White paper: Agent challenges

Long gone are the days when money was no object, when occupiers alike would think nothing of spending astronomical sums on meeting their property needs. Equally, investors are now looking for much more frugal ways of attracting the right type of tenant.

With a few notable exceptions, everyone is now keeping a very close eye on the bottom line. Our survey of the agency market found cost-cutting was one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today.

Of course, this is not the only pressing issue. Keeping up with changes in legislation and professional standards remains a key priority, as does marrying the competing demands of providing a global service to clients while keeping abreast of local knowledge.

But agents are broadly optimistic about the extent to which technology can help them cope with these challenges. The agency world showed similar levels of optimism as occupiers and was much more positive about the role of software and technology than property investors, particularly in assisting them in a role that requires being constantly on the move.

Agents are also far more likely to use technology to measure key performance indicators (KPIs), with more than 60% of respondents saying they did so, compared to around 40% of occupiers and investors.

Download the white paper >>>