The Heart, the Warsaw-based hub where technology start-ups and established corporates meet, collaborate and innovate together, is launching its first Real Estate Tech programme in partnership with JLL, EY and Ghelamco. This initiative will bring together ready-to-scale proptech start-ups and large real estate companies to solve industry and business-specific challenges through digital innovation.
The one-year programme will be launched in Q1 2018 and it will be divided into the following three areas of expertise: cybersecurity & privacy, artificial intelligence & analytics, and human experience in real estate. This alliance aims to build an international community of like-minded innovators within the real estate sector to collaborate and drive with future of property related technology. As part of the programme, The Heart will host onboarding sessions in London, Warsaw and Dubai through the initial phase.
“Commercial real estate, such as offices or stores, is going through a digital transformation. By using technology, it is possible to reduce costs, increase productivity and create new and improved customer and employee experiences”, says Tomasz Rudolf, CEO of The Heart.
A recent report by JLL called “Workspace, reworked”, recognises that harnessing big data and the next generation of smart buildings can help to enhance productivity, sustainability and employee experience. JLL says that having office space that can be easily adapted and used in different ways over different time periods can also strengthen rents and valuations for investors.
Michael Ewert, EMEA Head of Business Intelligence at JLL, comments: “We’re transforming our business by tapping into data and technology to better serve the ambitions of our clients and their experience of the real estate that they lease, buy and sell. The work we’re doing with The Heart is one of a range of strategic initiatives that we’re involved in globally that underpin our commitment to this. This is a valuable program that will play a part in driving the transformation of the real estate industry more broadly. We look forward to exploring the ways in which we and, ultimately, our clients can benefit from working side-by-side with the next generation of tech innovators”.
“The digital future is here. Digitalization of the real estate sector offers enormous opportunities and challenges alike. The importance of customer preferences and expectations, real property and information security, cost efficiency and environmental impact in relation to real estate is critical in today’s increasingly digital environment. Investors, developers, property owners, managers and tenants – each has their specific risks to manage. Cyber attacks and data losses result in considerable compliance and reputational risks for companies. In the age of technology the need of cybersecurity has become crucial”, says Anna Kicińska, CEO of EY Real Estate Advisory Group, CSE.
“Creating stimulating and innovate spaces is our daily business. As the need for flexibility impacts how we work, live and consume, buildings and cities have to adapt. We believe the programme will be a catalyst in our industry to devise new ways of engineering and managing buildings of the future”, says Jarosław Zagórski, Commercial & Business Development Director, Ghelamco Poland, Ghelamco.