FMJ Facilities Management magazine providing industry-specific intelligence to FM and property professionals
Organisations are struggling to translate their AI ambitions into measurable business value, new research from Colliers has found, putting pressure on workplace and real estate teams.
Colliers’ report, Building Resilience: 5 Megatrends Redefining Corporate Real Estate, identifies AI-enabled workforces as a key trend reshaping how organisations operate. While AI is widely viewed as a primary driver of transformation, many businesses remain underprepared for its impact, creating exposure as adoption accelerates.
This gap between ambition and execution is becoming more visible. Many organisations have moved beyond experimentation, but readiness remains uneven, with a significant proportion still lacking a defined AI strategy and struggling to deliver consistent results from implementation.
The implications extend beyond technology. As AI becomes embedded in decision-making and core workflows, it is beginning to reshape how work is organised, where teams are located, and what environments are required to support them.
For workplace and real estate strategy, this creates immediate pressure. Businesses need to accommodate more data-driven workflows, integrate technology more deeply into day-to-day operations, and maintain flexibility as requirements continue to evolve. The report highlights that the pace of technological change is challenging established assumptions around workforce structure and space needs, reinforcing the need for adaptable workplace strategies.
Location decisions are also being affected. Access to digital infrastructure and skilled talent is becoming increasingly important, with established hubs continuing to play a central role while new centres emerge as competitive alternatives.
“The key is knowing where AI adds value and where it doesn’t,” said Stuart McDonald, Global CIO at Colliers. “The solutions you roll out need to be practical, sustainable and easy to support. Most importantly, investing in education and training is critical to making sure AI is used responsibly and in the right places.”
The report positions AI not simply as a technology shift, but as a broader test of organisational readiness. Companies that invest in skills, governance and adaptable operating models are more likely to capture value, while those that do not risk falling behind as AI adoption continues to scale.
