Today’s employees are looking for more than just a desk—they’re seeking spaces that reflect their values, support their well-being, and enable meaningful collaboration. Employees have come to expect flexible work options, and also want the office to provide a productive, enjoyable experience that justifies the commuting time. Furthermore, data finds that productivity tends to surge with in-person workplace experiences.

Big Tech companies are pouring investments into artificial intelligence innovation and want to reduce their footprints and real estate costs through higher-density office layouts and consolidations. For companies racing to invest in AI and innovation, there’s an urgent need to ensure that physical environments don’t fall behind. That means designing workplaces that can evolve in step with emerging workstyles, while supporting community, learning, and flexibility.

The landscape of workplace planning is becoming increasingly complex, driven by a confluence of factors. Organizations are balancing hybrid work models, evolving employee expectations, and a renewed focus on portfolio optimization. Many tech companies continue to maintain a hybrid program, however optimizing space utilization is the primary goal of these hybrid programs, cited by 100% of organizations. These shifts, coupled with the need to enhance collaboration and focus spaces, create a multifaceted challenge for corporate real estate leaders. As companies aim to increase seat-sharing ratios and improve density metrics, the need for sophisticated planning tools and strategies becomes paramount.

A “one size fits all” workplace strategy does not exist. In general, however, most technology company offices are transitioning from assigned desks and enclosed meeting spaces to more collaboration space, shared seating and more flexible floor plans. Optimizing the workplace for multiple ways of working means balancing the areas of flexible versus fixed environments, workspaces for collaboration versus individual work, and efficiency versus comfort.

“Every technology company must navigate its own journey toward a holistic approach that balances cost efficiency, employee experience, and corporate flexibility goals,” says Justin Kenyon, Managing Director, Technology Division, JLL.

The following three principles will help you begin the journey to future-proofing your technology company workplace.

The continued advances of AI and other innovations could mean future changes in headcounts, space needs and workplace requirements, so it’s no surprise that agility has become a workplace and portfolio imperative across many industries. Flexible work environments allow you to quickly reconfigure spaces to meet changing needs and priorities.

To optimize space, more technology organizations are adopting data-driven hybrid work strategies, emphasizing structured in-office schedules that not only create for predictable attendance patterns, but also encourage in-person collaboration beneficial to innovation. Organizations are evolving their space designs to support diverse work activities. These designs enable employees to seamlessly transition between interacting with others—whether in-person or virtually—and concentrating on heads-down work without interruption.

To mitigate costs, one strategy is to develop modular, reconfigurable spaces that can quickly transform between different work modes, rather than making permanent, inflexible changes. Examples include moveable walls and easy-to-reconfigure modular furniture, along with ample power outlets and robust Wi-Fi to enable mobile working around the office. This way, a large space could be used for a training program one week and divided into multiple spaces for various project teams the next.

Adaptability should extend to furniture systems, technology infrastructure, and space allocation processes.

Workplace strategy decisions are most successful when informed by data and information about the employee experience in your space. Quality data is paramount in making impactful decisions rather than simply collecting large amounts of information. In fact, according to the 2025 Technology Spaces Report, only 20% of technology companies have excellent capabilities to track hybrid programs (compared to just 7% across all industries).

For an accurate picture of how and when space is being used, turn to data and analytics tools that reveal real-time trends and generate predictive insights. In fact, organizations with advanced data capabilities gain significant advantages. Among technology companies, 76% of occupancy planners use utilization data to aid in design, helping create spaces that truly meet employee needs.

Potential data sources include Wi-Fi network metadata, wireless workplace sensors, or room reservation software that indicate which spaces are most or least utilized. With data and analytics tools, you may learn, for example, that small meeting rooms are constantly full while larger rooms are consistently under-utilized. Based on that insight, you could reconfigure the office with fewer large conference rooms and more small meeting spaces.

Taking a strategic approach to data collection is essential. This means aligning your objectives with an overall business strategy, determining KPIs, and identifying specific metrics that will support decision-making. Consider linking disparate data from cost, space, and human-centric metrics to create a comprehensive "Workplace Vibrancy Index" that provides a holistic view of your workplace's effectiveness.

In addition to shaping data-driven workplace and portfolio strategies, you can also leverage technology to create a more productive and enjoyable employee experience. Mobile apps, room reservation systems and collaboration technologies can improve the employee experience by streamlining routine tasks and making it easier to focus on the work at hand. With smart building technologies, you also may be able to give employees more control over the temperature and lighting of their workspaces—addressing top office complaints.

For every technology company, the journey to an efficient and effective workplace is complex. Leading technology companies are successfully balancing competing business priorities by assembling an experienced team to help modernize their offices for the future of work. By keeping your organizational culture and employee needs front and center, you can arrive at a flexible, cost-efficient workplace that helps attract and train the talent that drives innovation.

"To thrive in today's tech landscape, companies must recognize that the workplace is no longer a static entity but a dynamic tool. By building in flexibility, designing for employee needs, and leveraging data, we can create magnetic environments that attract, engage, and inspire top talent," says Kenyon.

The tech industry, driven by innovation and talent competition, is at the forefront of evolving workplace expectations. CRE leaders must recognize the shift from traditional office spaces to dynamic ecosystems that prioritize employee experience and adapt to changing work styles.

To learn more about how JLL can help you optimize your real estate strategy in this demanding ecosystem, visit https://www.jll.com/en-us/industries/technology.