But change is afoot. Industrial and logistics agents are increasingly liaising with their colleagues across the business divide and in some cases are formally teaming up with them. This push is largely being driven by the increasing overlap between industrial/logistics and retail thanks in large part to the growth in online.

As retail sales move online, retailers are placing far more emphasis on dovetailing all channels with their fulfilment operations, says Richard Sullivan, national head of industrial and logistics at Savills.