CBRE Group Inc. CBG -1.95% has hired a former senior executive at Zipcar Inc. to lead a new high-tech team that will customize apps for tenants and building owners to help them navigate the latest in workplace design and amenities.
Andrew Kupiec, who led North American operations for Zipcar, said the new app will enable office workers to do such things as locate colleagues, navigate buildings, reserve workspaces, learn about area events and order food and beverages. He said he plans to build a “sizable” team partly from the consumer-products industry. He declined to say how big the team will be.
Mr. Kupiec said that technology changes in office space are comparable to the revolutionary transformation of the transportation business with the rise of such services as Zipcar and Uber. In both industries, changes are being enabled by the proliferation of smartphones, high-speed internet and easily developable software.
“We couldn’t offer some of these products and services to our clients a few short years ago,” he said.
Technology has been changing the workplace in fits and starts for more than a quarter-century. Lately companies have been trying to use space more efficiently, giving workers less space, while offering them amenities and new office designs as part of an effort to attract and retain talent.
CBRE and other commercial real-estate services firms like JLL and Cushman & Wakefield have been trying to stay out in front of these trends as they offer services to landlords and tenants. Traditional property management services like floor cleaning, landscaping and security have been expanded to include helping landlords and companies stay on the vanguard of workplace trends.