Beyond the bottom line

Whether you're an operations professional, a procurement leader or a facilities director, if you’re involved in corporate real estate decisions (CRE), you know that balancing employee needs with budget constraints is crucial. With 64% of CRE leaders of the Belux region focused on cost reduction, the need for smart, cost-effective decisions across your offices and other real estate has never been more important. Luckily, there are strategies that can help you achieve the best of both worlds: a workplace that truly works for your business and fits within your budget.

Office development and new construction are at historic lows, which is leading more companies to use office fit-outs to update their workplaces to meet changing employee expectations. Of course, workplace renovations come with a price tag.

"Supporting both hybrid and face-to-face work requires adaptability, collaborative and private space, multi-functional rooms, and integrated technology,” says Sebastien Giordano, country lead JLL Belux “All of which can impact capital expenditure."

There’s much work to be done: From distracting office noise to a lack of private space, lots of offices still fail to measure up for today’s work. And companies that don’t get their fit-outs right risk alienating the employees they want to attract. Not helping matters is the fact that costs are rising for everything from construction materials to IT buildouts.

How to move forward? Smart, decisive planning is essential to achieve a return on your investment.

Even with more employees coming to the office, the complexity of hybrid working means they’re still likely to be involved in calls with colleagues elsewhere. That’s why technology that supports seamless collaboration is high on fit-out wish lists.

“Tenants are coming into buildings now, and they’re operating very differently than they used to, and it’s putting much greater strain on existing broadcast technologies in buildings,” says JLL’s Technology Infrastructure leader Jason Lund. “You have to update and expand the entire system to make it capable of handling all those devices.”

“A much larger proportion of fit-out budget is being spent on better technology solutions, bigger high-definition screens, better audio and cameras that track, all to better reflect in person meetings” says Hudson.

Despite initial costs, strategic technology investment can lead to significant long-term savings. Occupancy sensors, plus those that support wellness and sustainability goals by monitoring light and air quality or energy use, can pay for themselves by reducing overall operating costs.

As more employees return to the office, there’s now much more consideration of purpose-driven fit-outs and how space will be used, rather than just how it looks. For example, different types of lighting, furnishings, plants and acoustic finishes can all tangibly affect comfort levels and contribute positively to productivity and the experience.

Many firms are also struggling to balance the need for collaboration space with individual work. JLL research found just over half of time spent in the office was dedicated to individual tasks.

Adaptability is key to boosting return-on-investment. “We’re increasing flexibility in both layout and furniture solutions, based on designs that fit how companies are working today and how they expect that work to evolve in the future,” Hudon says.

This employee-centered vision was the guiding principle for new JLL offices in Brussels.

Transforming your office can involve multiple steps. In many cases, an integrated approach can deliver the biggest ROI by providing access to experts across multiple dimensions:

Leasing strategies

JLL's leasing experts help corporate tenants make necessary amendments to leases and secure favorable renewal terms that maximize leverage based on the value created by renovations. Working with a partner that has deep local knowledge ensures that current market conditions are factored into any lease renewal or renegotiation.

Design services

These specialists craft environments that meet current needs and anticipate future demands based on evolving workplace trends. JLL has deep experience tailoring solutions for both office and retail settings, creating spaces that align with business objectives and work for employees and customers alike.

Construction management

A skilled construction management team can assist with the entire process, from initial design to final fit-out, with a focus on delivering projects on time and on budget. JLL’s construction managers coordinate every phase to minimize disruptions and avoid costly overruns. For more complex projects, JLL offers guidance on master planning and feasibility studies.

Workplace strategy

As the nature of work evolves, companies face the challenge of aligning their physical spaces with changing business needs. JLL's workplace strategy team helps organizations navigate this shift by harmonizing physical space, people, and technology. Their approach focuses on optimizing space utilization to improve efficiency and reduce costs while creating inspiring work environments.

Cost-effective office fit-outs are about more than just reducing expenses. They're about creating spaces that work harder for your business.

Remaining flexible, listening to employees, and making small tweaks over time can ensure you get maximum value from your fit-out dollars. That’s vitally important because, in today's competitive landscape, smart office design isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a strategic necessity.

To learn more about the latest office renovation trends and costs, download our 2025 Fit Out Guide.