- 63% of the workforce want to be able to alternate between different places of work
- “Leveraging the transformative potential of big data for strategic planning and decision-making will significantly progress in 2022.”
- The adoption of Net Zero Carbon is expected to more than double between now and 2025
Employers are being called to invest in flexibility, technology, and sustainability with COVID-19 changing workforce and consumer preferences within the commercial real estate industry.
A new report by JLL has identified the major trends shaping real estate that are set to influence decisions throughout 2022.
The Top 10 Global Commercial Real Estate Trends identified the top 10 trends in commercial real estate this year as:
- Hybrid work
- A flexible future
- Thriving workforce
- Regenerative workplaces
- Workplace equality
- Technology intelligence
- Dynamic deployment
- Return on sustainability
- Urban transformation
- Partnership ecosystems
JLL managing director of accounts Ben Tindale said, “It’s apparent that the COVID-19 pandemic has been an accelerant of change and transformation for many organisations.
“Forward-thinking businesses are reinventing their real estate strategies in response to ever-changing business priorities, a challenging operating landscape, and a volatile economic environment.”
Flexibility
The report found flexibility will be an essential driver of agile and adaptive office portfolios with 63% of the workforce wanting to keep the possibility to alternate between different places of work in the future.
JLL head of tenant representation Michael Greene said, “Integrating a flex space strategy into your portfolio will increase organisational agility and support workforce mobility.
“While flexible and hybrid working has been adopted through lockdowns, urban cores will be coming back with new energy and purpose, transforming into places of collaboration, innovation, creative energy, inclusiveness, and in-person social and business interaction.”
Technology
Technology intelligence is another key trend outlined in the report, specifically with businesses that are implored to harness big data to drive real tangible insights and adapt quickly to changing business needs.
Mr Tindale said, “New work styles and the adoption of technology to share and collaborate became mainstream in 2020 and 2021, with increased importance placed on technology.
“Leveraging the transformative potential of big data for strategic planning and decision-making will significantly progress in 2022.”
Mr Greene said, “The pivot to distributed collaboration, remote work, and cloud technology work platforms is well underway and will continue.
“This will see our offices become more tech-enabled to inspire employees and customers who occupy them and connect remote or hybrid workers seamlessly.”
Sustainability
The implementation of sustainability strategies is a trend here to stay. The adoption of Net Zero Carbon is expected to more than double between now and 2025, according to the report.
Mr Green said, “Businesses are designing corporate real estate strategies to translate their environmental and social goals into deliverable actions and create value.
“42% of occupiers today aspire to create places that are respectful of Earth’s resources and acting for the climate.”
Mr Tindale said, “Translating sustainability targets into credible action plans will drive real impact from real estate.
“From the speed and which workplaces are changing to the prospect of further market disruption, 2022 is expected to be another year of transformation.”
