{"id":39345,"date":"2025-08-15T08:00:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T12:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eptura.com\/?p=39345"},"modified":"2025-08-20T00:04:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T04:04:14","slug":"eptura-insights-adopting-a-value-integrator-mindset-for-cre-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eptura.com\/discover-more\/blog\/eptura-insights-adopting-a-value-integrator-mindset-for-cre-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Eptura Insights: Adopting a value integrator mindset for CRE success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commercial real estate (CRE) teams are challenged to balance operational efficiencies and cost control with occupant demand for flexible and engaging work environments. To navigate these complexities, organizations need value integrators \u2014 professionals who can bridge the traditional gaps between real estate and broader business goals. By aligning CRE initiatives with organizational objectives, value integrators ensure that real estate becomes a strategic asset, driving long-term success and resilience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Market factors driving need for more strategic thinking in CRE<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Corporate real estate is undergoing a period of adjustment as organizations respond to evolving market dynamics amid increased operational costs. Property insurance premiums have <\/span>tripled in some cases since 2020<\/span><\/a>, and persistent labor and material cost inflation continues to <\/span>delay construction and renovation projects<\/span><\/a>. While in-office attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels in some areas, there are signs this trend is shifting. According to Eptura\u2019s <\/span>2025 Workplace Index<\/span><\/a>,\u202f34% of businesses plan to increase the number of days employees spend in the office\u202fthis year. Visitor traffic has also nearly doubled across all regions\u202fover the past three years, placing new demands on space, security, and operational resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These pressures vary by industry and portfolio makeup. For example, a manufacturer may be more likely to own their buildings and centralize operations in low-cost-of-living locations, versus a financial firm which may prioritize leasing space in large cities, driving up costs. The latter type of organization may also be more aware of the role office spaces and amenities play in company branding and talent retention.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While some enterprises recognized the built environment\u2019s potential as a differentiator over the past 20 years, the pandemic created a clear dividing line between the traditional and new ways of thinking about commercial real estate. CRE used to be about cost control and operational efficiency. Now it\u2019s a strategic asset that forward-thinking organizations can leverage to better support evolving workforce models, financial resilience, and long-term transformation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Organizational barriers: Siloed data and lack of alignment<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Most CRE teams have embraced the potential value of implementing everything from simple smart lighting to advanced AI, but inconsistent processes and disparate operational technologies limit their ability to affect organizational change. These teams struggle to capture reliable data, often having to pull it manually from several single-point systems before trying to compile it in spreadsheets. In fact, 37% of businesses are utilizing 11 or more employees to gather, analyze, and report on data from single-point systems, and 50% of businesses are using an average of 17 standalone worktech solutions, according to Eptura\u2019s <\/span>2025 Workplace Index<\/span><\/a> report.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just the data that\u2019s siloed. Many teams experience challenges in getting buy in and prioritization for workplace technology projects and related change management across departments or regions. That lack of alignment means some have a hard time getting past the pilot stage, so any progress occurs only at one site, not across the business.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Value integrator: Cross functional and business minded<\/span><\/h2>\n

Overcoming these challenges means finding value integrators, people who can think cross-functionally and have a deep understanding of business goals, including each department\u2019s metric-focused definition of success. The reason is simple: Before you can align with others, you need to know where they\u2019re heading and what\u2019s pushing them there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Value integrators play a key role in facilitating:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n