PropertyGuru’s vision is to power communities to live, work, and thrive in tomorrow’s cities. Delivering on that ambition depends on its people—known as Gurus—having the clarity and support to put customers first, move quickly, and continually rethink how they create value.
But after nearly two decades of rapid growth, the technology supporting PropertyGuru’s workforce was no longer keeping pace. Expansion into new markets and business acquisitions had created a patchwork of disconnected, outdated systems, particularly across HR. Leaders spent too much time navigating technology, while fragmented information made it difficult for managers to see workforce signals and respond early.
“As we scaled across our markets while also transforming how we work at pace, our legacy systems could not keep pace with the complexity of our business or the expectations of our people,” says Ruth Kerr, Chief People Officer at PropertyGuru. “That’s when we knew transformation wasn’t optional.”
PropertyGuru needed more than a digital replacement for existing processes. The company wanted stronger connections among workforce planning, financial planning, and customer outcomes. It also sought consistent, intuitive experiences across the employee journey—from joining and learning to recognition, growth, and performance.
Bringing people and business into one view
PropertyGuru selected Workday Human Capital Management and Workday Adaptive Planning to create a more connected foundation for people data and planning.
“Workday stood out because it aligned with how we think about people and business as one system,” says Kerr. “A single source of truth, strong integration between people and finance, and a credible roadmap for AI-enabled work.”
This connection matters because PropertyGuru’s people strategy is closely tied to its mission of helping customers make confident property decisions. Its investment in technology is intended to remove friction and create clarity, giving Gurus more room to concentrate on innovation, collaboration, and customer needs.
“By empowering our Gurus with tools such as Workday, we enable them to focus on work that matters, making it easier for them to do what they do best"
Chief People Officer, PropertyGuru
Turning simpler processes into measurable progress
The new foundation has already delivered tangible improvements. Simplified and automated workflows helped PropertyGuru reduce time-to-hire by 18%. A streamlined internal portal contributed to a 120% increase in employee referrals.
Automation and self-service have also improved efficiency, while higher-quality people data gives leaders clearer insight into skills and performance. Instead of waiting for an issue to become established, managers can use these signals to make more intentional decisions and act earlier.
“We needed clearer workforce insights, faster decisions, and simpler experiences for our Gurus,” says Kerr.
The changes also support PropertyGuru’s Be More, Be a Guru employee value proposition by improving moments that matter throughout the workforce journey. The aim is not simply to make HR processes faster, but to create a more consistent environment in which employees can contribute, develop, and perform.
"Workday supports our Be More, Be a Guru EVP by enabling moments that matter across the employee journey at PropertyGuru, from onboarding and learning, to recognition, growth and performance."
Chief People Officer, PropertyGuru
Designing experiences instead of deploying a system
PropertyGuru’s approach evolved during implementation. The focus shifted from putting a new system in place to designing experiences around what matters to its people. That required collaboration across internal teams, business leaders, and Workday.
For PropertyGuru, that relationship is also about developing the organizational capabilities needed for the future.
“This is a true partnership grounded in trust, shared ambition, and continual learning,” says Kerr. “We’re not just implementing software, we are building capability for the future. Workday understands where we’re going and supports us as we evolve.”
“The Workday team understood our values, our ambition, and our pace. It felt like a partnership, not just a transaction.”
Chief People Officer, PropertyGuru
Preparing Gurus for AI-enabled work
PropertyGuru sees AI as an enabler rather than a replacement for human judgment. Internally, AI helps teams automate routine work, execute faster, and create more time for activities that depend on creativity, judgment, and problem-solving.
This shift is also changing what PropertyGuru needs from managers. As AI takes on more tactical work, the company sees leadership moving away from managing tasks and toward unlocking employee capability. Managers will need to support experimentation, encourage curiosity, and coach their teams to keep learning.
PropertyGuru’s next steps remain plans for the future. The company is exploring how Workday and AI could help it anticipate future skills, enable dynamic workforce planning, and provide predictive insights for leaders. PropertyGuru intends to align these initiatives with its AI strategy so that innovation remains ethical, value-driven, and grounded in its culture.
“Because for us, technology isn’t the destination. It’s the platform that allows our people, our business, and our customers to thrive together,” says Kerr.