Businesses Can Only Make The Right Real Estate Decision If They Collect Enough Data

Today, many businesses face two questions: How much real estate do we really need and how can we get employees back to the office? Businesses rarely have a desk per head anymore, but that could mean downsizing or using space in a different way. 

The answers, according to Brivo Senior Director of Sales Lee Miller, can be found in data. As businesses analyze their portfolio or come to the end of a lease, they need to start collecting information about how employees are using spaces in order to make more informed decisions about the future of their office. 

“The challenge right now is that no one really knows what they need because they don’t have the data,” he said. “Their systems are outdated. They don’t know if having a games room or happy hour in a kitchen area will get people back to the workplace, or whether staff prefer using a conference room or a huddle room.”

Brivo’s cloud-based access control system is just one element of the company’s technology spectrum that can deliver insights. Solutions that give data on how space is used include room booking systems, sensors to monitor use and even package delivery systems.

When a business has data on how employees are actually using a space, it can make better decisions about the size, location and layout of its offices, Miller said. By better understanding how employees are engaging with different parts of the office, companies can create spaces that workers want to return to.

“To move forward, businesses need to facilitate people’s working practices,” he said. “They need to take data about how staff are using spaces and make it easier for them to do so. This is the way to encourage people to come in.” 

If companies have already made cuts to their office spaces, they need to ensure that those cuts aren’t what is keeping employees away. For example, if a business only has a finite number of desks, a system needs to be put in place to make sure every member of staff has a suitable place to work, Miller said. Similarly, there needs to be a system to ensure there is enough parking. 

“If you have an influx of employees visiting for one week, you need to have the technology in place to manage that,” he said. “An employee won’t be pleased to turn up at the office after 40 minutes in the car and have nowhere to go. Each piece of technology needs to create a system where employees can book what they need.”

By simplifying employees’ access and ability to book rooms, a business is creating more opportunities to collect data on how people use an office. Brivo gives employers a dashboard so they can view all data in one place. This includes who has booked what space or amenity and for how long, as well as information from other software providers. 

The real estate sector is more focused on the use of technology than it used to be but there is still some way to go, Miller said. 

“People have realized that human nature has changed during the last three years post-pandemic,” he said. “They are starting to see that data is essential, but they don’t know how to get that data. Many businesses are yet to realize the potential of using systems that are cloud-based.” 

Many properties still use on-premise solutions to manage aspects such as access control, which limits the ability to use data effectively. By adopting a cloud-based system, different solutions can integrate with access control, property management software, parcel delivery solutions and more. Through this system, property management teams can access information from anywhere. 

“For a business with multiple sites, this is extremely valuable,” Miller said. “Suddenly they can standardize access control and bookings across their portfolio and see how different employees vary in their use of space. By making comparisons, they can see what might work well in one location and replicate or adapt it for another.”

If a business doesn’t implement the right technology, it risks making decisions that hold people back from working the way they need to, Miller said. 

“Selecting the right technology providers now will not only empower employers, but will create more enjoyable spaces for employees,” he said.

This article was produced in collaboration between Brivo and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.