We live and breathe technology in every facet of our daily lives, be it checking our phones for news in the morning, collaborating with colleagues remotely on video calls, connecting with old friends via social media, or shooting off last-minute emails before bed. We expect our apps to function quickly and seamlessly for our always-online lives—so why wouldn’t we expect these same conveniences to enhance our office experience?
In the era of hybrid work, it’s critical that businesses transform the traditional office to provide the flexibility and customization today’s workers require. Office owners have an opportunity to support this shift and entice tenants back into the workplace by providing targeted experiences—but they need technology solutions that support these efforts.
Next-gen tenant experience apps are an essential tool for fostering engagement, productivity, and a sense of community that commercial real estate landlords and investors can’t afford to ignore.
Rethinking the boundaries of office experience
Integrated tenant experience apps have evolved to become an indispensable tool that delivers on an owner’s experiential promise, online and off. With office occupancy still behind its pre-pandemic high, office buildings must provide valuable amenities and vibrant experiences to support collaboration and human interaction. It’s a key factor of buildings that are outperforming competitors.
Amenities and experience must also be supported by technology. According to the JLL Future of Work Study 2022, 77% of CRE leaders say they expect a mandate to increase investments in workplace technology by 2025. While companies are looking to add or upgrade remote work technology, in-office collaboration tools, and workplace apps, building owners can help extend the workplace throughout the entire building—or even throughout a portfolio of buildings.
With an integrated app, tenants can order and pick up a lobby-level coffee before heading upstairs for a meeting or find a quiet room outside the core office to take a call before a large-group training. App users can pre-order lunch, sign up for a yoga session or RSVP to the building holiday party. If the lights start to flicker, that’s not a problem. A building service request is just a tap away and the user will receive a notification once the issue has been resolved.
But too often each of these events is handled through a separate app, creating friction for building occupancy. The solution is simple but not easy: digital apps for occupiers and owners must integrate, even in the face of technological hurdles. The benefit is not just a seamless experience for building occupants but consistent data collection for landlords, which can ultimately power intelligent decision making that drives brand loyalty and demand.
According to HqO’s State of the Workplace Experience report, 76% of commercial real estate organizations use building apps to improve workplace experience, which can lead to better business outcomes, like increased NOI and improved productivity. Building owners can offer tenant experience apps as an amenity, while adding functionality and value to their occupied spaces. Those owners who work to eliminate digital silos between their buildings and tenant spaces stand to gain considerable advantage, including a comprehensive and streamlined experience for their tenants that elevates satisfaction and performance.
Embracing digital for a competitive edge
The future of tenant apps holds tremendous potential for landlords to optimize and enhance the functionality of occupied spaces, increase revenue with exclusive services and events, and bring significant value to their assets and the tenant experience. The key lies in consolidating various functions within a single, integrated app that provides a cohesive experience for their tenants, centralizing space management, service requests, and community engagement. The reward: simplify operations, reduce administrative burdens, and create a more efficient and engaging environment.
In an increasingly hybrid work environment, where flexibility and engagement are paramount, landlords who embrace technological advancements and prioritize integrated experiences will have a competitive edge. By providing robust, user-friendly apps that enable seamless collaboration, communication, and access to amenities, landlords can foster a stronger sense of community, drive tenant engagement, and stay ahead in the industry.
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