Transforming Commercial Real Estate: The Power of Workplace Experience Platforms

The commercial real estate industry was already undergoing significant transformation before 2020, but the pandemic dramatically accelerated this evolution. As offices emptied overnight, property owners and managers were forced to reconsider the fundamental value proposition of their spaces. Now, as we navigate the post-pandemic landscape, one thing has become abundantly clear: technology is no longer optional—it's essential for the future of commercial real estate.

The New Reality of Commercial Real Estate

According to JLL's Future of Work Survey, by 2025, 78% of companies plan to invest in at least 10 of 15 technologies identified as crucial for hybrid work transformation. These include workplace applications, virtual collaboration platforms, and other digital tools designed to enhance the office experience.

The question for commercial real estate leaders is no longer whether to embrace flexibility but how to implement it effectively. Over half of companies now plan to adopt hybrid work models—a dramatic increase from just 8% pre-pandemic. This shift presents both challenges and opportunities for property owners who must now compete for tenants in an environment where physical office space must offer clear advantages over remote work.

The Value Proposition of Modern Workplaces

For commercial properties to maintain and increase their value, they must evolve from mere physical assets into experience-driven environments. The fundamental truth remains unchanged: a building's value stems from people wanting to use it. When spaces sit empty, that value diminishes rapidly.

This is where workplace experience platforms enter the picture, offering a technological bridge between property owners and their tenants' needs. These platforms provide tools that help:

• Enhance employee engagement with physical spaces
• Generate actionable data on space utilization
• Strengthen communication between owners and tenants
• Support strategic decision-making about property investments

Empowering Tenants to Drive Office Engagement

One of the most compelling features of workplace experience platforms is their ability to help tenants encourage office attendance. Did you know that people are 64% more likely to come to the office if they know their teammates will be there? This simple insight highlights the importance of visibility and coordination in the modern workplace.

Effective workplace platforms provide:

1. Visibility into office activity - Employees can see who's coming in and when, making it easier to coordinate in-person collaboration
2. Simplified space reservation - Mobile-friendly interfaces allow workers to book desks and meeting rooms with minimal friction
3. Wayfinding capabilities - Help employees navigate increasingly flexible office layouts
4. Event coordination tools - Support community-building activities that give employees compelling reasons to be present

For commercial real estate owners, providing these tools to tenants creates a significant competitive advantage. Properties equipped with comprehensive workplace experience platforms become more attractive to potential tenants who understand that the right technology can dramatically increase office utilization rates.

Data-Driven Property Management

If the pandemic taught commercial real estate professionals anything, it's that conditions can change rapidly. The ability to anticipate shifts in workplace needs and adapt quickly has become essential for property success.

According to EY research, an overwhelming 92% of real estate owners consider data analytics to be the most important feature they want from their technology. Yet surprisingly, only 35% have adopted or developed such tools to date. This gap represents both a challenge and an opportunity for forward-thinking property managers.

Workplace experience platforms provide critical insights into:

• Space utilization patterns - Which areas see the most activity and which might need reconfiguration
• Peak usage times - Understanding when buildings experience the highest occupancy
• Amenity effectiveness - Measuring which features actually drive tenant satisfaction
• Future space requirements - Forecasting how tenant needs might evolve

With these insights, property owners can make data analysis changing workplace decisions that enhance property value while controlling costs. For example, understanding that certain floors consistently see higher utilization might suggest opportunities for premium pricing, while underutilized areas might be candidates for redesign or repurposing.

Strengthening Tenant-Owner Relationships

Perhaps the most valuable aspect of workplace experience platforms is their ability to transform the traditionally transactional relationship between property owners and tenants into a more collaborative partnership. These platforms create shared visibility into how spaces are being used and provide channels for ongoing communication.

Regular sharing of utilization insights helps tenants increase their own office engagement while demonstrating the property owner's commitment to their success. This transparency builds trust and creates a foundation for more productive conversations about lease terms, space requirements, and property improvements.

The platform can also serve as a centralized communication channel for:

• Maintenance scheduling and updates
• Building policy changes
• Amenity availability
• Community events and programming
• Emergency notifications

When landlords provide these platforms as part of the lease agreement, both parties benefit from increased transparency and improved communication. This collaborative approach is particularly valuable in the current environment, where workplace strategy key to organizational success has become increasingly complex.

The Future of Commercial Real Estate Technology

The evolution of commercial real estate continues to accelerate, driven by changing work patterns and technological innovation. According to JLL research, some companies plan to increase their real estate footprint by as much as 30%, while others intend to reduce their space needs by a similar percentage. This divergence highlights the importance of tailored strategies based on specific organizational needs.

What's clear is that regardless of whether a company is expanding or contracting its physical footprint, the quality of the workplace experience will remain paramount. Properties that can deliver exceptional experiences through thoughtful design and supportive technology will maintain their value even as the market evolves.

For commercial real estate professionals, investing in workplace experience platforms represents a strategic decision to:

1. Future-proof properties against changing tenant expectations
2. Generate actionable insights that drive property improvements
3. Create differentiation in an increasingly competitive market
4. Build stronger relationships with existing tenants
5. Support higher occupancy rates through enhanced workplace experiences

Conclusion: Technology as a Competitive Advantage

As the commercial real estate industry continues to navigate post-pandemic realities, the integration of workplace experience platforms has emerged as a key differentiator for successful properties. These technologies help address the fundamental challenges facing the industry: how to make physical spaces compelling enough to draw people back to the office in an era of unprecedented flexibility.

By providing tenants with the tools they need to engage their employees, generating actionable data on space utilization, and strengthening communication between all stakeholders, these platforms create value that extends far beyond the physical assets themselves. For property owners committed to thriving in this new landscape, investing in the right workplace technology isn't just advisable—it's essential.

The most successful commercial real estate professionals will be those who embrace these technologies not merely as operational tools but as strategic assets that fundamentally transform how they develop, manage, and market their properties in the distributed workforce future of work.