Your buildings are hiding money. Here’s how to find it

Imagine discovering that nearly a third of your warehouse space sits empty (while you pay for all of it!) or learning that updating your building systems could slash energy costs by up to 35%. And that might just be the beginning - similar money-saving opportunities could be waiting in all your properties, from offices to data centers to factories.

Real estate often represents a company's second-largest expense after payroll, yet many organizations still treat their buildings as fixed costs rather than strategic assets capable of driving competitive advantage. As employees demand better workplace experiences and executives push to better manage costs, organizations who take a fresh look at how they run all their properties, stand to gain the most.

It all starts with good data. When companies use modern tools that track how their buildings are performing (like integrated workplace management systems and advanced analytics), they suddenly see things they’ve been missing. These systems gather details about how people use different spaces, how much energy is used, what needs fixing and how effectively workspace is being used-giving you a much clearer picture across all your properties.

Take occupancy studies as an example. They show how your team is really using your space, which often surprises leadership. Simple badge swipe data only tells you someone entered the building, not why they came in or which areas they actually used that day.

By combining numbers (like how many people are in the office) with employee feedback (like what they’re trying to accomplish), you get a complete picture. You learn not just how much space you need, but what kinds of space your team actually wants. Companies often discover they can save substantial money by combining offices, ending unnecessary leases or redesigning the space they already have.

Basic leasing services are pretty straightforward. Brokers may help you find the right space but that’s about it. But a thoughtful leasing approach provided by a JLL leasing expert brings much more value by connecting your property decisions with what your company is actually trying to achieve. Using market insights, information about how your current buildings are performing and experts who know your market, you can make leasing decisions that truly support your business.

For companies leasing space, smart decisions consider factors like where your future employees will come from, what your operations really need and your environmental goals. As work keeps changing, finding the right balance between traditional office leases, flexible space solutions and remote work policies can help your company work better while keeping costs down.

Smart building management combines skilled people with technology to keep your buildings running better, lower your costs and make everyone who uses the building happier. When trained technicians regularly check your equipment and systems, you spend less on emergency repairs and minimize downtime.

New technology takes this preventive approach to the next level by using data to predict problems. AI-powered maintenance systems can spot warning signs that equipment might fail soon, letting you fix issues before they cause expensive breakdowns. We’ve seen some clients cut equipment downtime in half while making their systems last longer.

Updating how you manage energy can save serious money too. Our research shows that buildings with modern energy systems can lower energy costs by 10-35%. For a 100,000 square foot warehouse, that means saving between $22,000 and $78,000 every year.

While facilities management focuses on keeping systems running, intelligent property management looks at the big picture of how well your building is performing overall. This comprehensive approach makes sure that everyday operations support what building owners want to achieve in the long run.

In one success story, a large government agency created a detailed property management strategy and used maintenance-tracking technology across more than 9,200 sites throughout the U.S. The result? They saved more than $26 million over six years while improving their service quality and consistency.

We’re seeing many workplaces across multiple industries often sit partially empty and don’t have the right mix of spaces that would make employees more productive and happier at work.

Our experience on the ground has found that by carefully studying how people actually use office space, companies can move away from identical cubicles toward shared service areas that adapt to what employees are trying to accomplish. This usually means fewer assigned desks and more collaborative spaces and amenities.

Workplace experts can ensure these changes deliver real improvements. For example, a major global clothing company we worked with increased their processing efficiency by 80% and needed 30% less storage space when it consolidated its headquarters and warehouses. By fixing fundamental workflow problems, they transformed nine scattered buildings into one streamlined operation that made better use of each space and their overall portfolio.

When you bring all your real estate operations under one strategy—how you manage workplaces, maintain buildings, plan for space needs and improve sustainability—you begin to see the bigger picture of how your buildings affect your entire business.

Technology is what brings it all together. Imagine having dashboards that show you building usage, energy costs and predictions about future needs all in one place to help with budget planning. More and more companies are moving towards this ‘dynamic’ approach to managing their properties. Across different industries, building owners and companies that lease space are adding real-time information to their traditional reports to monitor, improve and take action across all their buildings.

In today's business environment, running your buildings efficiently isn’t just about reducing costs—it's about gaining a competitive edge. A connected approach helps companies turn their real estate portfolios into assets that help achieve business goals and create better places to work. This holistic approach ensures your property decisions support what the business needs overall, creating value that extends far beyond the bottom line.

JLL’s commercial real estate services combine a global platform with trusted local experts across every sector and asset class. Our multi-disciplinary approach includes leasing, design, portfolio optimization, project management, facilities management and other workplace solutions that help you find business value through real estate.