CORPORATE REAL ESTATE
MOBILE CONNECTIVITY IN THE CONNECTED WORKPLACE
Architects, developers, and property owners can future-proof their spaces by making mobile connectivity a cornerstone of design, says Mikael Lundman, CEO at Proptivity.
The year 2020 brought about wholesale changes across corporate real estate. Leasing strategies, office footfall, and workplace models were all heavily influenced by the pandemic. So too were occupier expectations. If workers were going to make the effort to head to the office, it should offer a better experience than the kitchen table. One of the ‘occupier non-negotiables’ to emerge in the last few years is quality mobile connectivity. For tenants, this is now a business-critical feature that impacts productivity, collaboration, and employee satisfaction.
"If 64% of tenants are willing to pay higher rents for offices with superior connectivity, it must move to the front of mind for owners and operators."
We found that 26% of employees would spend more time in the office if mobile connectivity was more comprehensive. A workplace lacking exceptional connectivity discourages visits and ultimately damages asset value and leaseability. If 64% of tenants are willing to pay higher rents for offices with superior connectivity, it must move to the front of mind for owners and operators.
Conversations around retrofitting aside, any office construction project must take mobile connectivity seriously. This is particularly important amid the current return-to-office debate - the home has become a haven for working, so the office must adapt. As companies design new spaces to encourage employees back to the office, connectivity must be a priority.
Mobile connectivity: an imperative in office design? Businesses are leveraging tech solutions to create dynamic, digital workplaces that enhance the in-office experience and leaseability. Mobile connectivity is a key part of this, driving productivity and collaboration; it has become a prime factor in leasing decision-making. With 89% of tenants expecting comprehensive WiFi and cellular connectivity, and 77% of business leaders planning to move to better-connected offices within five years, buildings that provide the best connectivity will find themselves top of the podium with the highest occupancy rates and rents.
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While location is a fixed factor, connectivity can be improved, and has become a key point of differentiation as demand grows for workspaces that enable digital efficiency.
This isn’t a new thing, but its importance has certainly grown Even in 2015, architects were designing buildings with connectivity in mind. Now, connectivity plays even more of a role in shaping how we work.
The widespread adoption of hybrid work models - and a blend of in-person and virtual participation - mean mobile connectivity is now as essential as the heating, water, and electricity within a building.
Proactively considering mobile connectivity during the design phase can drive additional benefits, such as reducing this cost at a later retrofit phase and being able to accommodate neutral-host solutions like our own from the outset.
Mobile connectivity is also crucial in the battle to make buildings more sustainable. Achieving net-zero goals, like optimising energy use, relies on technologies like smart sensors, which depend on robust connectivity. By enabling real-time data system management, connected buildings drive efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance tenant experience. As a result, office spaces are optimised for maximum value, even while utilisation rates have declined.
Mobile connectivity will only grow in importance for workplace design. Offices must not just accommodate work but actively support it. Corporate spaces that fail to deliver robust connectivity risk losing tenants and ultimately revenue.
By making mobile connectivity a cornerstone of design, architects, developers, and property owners can future- proof their spaces. Through partnering with innovative technologies, the next generation of workspaces will be purpose-built to excel in an increasingly connected digital space.
https://proptivity.com
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
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