Big changes at Alto — and big plans to match. We caught up with Riccardo Iannucci-Dawson, Alto’s new CEO, to talk about what this next chapter means for the UK’s leading estate agency CRM. From practical AI to faster innovation and less admin, Ric shares how Alto is helping estate agents win more instructions, manage lettings and sales more easily, and ultimately make their day-to-day lives simpler.
Q: Ric, you’ve just stepped in as CEO of Alto — what’s your vision for the business?
It’s pretty simple — to make Alto the best CRM for estate agents in the UK. We’re not tweaking around the edges — we’re rethinking how estate agency software should work. We’ve brought in some incredible experience with Derek O’Carroll and Nick Shaw to lead this reset.
We’re focusing on three things: stripping back complexity, accelerating innovation, and putting agents first. That means a faster, more intuitive property management system that doesn’t get in your way — and software updates that solve real pain points, not just add features for the sake of it.
Q: For those who don’t know you — what’s your background?
Property’s in my blood. My dad’s a builder, and I trained as both an architect and planner before moving into the commercial side — running sales and marketing for a housebuilder. That’s where I worked closely with agents at JLL, KFH, Savills and saw how much they rely on good systems — and how often they’re let down by bad ones.
That led me to create Yourkeys — a sales progression automation platform designed to cut the admin and speed up the post-offer process. We were later acquired by Zoopla, but the mission’s always been the same: build property software that helps agents do their job better.
Q: Let’s talk about the current climate — agents are under pressure. What are you changing that will actually help?
Agents don’t need fluff. They need tools that save time and help them close deals faster.
We’re sharpening our focus on the “jobs of work” agents hire CRMs to do. Whether that’s managing lettings compliance, chasing sales progression milestones, or dealing with tenant communications — our roadmap is full of practical features that make the everyday smoother.
We’re also making onboarding smoother. Alto has already completed over 1,600 CRM migrations — with no data loss, no downtime, and setup in as little as a week. That’s a huge win for busy agents switching from legacy systems.
Q: AI is a hot topic. What’s your approach at Alto?
It’s not about hype — it’s about usefulness. We’re embedding AI-powered features right into agents’ daily workflows. So instead of spending hours on reporting or chasing overdue documents, Alto can now surface insights, flag missing files, or even help draft replies to clients — all in the background.
We’re already rolling out things like AI property valuations and smart task prompts, and agents will start seeing even more real estate automation tools this year.
We’re focused on saving time and reducing the repetitive stuff — so agents can spend more time face-to-face with clients, not wrestling with admin.
Q: How is Alto different from other CRMs?
We’re not interested in making noise for the sake of it. While some competitors are chasing headlines with vague promises, we’re staying focused on real estate CRM features that deliver results.
Everything we’re building is filtered through one lens: Did it save agents time? Did it help them win more instructions? Did it reduce stress?
We’re proud to be able to offer practical, real-world AI that helps agents today, not five years from now.
Q: Alto has a huge presence, but it’s been a bit quiet in the market. Will that change?
100%. We know we haven’t always shouted about the work we’ve done. But that changes now.
We power over 9,000 UK branches — which means we handle a huge portion of all UK housing transactions. But we’re now bringing that leadership out into the open: more updates, more visibility, and more of a voice for agents.
Expect clearer comms, regular product updates, and more transparency. If you’re looking for a CRM for hybrid estate agents or serious operators — Alto is back, and we’re just getting started.
Q: Last one — what drives you?
I love this sector, and I love building things that actually work. That’s it.
If people say, “Alto makes my day easier,” or “They actually listen to feedback,” — then I’ll feel like we’ve done our job.
I want Alto to be the most agent-loved CRM in the UK — and I want agents to feel like we’re genuinely on their side. Because we are.
Want to see how Alto can help your agency simplify tasks, grow faster, and do more with less admin? Request a demo here.
