Editors Note: This article was originally featured on Propmodo in October 2024.
The success of any technology initiative boils down to one thing: adoption.
At VTS, we spent our first decade transforming how brokers and asset managers handle deals, moving them from Excel to the cloud and unlocking real-time data to develop asset strategy. Today, with 13 billion square feet of assets on the VTS Platform, our focus remains on helping CRE professionals adopt technology that drives faster, more collaborative, and more strategic work.
Now, we are applying those same lessons to tenant experience technology.
Adoption: The Heart of the Office
For companies (tenants) to get the most out of their buildings, they need to "adopt" the office over and over again. Just as reservation apps connect us to restaurants, the office needs technology that connects people to the spaces where they work.
Over the last three years, we’ve focused on VTS Activate, a mobile experience that unlocks an owner’s entire portfolio through a tenant's phone.
- Beyond Tap-and-Go: It facilitates access to shared spaces, amenities, and even the office suite itself.
- Branded Personalization: Activate provides each tenant company with a "channel" within the app, branded to their culture. The technology barriers between the building and the suite are finally gone.
Visit: The Real Estate AI Revolution.
What Do Tenants Actually Want?
Earlier this year, VTS produced the inaugural Global Workplace Report, surveying 400 company executives. The data reveals exactly what tenants expect:
- 80% of executives want a workplace app to facilitate interactions with building staff.
- 88% believe a personalized app (building + company info) will boost employee office attendance.
- #1 Rank: In-building technology is the top reflection of a company’s brand and culture—ranking higher than amenities or nearby food options.
- 92% want a secure, mobile access experience for their specific office suite.
The Owner’s Solution to the Tenant’s Problem
Tenant executives are grappling with employee engagement. While amenities are capital-intensive and location is fixed, technology is a controllable lever. Owners can bridge the gap by meeting the employee's basic needs: safety, consistent communication, and seamless access.
By utilizing commercial real estate lease management software that integrates with tenant experience platforms like VTS Activate, owners can foster "best-in-class communication," as noted by Todd Januzzi, CIO of Paramount Group. Paramount selected VTS Activate to provide the operational functionality and insights needed to optimize the office experience.
Conclusion: Everyone Wins
Office tenants and owners need the same thing: technology that helps people adopt the office repeatedly.
- For Owners: Tenant retention ensures business continuity.
- For Executives: Employee retention and connection strengthen the business.
With VTS Activate, owners have a new lever for retention, providing a bridge that connects the individual employee to the physical workplace.
[Learn more about VTS Activate and the Global Workplace Report]
