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Transforming corporate real estate for the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Corporate Real Estate Journal,
8
(2),
165-179
(2018)
Abstract
It is the beginning of a new era – one where technological innovation is transforming the way we live and work at exponential speed and showing no signs of slowing down. The World Economic Forum has labelled this as the Fourth Industrial Revolution and has identified 12 technologies that have reached a maturity (and cost) level that as they are being deployed, are changing the world as we know it. In order to embrace these technological advances in a sustainable and socially ethical way, organisations all over the world have embraced the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From a corporate real estate (CRE) and facility management (FM) perspective, the SDGs can be used as a guide to ensure that this technological revolution is managed in a way that allows the built (and unbuilt) environment to grow and evolve in a way that is sustainable and benefits all aspects of society for years to come. In order to successfully shift into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is also important for the CRE and FM world to look back and learn from the changes that were brought about by previous industrial revolution eras. This will help the CRE and FM industry proactively identify opportunities to develop new skillsets and work together to carve out a path that is adaptable, ethical, and relevant in the face of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This paper was written for businesses, governments, higher educational institutions and individuals to be able to understand these new concepts and be aware of the challenges brought about by the adoption of these new technologies and SDGs and the principles which can be followed during this transformative era.
Keywords: technology; systems of systems; new ways of working; social responsibility; corporate real estate (CRE); facility management (FM); Fourth Industrial Revolution; sustainable development goals (SDGs)
The full article is available to subscribers to the journal.
Author's Biography
Nancy Johnson Sanquist is Vice-President of Global Strategic Marketing for Planon. She is an IFMA Fellow since 1996, an AIA Associate and is currently Chair for the IFMA Foundation, where she is one of the founders of both the Global Workforce Initiative (GWI) and the Workplace Evolutionary Community in IFMA. Nancy has been in the real estate and facility management technology business for three decades, previously working with the CADG Group, Autodesk, Peregrine and Manhattan (now Trimble), and has spoken at industry conferences all over the world. She is a well-known author and editor, including two IFMA Foundation books, Work on the Move (2014) and Work on the Move 2 (2016). Nancy has formerly worked as an academic professor in art and architecture (UCLA, Lafayette and Muhlenberg Colleges), as a historic preservation urban planner (Easton, Pennsylvania), and as an urban revitalization consultant (Hollywood Revitalization, LA Conservancy).
David Karpook is Strategic Business Consultant for Planon Corporation, a leading provider of technology solutions for facility management and real estate. A 25-year industry veteran, he has been a customer, vendor, system implementer, trainer and strategist, managing workplace technology projects in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prior to joining Planon in 2015, he served as president and CEO at Bricsnet, an enterprise software provider. He also has held management positions at software providers Trimble Navigation, Tririga and Peregrine Systems. He speaks frequently at real estate and facility management industry events and was named 2016 Associate Member of the Year by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA). He is chairman of IFMA’s Real Estate Advisory & Leadership community. Additionally, he has been a member of the IFMA Information Technology community and has worked with the IFMA Foundation’s Global Workforce Initiative. David is vice chairman of OSCRE International, the Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate. His additional experience includes seven years as a facility manager and construction project manager at the University of Florida. A graduate architect with degrees from Harvard University and the University of Florida, he has also worked as a journalist for The New York Times and The Orlando Sentinel. David lives in the Boston area.
Fred Guelen is the President of North American Operations for Planon Corporation, a global real estate and facilities management software company. He brings more than 25 years of legal, financial, entrepreneurial and management experience to this technology company. Prior to joining Planon, Fred was one of the founding partners of the international law firm Buren van Velzen Guelen (BVVG). He has extensive knowledge and experience of managing complex (crossborder) mergers and acquisitions, private equities, restructuring and financing projects, and was previously CFO for Planon in Nijmegen, Netherlands.
