiency, accountability, and data accuracy have become core building functions.

The Tenant Perspective: Fairness Through Transparency

Historically, new expense categories in CAM have been met with skepticism. But digital transformation offers tenants something different: clarity.

When automation reduces processing errors, eliminates reconciliation delays, and enables real-time visibility into building spend, tenants gain confidence that charges are correct and that everyone is paying their fair share.

The true tenant value isn’t in avoiding small tech-related costs; it’s in knowing that their payments support a more reliable and transparent operation.

A Modern Definition of “Maintenance"

Maintenance has always meant keeping a property functional and desirable. But in today’s real estate environment, functionality depends on data, and data depends on technology that keeps it accurate, traceable, and secure.

For owners and operators, that means it’s no longer enough to maintain only the physical components of a property. Maintaining its digital infrastructure—the systems that manage invoices, payments, budgets, and analytics—is just as critical.

These aren’t back-office luxuries. They’re the connective tissue of modern property operations.

The Future of CAM

As the industry continues to digitize, the gap between what CAM covers and what actually sustains a building will shrink. The most forward-thinking firms are already aligning lease structures and accounting practices to reflect this shift, recognizing automation and intelligence as shared operational assets, not administrative overhead.

The question isn’t whether technology belongs in CAM. It’s whether portfolios can afford not to treat it that way.

In short:
Buildings have evolved. CAM should too.