Global Corporate Survey 2021: Smart Building Technology Budgets, Priorities & Preferences
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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.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
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
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 intellige…
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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 managem…
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