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Colliers Identifies Five Megatrends Reshaping Corporate Real Estate
From AI to climate risk, Colliers identifies five megatrends transforming corporate real estate worldwide.
Colliers identifies five megatrends reshaping corporate real estate
Colliers has released its global report Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate, highlighting the structural forces expected to reshape how organisations approach property, workforce planning and location strategy over the coming decades.
For businesses operating between Australia and Europe, these shifts are already taking effect. Evolving ESG requirements, rising energy pressures and ongoing competition for talent are influencing how organisations design and manage their real estate portfolios. Increasingly, property decisions are being viewed not only through a cost lens, but as a key component of long-term business resilience.
As Scott Soutar, National Director, Occupier Client Solutions at Colliers Australia and representative to the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FACCI), explains:
“Real estate decisions are becoming increasingly strategic. Location, flexibility and sustainability are now central to how organisations position themselves for future growth.”
The five megatrends
Drawing on global research, Colliers identifies five transformative forces:
- AI-enabled workforces
The adoption of artificial intelligence is expected to drive significant business transformation, yet many organisations remain underprepared. Fewer than a third of real estate professionals report having an AI strategy in place, despite its expected impact on operations and workplace design.
This is accelerating demand for more flexible, technology-enabled environments and influencing how organisations access and distribute talent across global and regional hubs. - Seismic demographic shifts
Ageing populations in developed economies are reshaping workforce dynamics, with an estimated 150 million jobs expected to shift to older workers by 2030.
In Australia, as in Europe, this is contributing to tighter labour markets and encouraging organisations to create more inclusive, adaptable workplaces, while also seeking access to younger talent pools globally. - Energy scarcity and security
Growing demand from data centres and digital infrastructure, combined with ageing energy systems, is placing pressure on energy supply and cost.
As a result, energy availability and efficiency are becoming increasingly important factors in location decisions. Organisations are exploring retrofits, energy-efficient buildings and localised energy solutions to better manage cost and risk. - Climate risk
Climate-related risks are increasing, both in terms of physical exposure to extreme weather and tightening regulatory requirements. Major cities, including Sydney, are already identified as facing growing climate vulnerability.
At the same time, stricter ESG expectations are accelerating the potential obsolescence of non-compliant buildings, reinforcing the importance of sustainable asset strategies. - A shifting global order
Geopolitical tensions and trade realignment are reshaping global supply chains and location strategies. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to account for a significant share of global economic growth, reinforcing its importance in corporate footprint decisions.
In response, many organisations are adopting more flexible, decentralised “hub-and-spoke” models to improve resilience and manage risk.
From insight to action
The report highlights the importance of translating these trends into practical action. Key priorities include enhancing portfolio flexibility, strengthening alignment between real estate and broader business functions, and embedding sustainability capabilities across the organisation.
Reflecting on the findings, Richard Garing, Managing Director of Occupier Services at Colliers Australia, notes:
“Corporate real estate has evolved into a cornerstone of business resilience. Organisations that begin adapting their portfolios now will be better positioned to respond to future disruption.”
For members of the French-Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, these insights provide a useful framework for aligning real estate strategy with workforce, sustainability and supply chain priorities across both markets.
Sources: Colliers International
