by Brianna Crandall — April 26, 2017 — Global professional and real estate services firm JLL just introduced the Future of Work, the firm’s unique outlook on the changing world of work and its impact on the next generation of corporate real estate. The model is designed to highlight areas that companies should address to navigate these seismic shifts in the market: human experience, digital drive, continuous innovation, operational excellence and financial management.
John Forrest, Global and Americas CEO, Corporate Solutions, JLL, stated:
Organizations must examine how work and the workforce are evolving and embrace the change. Today’s multi-generational workforce prefers alternative work styles and demands new work environments beyond the traditional office. Where and how we work is changing quickly, and organizations must take a visionary approach to the future of work now.
The landscape of real estate has evolved. Real estate was once about acquiring and managing buildings. Now, real estate has become a strategic lever for transformation, enabling organizations to achieve broader business agendas and create new levels of value.
Where ambition thrives
The right real estate strategy can help organizations achieve their ambitions and succeed in a period of rapid change, according to the report. And with real estate typically one of the largest costs for many organizations, a tremendous opportunity exists today to use real estate as a differentiator.
JLL’s innovative Future of Work outlook guides companies to thrive through disruptive changes in the workplace.
JLL’s Future of Work model can help companies pinpoint the precise areas they need to focus on across the five interrelated dimensions to lead through this disruption. How these dimensions are addressed — and which priority each is given — will vary by organization and by industry. Yet all five are vital to running a thriving organization, says JLL.
Forrest continued:
We expect offices in the future to offer high-tech, personalized tools and services that enhance the human experience and become a prime weapon in the war for talent. Corporate real estate is a vital part of an organization’s performance and ability to compete.
Unlocking new growth and value
To remain competitive and unlock new sources of growth and revenue, companies are already embracing artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotic process automation (RPA). These changes are disrupting the way work is done and are driving some companies to outsource and automate non-core work.
Others are shedding fixed real estate assets while creating networks of workplaces that include company offices, co-working spaces and employee home offices. Meanwhile, organizations that value in-house collaboration are designing their work spaces and offices to bring employees together in more creative environments.
Forrest concluded:
Rising to the challenge of the future of work involves many moving parts. The smart corporate real estate teams will create spaces inspired by their company’s vision and ambition. The Future of Work model allows organizations to align their vision with corporate real estate to understand how and where ambition thrives.
The Future of Work is JLL’s outlook on the changing world of work and its impact on the next generation of real estate. Along with an upcoming series of research, the Future of Work is central to JLL’s Corporate Solutions business growth and shapes its products and services.
JLL’s Corporate Solutions business offers strategy, services and technology solutions across the entire real estate life cycle to organizations globally.
