HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE INDUSTRY EVOLVE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ?
“ Changes in the way that companies carry out day-to-day operations have been underway for years , COVID-19 has fast-tracked the adoption of technologies as social distancing and remote working have become more prevalent ”
— Aditi Gouri , Head of Strategic Consulting and Research , Cavendish Maxwell
heads of HR , facilities and corporate real estate ( CRE ) are aware of individual and collective behaviors , allowing them to make educated decisions on optimising real estate space while reducing the risk of transmission . Technology like this can do everything from providing the usage and cleaning history of a given desk so employees know when it was last used and when it was sanitised ahead of their arrival , to helping staff plan their day at work so they are assigned a safe space with the colleagues they need to collaborate with .
HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE INDUSTRY EVOLVE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC ?
JL : The pandemic has introduced a new dynamic for all types of occupiers in Africa . Hospitality , student housing and regional shopping centres are some of the sectors that have been negatively impacted so far . The office sector has also recorded reduced demand as a result of the shift toward remote working . While we are unlikely to witness an extreme shift to remote working , we anticipate that flexibility and collaboration are going to prove core values to any organisation going forward .
In the short to medium term , we will probably see a change in office layouts and design , as the overall employee density remains low , and in response to pandemic containment measures across different countries . In the longrun , office premises are likely to be utilised as collaborative spaces , where talent retention and health and wellness for employees will be a key aspect of the new office-as-a-service for corporates .
In a bid to attract and retain tenants , the majority of the landlords are also proving more willing to grant lease concessions and , in some cases , renegotiate existing lease terms .
65
businesschief . eu