In a lot of respects, the commercial property sector still lags behind, but even here the impact has been felt from startups offering flexible, tech-smart office space.
Building owners and operators can no longer ignore technology as a major factor in their forward planning and should be increasingly mindful that having a connected building is becoming a hygiene factor for the latest generation of workers. Before, we were happy with quick, now we want instant. Instruction manuals are a thing of the past and everything should work from the phone in our pocket.
The benefits of getting this right are huge. And they are matched in scale by the risks of sitting still. Some high street retailers are bemoaning not investing more heavily in eCommerce all those years ago. In the same way, commercial real estate professionals could regret failing to adopt technology ten years from now.
SmartSpace Software Plc (LON:SMRT) is focused on technologies that make real estate more efficient and organisations more effective. Listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, they provide leading smart workplace software and technology to the commercial workplace, retail and hospitality real estate sectors.