The lettings market moves fast—and for The Accommodation Bureau, keeping up was becoming a serious challenge. With hundreds of applicants to process and a commitment to providing a personalised service, the team was stretched thin. From manually qualifying applicants to juggling CRM updates and coordinating viewings, the administrative workload was growing unsustainably.
The Challenge: Time-Consuming, Repetitive Admin
Before implementing Bridge AI, The Accommodation Bureau faced several core issues:
- Manual applicant qualification was slow, repetitive, and draining team resources.
- Staff spent hours each day collecting applicant details and updating Alto, their CRM.
- Communicating with high volumes of applicants and arranging access caused delays and operational bottlenecks.
- Delivering a personalised customer experience was becoming harder under the strain of increasing workload.
Despite trialling a range of tools over the years, few met their expectations. But when The Accommodation Bureau first engaged with Bridge AI, something clicked.
The Search for a Smarter Solution
Always proactive in seeking operational improvements, The Accommodation Bureau knew what they needed: efficiency without sacrificing service quality. During early conversations with Bridge AI, the potential was obvious. Confident in the platform’s capabilities, they became early adopters of the technology.
Why Bridge AI?
The decision to adopt Bridge AI was based on several compelling features:
- 24/7 intelligent applicant qualification via WhatsApp, email, and their website.
- Automated syncing of lead information and viewing notes directly into Alto.
- Customised applicant filtering, tailored to their specific internal processes.
- Automatic appointment booking, factoring in location, travel time, and negotiator availability.
- Instant confirmations and real-time updates, dramatically improving response times.
The Results: Greater Efficiency, Better Service
Since integrating Bridge AI with Alto, The Accommodation Bureau has seen measurable improvements:
- Hundreds of hours saved on repetitive admin.
- Faster applicant responses without increasing staff workload.
- Seamless lead handling within Alto, removing the need to switch platforms.
- Consistent qualification and booking processes for every applicant.
- More time for staff to focus on client care, renewals, and business growth.
In Their Words
“Bridge AI has completely changed how we manage lettings enquiries. At our busiest times, I no longer worry about whether the team can keep up. I know every single applicant is getting a consistent, timely response. It’s freed us up from repetitive admin and allowed the team to spend more time on the things that really matter, like progressing the best applicants.
There was some initial doubt about whether it would actually work in practice, but the results speak for themselves. It books viewings accurately based on our requirements, syncs everything into Alto, and handles enquiries 24/7.
The new Bridge AI dashboard has been a real eye-opener; it shows just how many applicants want to engage in the evenings, when our branches are closed. Bridge AI makes that possible, and it means we’re able to communicate when it suits them, not just when it suits us.
If you’re an agent considering it, my advice is to embrace AI. It’s not about removing the human element, it’s about making sure your team has the time and space to deliver a better experience to the right people. Bridge AI has helped us raise our standards without increasing our workload. The team at Bridge AI has been great to work with and I am excited to see their plans for the future.”
Sam Whitehead, Head of operations, The Accommodation Bureau
Final Thoughts
The Accommodation Bureau’s experience shows what’s possible when AI is used thoughtfully and strategically. With Bridge AI and Alto working in harmony, they’ve unlocked new efficiencies while elevating their customer experience—proving that the right tech can empower teams rather than replace them.
You can also read more about the Accommodation Bureau and how they use Alto in this customer story.
About The Accommodation Bureau
Established in 1989, The Accommodation Bureau is a specialist lettings agency serving Cornwall, with offices in Bodmin and Redruth. Managing over 650 properties, the agency focuses solely on lettings and property management. Led by Lee and Judith Morford, the business is known for being forward-thinking, decisive, and unafraid to adopt new technologies early. Their clarity on operational needs and ambition to lead from the front has earned them recognition in the Best Estate Agent Guide 2024 and 2025, placing them among the top 500 letting agents in the UK.
