New technology has always been incorporated into – or indeed been driven by – commerce. From typewriters to fax machines, to computers and laptops, the most recent technological advancement – and probably most significant in the past 150 years, is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is and will impact almost every single area of our lives in the near future, but one of the greatest areas that is already being impacted is our work. As a commercial unit landlord, it is essential that you are prepared for the requirements of your business tenants when it comes to the incorporation of AI into the running of their business.

Whilst at first, AI is still playing a fairly small part in the fundamental running of a business, its role is set to grow, and it is vital that commercial units are ready in order to ensure the best ROI for landlords.

What has been the Role of the Office Until Now?

Until the present day, a business’s office has been something of a ‘container’. It has been a ‘home’ for a business, the place where its personnel can be found, where the equipment that is needed for the running of the business is kept, where the business’s brand is embodied, and a reference point for customers.

Offices have been set up with the equipment that staff use for the administrative day-to-day and long-term running of a business – desks, telephones, computers, customer files, and documents, for example. This is beginning to change, however. The internet and laptops, for example, have meant that some of those who once worked in offices are now able to work more remotely – albeit from home, or from other hubs. Often, those who could not work remotely were those who needed to be physically in an office for access to telephones, photocopiers, and paperwork.

With the introduction and increase in the use of AI, however, this is beginning to change. As AI takes on more and more of the tasks, such as administration, we are seeing a reduction in the number of admin staff required by many businesses, for example. And it is also having an impact on the planning and management of offices. It is changing the very function of an office as the personnel change, as well as the equipment that is within it.

How is AI Changing the Office Unit?

Currently, AI is taking more of the ‘mundane’ strain in a business – the tasks that can be easily automated, or the compiling of reports and analysis of data. However, this is changing, and the office is going to become less of a container for staff and equipment, but more of a place where key personnel will make decisions. It is going to be somewhere that people meet, look at reports, discuss, make business decisions, create strategies, and work collaboratively.

For the commercial unit market, this means that the size of the unit needed for a business might change, but fear not, there are plenty of reasons why businesses will still need to rent an office. A business needs a base, it has certain equipment that needs to be stored, and it needs a permanent address, for example. It needs to be secure, a place where personnel can meet, and a place that is optimised for a business’s use. Your office unit needs to enable this.

What Does an ‘AI-Ready Office Look Like?

With over 1000 active landlords, here at Boxpod, we regularly discuss in detail the needs of businesses in terms of sustainability, employee well-being, productivity, and inclusion. In the ‘new’ or ‘modern’ office, however, there are other, additional features that are important. Instead of being the place where an individual staff member goes to complete a given task or tasks, it will be more based on enabling communication, accessing data, and improving decision-making.

This means that modern offices will need larger spaces for team members to meet and discuss plans or create strategies. It will need to have excellent and secure internet connections for the access of data, as well as communications outside of the commercial unit. A place of collaboration and creativity, decision-making and discussion.

It will increasingly be important to have small decision-making spaces and larger meeting rooms. The technology and infrastructure will need to accommodate and facilitate online communication as well as the recording and playback of meetings, for both those physically present and also remotely present. This means not only the technology, but also for the provision of good quality audio and light. Tenants will want to be able to access information quickly and reliably – ensuring that data is not only readily available, but also secure.

In all, you should be looking to ensure that the ‘modern’ office unit takes into consideration everything from fibre internet and cyber security, acoustics, large screens, collaboration platforms, excellent recording equipment, and a reliable digital infrastructure.

How Can I Incorporate AI Requirements for my Office Unit?

The change in requirements presents a new challenge for commercial unit landlords looking to rent their office unit. The key is flexibility. To be able to attract the best tenants and highest ROI, businesses are looking to find commercial units that enable them to personalise the unit for their specific needs – meeting rooms, perhaps separate offices, collaboration hubs, etc. They will need to have the elements discussed previously in terms of ease of communication, and of course, security (especially cybersecurity).

In addition to this, however, business tenants still want to rent commercial units with good ESG credentials and with staff and visitor well-being at the centre.

There are also ways that AI can help in the general management of a commercial unit, whether this is controlled by the landlord or the tenant. Some of these elements include climate control within the building, the booking of rooms, predicting maintenance issues or other anomalies, or the scheduling of maintenance or repairs.

Final Thoughts

Despite the idea that artificial intelligence can be seen as a technological change, it is actually set to change almost everything in our society, particularly in the commercial sector. We are expecting office unit requirements to change almost beyond recognition. The very role of the office is likely to change from a container for a business, where staff are based, and objects are housed, to a hub where decisions are made.

It is essential, therefore, that landlords understand the change in the necessities of commercial tenants, to find the best tenants and get the best ROI.

If you are a commercial unit landlord and are looking to list your property, we can help you here at Boxpod – take a look at how to list your property with us here!

Are you a business looking to rent a commercial unit? If so, why not browse the properties that we have listed here?