Jon Cochrane, Director of Asset Management and Sustainability at Brunswick Property Partners, discusses the growing importance of tech in commercial property.

Technology is interwoven into our day-to-day lives, with new applications emerging all the time seeking to make life quicker, easier and more cost-effective.  At Brunswick Property Partners, we recognise the relevance of technology in commercial property, integrating various initiatives across our portfolio, from high-quality broadband to online leasing platforms, that prioritises occupier experience throughout their workspace journey.  

 

Tech supporting the negotiation of lease terms is one initiative generating noticeable benefits.  Anyone who has negotiated a set of heads of terms will be versed in the pitfalls: numerous drafts going back and forth, misinterpretations of terms and delays drawing out the process.  The introduction of tech through start-up ‘Least’ has been a refreshing change, diffusing complexities and creating a ‘one-stop-shop’ portal for negotiations.  It speeds up the process and allows the landlord to manage the process more effectively, freeing the tenant to get on with their business, all of which reduces the risk of losing the transaction.

 

At Brunswick Property Partners, our priority in all aspects of the assets we control is sustainability. One area where technology has assisted in our commitment to carbon reduction is BMS optimisation.  In Knollys & Stephenson House in Croydon, an integrated platform monitors all systems to ensure that the landlord-controlled plant is running as efficiently as possible, generating sizeable energy savings.  This has become increasingly relevant during the current energy crisis, with occupiers actively asking about our strategy to help reduce energy usage.  

 

As occupiers return to the office post-Covid, we have seen an opportunity to use technology to bring communities together within the assets in our portfolio.  Occupier breakfasts, mental health training, and speed networks, to name a few examples, will all be advertised on the building app at Power Road Studios in Chiswick, which launches in November 2022. While it’s great for enhanced communication and advertising events, we’ve found there’s no real substitute for social interaction, so as well as networking tech, we have made sure the buildings we manage can play host to social interaction with break-out spaces, coffee houses and outside seating.

 

As the world of technology within the property industry grows and diversifies, we like to think we are evolving with it. We’ll continue to trial and integrate cutting-edge technology, as long as it continues to deliver benefits and enhance the tenant experience.  Our greatest tech takeout as a landlord is learning how to apply tech where it’s most beneficial.  It has its place, but it can’t replace everything.