Swiss Proptech Targets Millions in Commercial Vacancies Using AI

Since the beginning of 2024, over CHF 37 million in vacant commercial space has been reduced through the maison.work marketplace. This result was achieved—even before the company had an AI search tool—solely through a consistent focus on commercial properties and the automation of digital marketing processes.

"This is no longer a vision of the future, but a real milestone," says Dominic Frei, co-founder of maison.work. The success of the first phase has shown that a specialised marketplace for commercial real estate can have advantages over a generic portal if the search is precisely tailored to the needs of companies.

From Filter-Based Search to Needs-Based Search with AI

According to D. Frei, the traditional way of searching for commercial space has hardly changed in over 15 years: filter, click, and hope that a suitable property is among the results. This is exactly where maison.work comes in. In July 2026, the company officially launched its AI-powered map search at map.maison.work, which allows users to describe their needs in natural language—for example, “I run a beauty salon and am looking for a suitable space in the Zurich area.”

The AI analyses such requests, asks follow-up questions as needed, and suggests specific properties that are suitable for the intended use. This shifts the logic of the search from rigid filter criteria to actual needs. According to maison.work, the figures since the launch show a clear trend: increasing reach, more specific inquiries, and noticeably better matching between companies looking for space and available properties.

Outlook

For maison.work, the milestone of CHF 37 million in reduced vacancy is just the beginning. The goal is much bigger: With its AI-powered search engine, the company aims to become the leading marketplace for commercial real estate in Switzerland and reduce the vacancy rate for Swiss commercial properties by CHF 100 million by 2027. In the long term, the Zurich-based proptech company aims to redefine how supply and demand intersect in the commercial real estate market.