Global Corporate Survey 2021: Smart Building Technology Budgets, Priorities & Preferences

Published 12 August 2021 by Joy Trinquet & Susan Clarke &
Asset and Maintenance Management Building Information Modelling Building IoT Platforms Building Management System Building Mobile Applications Corporate Real Estate Management Energy Management Facilities Management IWMS / CAFM Smart Buildings Space and Workplace Management Global Survey

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Executive Summary

This report helps real estate and facilities directors and heads benchmark their firms’ smart building technology strategies, investment plans and priorities over the next 12 months. It also aids smart building product suppliers and service providers align their business and product plans with market demand and emerging areas of interest. The data were gathered via 285 telephone interviews conducted with executives at firms from 18 industries and most major economies from May to July 2021. The survey highlights that executives are launching new real estate management strategies driven by cost reduction and hybrid working ambitions. Firms are prioritizing workplace transformation initiatives, such as increasing the amount of agile working and identifying new ways to use existing space, such as subleasing surplus space. Firms are planning new technology investments across employee workplace experience, asset management and cloud-based security solutions.

Table of contents

Global Survey Discloses Corporate Usage And Demand For Smart Building Technology
Annual Global Survey Of 285 Real Estate Occupiers

Hybrid Working And Cost Cutting Pressures Drive New Strategies In Real Estate Management 
Reducing Real Estate Costs Surpasses Employee Wellbeing For The First Time Since 2017 
Firms Are Prioritizing Workplace Transformation Initiatives In The Next 12 Months To Support The Return To The Office 
ESG Demands Are Triggering New Investments In Reporting And Green Building Certifications 

COVID-19 Will Drive Long-Term Workplace Changes
Real Estate Managers Are Re-Evaluating Leases And Downsizing Portfolios As A Result Of COVID-19 
Firms Expect That Employee Health Questionnaires And Thermal Screening Will Persist Post-Vaccinations

Corporates Plan To Extend Investments In Space And Workplace Management Technologies
Software Investment Plans Centre Around Employee Workplace Experience And Space Reservations
Corporate Executives Will Focus Increasing Spend On IWMS And IoT Platform Deployments 
Firms Plan To Leverage Artificial Intelligence, 5G Private Networks And Blockchain For Initiatives In The Future

 

Table of figures

Figure 1. Geographical Location Of Interviewees  
Figure 2. Industry Categories Of Firms Surveyed  
Figure 3. Real Estate Strategic Objectives Over The Next Three Years  
Figure 4. Real Estate Executives’ Priority Initiatives For The Next 12 Months  
Figure 5. ESG And Sustainability Trends Shaping Real Estate Strategies Over The Next Three Years  
Figure 6. COVID-19’s Effect On Real Estate Strategies  
Figure 7. Long-Term COVID-19 Workplace Trends    
Figure 8. Software Investment By Real Estate And Facilities Management Process  
Figure 9. Smart Building Security Hardware And Software Deployments  
Figure 10. Software Investment By Type Of Software  
Figure 11. Smart Building Technologies Expenditure Changes For 2022  
Figure 12. Awareness Of Nine Digital Innovations For Real Estate Management

Organisations mentioned

Accruent, Air France, Arvato Financial Solutions, Brivo, Building Research Establishment, CBRE Group, Cisco Meraki, Condeco, Deloitte, EcoEnergy Insights (part of Carrier), Everbridge, Ford, Friedman Real Estate, Groupe ADP, Honeywell, HSBC, Infogrid, Inpixon, International WELL Building Institute, IWG, JLL Technologies (JLLT), Johnson Controls (JCI), JPMorgan Chase, Kisi, M&G Real Estate, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, MRI, NTT, OfficeSpace, Openpath, Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris-Le Bourget Airport, Paris-Orly Airport, Planon, Procter & Gamble (P&G), Rapal, Relogix, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Smarten Spaces, SpaceIQ, Spacewell, Tango, VergeSense, Yardi Systems

About the authors

Joy Trinquet

Senior Analyst
Joy is a Senior Analyst in the Verdantix Smart Buildings practice. Her current research agenda focuses on integrated workplace management systems/connected portfolio intelligence platforms (IWMS/CPIP), building systems integrators, and space and workplace management solutions. Joy joined Verdantix in 2019, having previously worked at BNP Paribas Asset Management as a business development intern. She earned a BA degree in Economics with a concentration on policy, as well as dual minors in computer science and business studies, from New York University.

Susan Clarke

Research Director

Susan leads the Verdantix Smart Buildings practice. Her current research agenda focuses on software solutions for real estate management including integrated workplace management systems and IoT platforms for buildings. Her research expertise also includes a broad range of energy management technologies and energy services. Susan has eight years of experience in technology research. She holds a MSc from the University of London in Sustainable Development.

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