Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of modern business operations—even for industries once resistant to change. A mere decade ago, AI was more an intriguing topic for experimentation than a helpful tool.
Today, its applications impact nearly every sector, including real estate. Real estate management increasingly turns to AI in office spaces and retail environments. The goal? To optimize costs, enhance sustainability, and promote innovation.
As companies navigate hybrid work models and heightened sustainability goals, AI offers a path to smarter, data-driven decisions. “Through technology and AI, we as humans can be less wasteful, more efficient, smarter with our time, and focus on things that will have a higher return,” explains Stacie Wu, Chief Analytics Officer at JLL, a global leader in commercial real estate services.
Revolutionizing Real Estate Decisions With AI
JLL has led to AI integration. The company provides clients with forward-looking solutions that redefine real estate management. Using advanced tools such as Blackbird and Corrigo, JLL highlights AI’s ability to simplify complex decision-making processes for tenants, investors, and corporate leaders.
Blackbird helps executives identify optimal locations for new facilities by combining aerial imaging with market data. Stakeholders save time and resources by evaluating potential sites from the comfort of their offices.
Similarly, Corrigo automates maintenance schedules and ensures cost-effective operations, enhancing facilities management. Srihari Kumar, JLL’s SVP and Chief Product Officer, explains: “You can effectively have a building where AI agents automatically determine when to create maintenance work orders and engage the preferred service provider.”
These innovations underscore how AI does more than merely cut costs. Once correctly aligned with a company’s sustainability goals, AI helps them achieve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
For example, JLL’s Hank platform uses AI to adjust HVAC systems based on real-time occupancy data. The result? Reduced energy waste and lower utility bills. “If there is nobody in the building, that occupancy data is factored in, and the AC doesn’t have to keep kicking in,” Kumar adds.
Improving Employee Engagement and Hybrid Workflows
As full-time and hybrid employees worldwide return to physical offices, companies face a not-so-new challenge: promoting productivity while encouraging collaboration. AI saves the day by analyzing scheduling data and recommending optimal in-office days. Companies—and their employees—reap the benefits of this maximized team interaction.
AI also eliminates mundane tasks that prevent employees from focusing on meaningful work. “Today we do a lot of things that machines can do that may be boring or repetitive,” Kumar notes. “Together, humans and technology create transformative solutions for a brighter future.”
The good news? Transitioning to AI does not demand extensive technical expertise. Generative AI tools now allow users to make natural language queries. This makes it easier for a broader audience to analyze advanced data. “Was that data and insight available before? Yes, but the speed and ease with which you can access it is completely different now,” Wu says, emphasizing the intuitive nature of today’s AI tools.
Strategic Implementation for Maximum Impact
Prioritization is paramount when adopting AI solutions. Whether trying to cut costs or optimize office space, Wu advises leaders to begin by pinpointing their most pressing challenges. Once those hurdles are identified, it’s time to explore how AI can address those needs. “Once you identify the problem, you can determine where AI solutions fit in,” she explains.
AI’s continued growth presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for businesses. They can achieve significant savings and create adaptive spaces that meet the needs of their dynamic workforces. And as AI-based technology evolves, its expanded applications will offer even more opportunities for innovation.
The Future of AI in Real Estate
Looking ahead, AI technology has the potential to reshape how companies approach workspaces, sustainability, and workforce engagement. With tools like JLL’s Blackbird, Corrigo, and Hank leading the way, AI-driven real estate management showcases what can happen when efficiency and ingenuity meet.
As Wu concludes, businesses can create environments that are both cost-effective and adaptive to the demands of modern work: “The future is about creating smarter, more sustainable solutions that benefit everyone.”
