CoreNet Global, the world’s largest professional association for the Corporate Real Estate (CRE) industry, concluded its 6th annual India conference on Wednesday. Themed ‘Corporate Real Estate: Strategic Planning in A Dynamic World’, the conference discussed the factors that are currently shaping the CRE industry in 2019.
The conference brought together over 300 top industry professionals and business leaders to discuss industry trends. CoreNet Global – India chapter Co-Chairs Satish Rajendran (COO at Knight Frank (India) Pvt Ltd) & Arunabh Mukherjee- (Facilities Head, Synopsis India) presided over the overall conference as industry leaders discussed the various factors that have emerged as catalysts in the contemporary world for the growth of the CRE ecosystem and the factors to consider as the purview of the industry expands.
Discussions at the event were first contextualised by the changing geopolitical scenario, referencing contemporary events and the effect they have had on the way companies look at corporate real estate in the world today. One of the major takeaways from these discussions was the advantageous position that India now finds itself in as a result of global events, primarily on the front of the utilisation of technology for greater CRE growth. This was further supported by the insights shared by various panelists who reiterated the potential the country held for growth, given the gradual but progressive adoption of strategies that were geared towards cross-industry knowledge sharing.
Participants at the event dealt with two distinct areas where CRE trends could be observed: the development of inclusive, technology-driven workplaces and the dynamic demands placed on workplaces as a result of talent evolution. Panelists cited their industry experience to elucidate the evolution of the workplace from its traditional avatar to one that is constantly changing basis the demands raised by succeeding generations of the talent pool. The pace of these changes calls upon greater collaboration between various stakeholders both within and outside the CRE ecosystem to devise incisive solutions to existing problems. They also call upon firms to invest in measures that utilise predictive analytics to circumvent impending problems and help add to the existing set of strategies for the greater good of the industry as a whole.
“The expansion of the corporate real estate industry has seen factors beyond infrastructure become crucial elements to consider. The CRE ecosystem today has shifted towards the adoption of an employee-centric perspective, both while creating office policies and while choosing office spaces. The scenario in India has changed drastically in the recent past and companies must look to integrate the advantages that technology provides to deal with both present and future concerns,” said Sathish Rajendran, COO at Knight Frank (India) Pvt Ltd and Co-Chair of the India chapter of CoreNet Global.