AI in CRE: From Sci-Fi to reality

Forget the dystopian futures of AI overlords – artificial intelligence is revolutionizing corporate real estate (CRE) already, and we're not afraid of the future. We're shaping it now.  

“Clients are not asking if we should use AI; they are asking us how to use AI,” says Ram Srinivasan, JLL Consulting Services Managing Director and Global AI Adoption Leader.

While many real estate leaders recognize AI's potential, implementation often stalls due to resistance from key stakeholders across Finance, HR, IT, and Legal departments. This hesitation—often rooted in legitimate concerns about data security, return on investment, and operational disruption—is creating a widening gap between CRE innovators and those falling behind.

Before you scroll further, you should know: this article is like a demo. Fill the form to get the full article, packed with real-world examples of how the power of AI applied in the right ways to CRE use cases goes far beyond basic data storytelling. In top-performing companies, AI’s automating so many mundane processes that CRE teams are surpassing the status quo.

“AI enables real estate leaders to move beyond reactive planning and toward real-time, data-informed decisions that elevate how people engage with space,” says Samit Sheth, JLL Consulting Services Director and AI Adoption Lead, EMEA. “When applied strategically, AI doesn’t just streamline operations — it creates environments that empower teams, enhance productivity and align the workplace with broader business performance goals.”

Don’t worry; even AI companies haven’t totally cracked the code on leveraging AI for real estate…yet. JLL recently partnered with a leading tech firm to improve their CRE processes –  using – their own AI tools.

Katie Rodrigues, JLL Consulting Services Managing Director and Global Consulting Lead for the Technology Industry, shares a bit about this exciting project: “Our AI client builds large language models and different AI tools for general consumers and enterprise clients, so they specifically requested that we use their own tools and share how we're using those to help educate and train their team members.”

These days, a cross-functional approach makes the most sense for effective real estate strategy. Using technology across various business functions is changing how companies view their property assets. Real estate is shifting from being seen purely as a cost to becoming a strategic tool that can drive business value.

“AI in CRE is breaking departmental silos, creating a ripple effect of efficiency,” says Samit Sheth, JLL Consulting Services Director and AI Adoption Lead, EMEA. “It not only speeds up important tasks, but also helps predict how office spaces will be used and adjust energy use on the spot to save money.” 

Not everyone is at step one of the AI adoption process when they seek AI adoption expertise. For example, a forward-thinking Fortune 100 tech company has already established enterprise-wide AI use and scaling, with successful deployment across corporate functions like HR, IT and Finance. The challenge their CRE team brought to our consulting practice? Leverage AI to deliver tangible results in improving the employee experience and workplace operations efficiency. We developed a five-pronged solution for this global tech firm including services like use case development, implementation planning and CRE team AI upskilling.

“AI adoption in CRE isn't one-size-fits-all,” says Bryan Froud, JLL Consulting Services Director and AI Adoption Lead, APAC. “Some businesses need to carefully choose where to use AI and how to fit it into their whole operation. This involves looking at the entire company's needs and helping teams learn new skills. The most important thing is to make sure AI tools are not just installed, but actually used well over time to bring real benefits to the business.”

Whether you’re at the beginning of your AI implementation journey or somewhere in the middle, Srinivasan recommends four initial steps to prepare to adopt AI across your business:

• Invest in AI literacy as a core professional skill
• Start with small, practical AI implementations to build capability
• Focus on understanding AI's fundamental principles rather than just specific tools
• Actively share knowledge and best practices within your professional community

Managers want to see real examples of how AI can help them in their everyday work. Froud explains, “Teaching general AI concepts or just how to write prompts doesn't really get people excited about using AI. What works much better is when we sit down with the top managers and figure out how AI can actually make their jobs easier or help their teams work better. When they see that direct benefit, they're much more likely to get on board and start using it.”

After all, tapping into the potential of AI isn't just about saving time or generating ideas; it's about elevating human decision-making. 

The AI revolution in CRE isn't coming – it's here. And JLL is leading the charge, turning science fiction into business reality. Wherever you are in your AI adoption journey, our consultants are ready to help your teams outpace the competition.

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