Archive · 8 Aug 2026
AI Driving New Era of Corporate Real Estate Transformation
Companies around the world use offices and other buildings for their work.
The people who manage these buildings are called corporate real estate leaders.
A report by a company called Knight Frank asked many of these leaders about their plans.
The report found that companies want to save money now while also making big changes for the future.
Many companies now want to use artificial intelligence, or AI, in their workplaces.
AI can help make work faster and better.
About half of the companies said they would try using AI at work.
Most want to use AI in small, focused ways instead of changing everything at once.
India is doing very well, with a lot of new office space being rented.
In 2025, companies rented much more office space in India than before the pandemic.
A Knight Frank global survey found 70.8% of senior corporate real estate executives believe organisations can achieve immediate cost savings while investing in long-term transformation.
More than 53% expect CRE teams to take broader strategic roles in talent management, risk mitigation and enterprise-wide business transformation.
50.8% of organisations are willing to integrate AI into workplace operations to improve productivity.
Companies are focusing on targeted AI deployment within core workflows rather than large-scale workplace redesign.
India's office leasing reached 86.4 million sq ft in 2025, up 20% year-on-year and 43% higher than the pre-pandemic peak of 2019.
- Who
- Senior corporate real estate executives globally surveyed by Knight Frank, including Shishir Baijal, Chairman and Managing Director of Knight Frank India.
- What
- A Knight Frank report finds corporate real estate leaders are pursuing cost optimisation and long-term transformation in parallel, with AI emerging as a key enabler.
- When
- The report's findings reflect 2025 data, including India office leasing figures for 2025.
- Where
- Global, with India highlighted as a standout growth market and New Delhi as the report's focal point.
- Why
- Organisations are seeking immediate efficiency while investing in sustainable, high-quality workplaces, using AI to improve productivity.
- Report Publisher
- Knight Frank, based on a global survey of senior CRE executives
- Believe cost savings and transformation can happen together
- 70.8% of respondents
- Expect broader CRE strategic role
- More than 53% of respondents
- Willing to integrate AI into workplace operations
- 50.8% of organisations
- India office leasing 2025
- 86.4 million sq ft
- Year-on-year leasing growth
- 20% increase
- Leasing vs 2019 pre-pandemic peak
- 43% higher