Rethinking workplace strategy: Aligning corporate real estate with attendance trends, AI and system consolidation

The corporate real estate (CRE) sector faces an inflexion point driven by rising office attendance and fragmented workplace technologies. This paper analyses data from Eptura’s 2025 Workplace Index to evaluate technology-related operational challenges and offer strategic recommendations. Specifically, it explores the ‘technology paradox’, where excessive digital tools impede rather than improve decision making. The paper proposes actionable solutions: consolidating worktech platforms, deploying artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive and prescriptive applications and elevating digital workplace leadership roles. These approaches aim to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs and align real estate strategy with evolving workforce dynamics. Key trends identified include increasing in-office mandates, underutilisation of AI and the emergence of cross-functional leadership. Findings offer CRE leaders’ practical pathways to improve agility, unlock strategic insights and enhance workplace resilience and adaptability. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks.com/business/.