• Strategic Planning Focus Italian occupiers show strong emphasis on comprehensive technology audits (68% vs 40% global) and C-suite sponsorship (49% vs 38% global), demonstrating a systematic approach to strategic planning that creates solid foundations for AI transformation.

• Operational AI Excellence. Italian organizations prioritize operational AI applications—real estate data workflows (41%), and portfolio optimization (41%), location strategy (38%)—aligning technology investments with immediate business value and C-suite priorities like energy cost reduction (59%).

• Partnership-Driven Implementation. Italian companies show strong preference for strategic technology partnerships (60% vs 34% global priority), reflecting a deliberate approach that combines internal strategic control with external implementation expertise to accelerate deployment while building capabilities.

• Technology Foundation Advantage. Organizations with mature technology programs achieve substantial performance advantages in employee experience, digital capabilities, and in operational cost reduction, confirming that systematic foundation building drives AI success in the Italian market.
   

Based on insights from JLL's 2025 Global Real Estate Technology Survey (1,000+ senior CRE decision-makers in major industries across 16 markets, with 40 occupiers in Italy), this analysis cuts through the hype to reveal where meaningful value is emerging, what separates successful AI implementations from expensive experiments and how the companies getting it right today are preparing themselves for waves of change we can't yet fully predict. 

Italian corporate occupiers demonstrate distinctive approach to AI transformation that emphasizes foundational capabilities, systematic implementation, and strategic partnerships. This methodical approach positions Italian organizations for sustainable technology advancement aligned with long-term business objectives.

Throughout 2025, Italian corporate occupiers are navigating AI adoption with characteristic strategic rigor. Based on insights from JLL's 2025 Global Real Estate Technology Survey, including dedicated analysis of Italian market dynamics, this examination reveals how Italian organizations are charting their own path in AI transformation—one that prioritizes strategic planning excellence while building systematic implementation capabilities.

Italian corporate teams demonstrate notable strategic sophistication, with higher rates of comprehensive technology audits (68% vs 40% global) and securing C-suite sponsorship (49% vs 38% global). Significantly, Italian companies distinguish themselves through their focus on cybersecurity and data security, consistently prioritizing these areas as essential budget items. This planning emphasis creates a distinctive foundation for AI transformation, enabling Italian companies to align technology initiatives with broader business objectives and stakeholder requirements.

Italian occupiers mirror the global trend toward widespread AI experimentation, with 92% either piloting AI or planning to start this year. However, their approach reflects distinctly Italian characteristics: methodical planning, stakeholder alignment, and systematic capability building.

Italian corporate teams have invested strategically in foundational elements, establishing cross-functional teams between CRE, HR, Finance, and IT to clarify responsibilities—an area where Italy shows strength in organizational alignment. This collaborative approach ensures that AI initiatives integrate seamlessly with existing business processes and organizational culture.

The Italian preference for strategic advisory services (75% priority vs 68% global) and systematic technology auditing demonstrates a culture that values thorough preparation and expert guidance. This measured approach extends to AI pilot selection, where Italian teams show clear preference for operational applications that deliver immediate value while building capabilities for future expansion.

Italy's AI Pilot use cases emphasize strategic operations: RE data workflows, portfolio optimization, and location strategy

Italian occupiers have identified their competitive advantage in operational AI applications, with three areas showing strongest pilot activity aligned with business priorities:

Real estate data workflows (41% pilot activity) Italian companies demonstrate strong focus on data-driven workflows, reflecting their systematic approach to information management. This operational emphasis serves Italian organizations well, as data standardization creates the foundation for subsequent AI applications.

Portfolio optimization (41% pilot activity)
Italian teams apply AI to portfolio analysis and space planning, demonstrating focused attention on applications that directly support strategic decision-making and long-term planning objectives.

Location strategy (38% pilot activity) Italian organizations prioritize AI applications in location strategy, leveraging technology to optimize site selection and strategic positioning decisions that align with business expansion and operational efficiency goals.

Notably, Italian companies show more measured adoption in energy management (28%) and facilities operations (23%), suggesting a strategic focus on foundational data and planning applications before expanding to operational automation.

Italy's strategic emphasis creates distinctive opportunities in AI implementation. Italian companies demonstrate strong planning capabilities while building systematic execution frameworks that ensure sustainable technology transformation.

Strategic strengths:

• Comprehensive technology auditing (68% vs 40% global)
• Strong C-suite engagement (49% vs 38% global)
• Systematic cross-functional team development
• Clear 3-year vision alignment with business priorities
   

Implementation opportunities: Italian occupiers show focused approaches to system modernization and phased implementation development. This systematic methodology enables Italian teams to build robust technological foundations while ensuring stakeholder alignment and organizational readiness for broader AI deployment.

This pattern reflects Italian business culture's emphasis on consensus-building and thorough stakeholder engagement—characteristics that create sustainable competitive advantages through enhanced organizational adoption and long-term technology success.

Technology foundation drives performance excellence

Italian data reveals significant performance advantages for companies with successful corporate real estate technology programs compared to those still building foundational capabilities. Organizations with mature technology foundations achieve substantial benefits across AI implementation categories:

This performance differential highlights a key insight: in the Italian market, AI success builds upon solid technological groundwork and systematic capability development. Companies that invest in foundational technology infrastructure create the platform for sustained AI advancement and organizational transformation.

Italy's strategic partnership approach

Italian occupiers demonstrate a distinctive preference for external collaboration in technology implementation. Italian companies show higher priority for strategic technology partnerships (46% vs 36% global priority), representing a deliberate approach that combines internal strategic control with external implementation expertise.

This partnership-oriented strategy enables Italian companies to maintain their characteristic thoroughness while accessing specialized technological capabilities and accelerating deployment timelines.

Italian corporate occupiers are uniquely positioned for sustainable AI transformation through their systematic approach and operational focus. The data reveals clear advantages for organizations with mature technology foundations—achieving 60+ percentage point improvements in employee experience and digital capabilities compared to those still building foundational systems.

Three strategic priorities define success:

• Accelerate system modernization while maintaining stakeholder alignment

• Scale proven operational AI applications in data workflows, portfolio optimization, and location strategy

• Leverage external partnerships to enhance internal capabilities without sacrificing strategic control
   

Italian organizations that successfully combine their planning excellence with enhanced execution velocity will establish distinctive competitive positions. The measured approach that characterizes Italian business culture—emphasizing consensus-building and thorough preparation—creates sustainable competitive advantages when coupled with systematic implementation.

The opportunity lies in maintaining this strategic depth while building the technological foundations that enable long-term AI evolution and organizational transformation.