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PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES - WHY YOUR
LOCATION IS KEY
SHIFT TO URBAN, CONNECTED SITES
Where a corporation locates within a metropolitan area region
has direct impact on all of the top C-suite challenges: access
to talent, ability to innovate, strong customer relationships,
operational excellence and sustainability.
Cost remains the key location criteria for 28% of survey
respondents, but a number of other factors are rising up the
agenda. The importance of cost in making location decisions
has diminished since last year, as occupiers increasingly locate
where they can attract talent, gain flexibility and enhance
operational efficiency.
Survey responses show a growing preference for occupiers
to locate in urban areas that offer strong transportation
infrastructure and the opportunity to engage talent.
The effectiveness of traditional models is being reassessed,
especially the separation of front- and back-office operations.
While central business districts (CBDs) are the most sought-
after hubs for occupiers, urban areas as a whole remain
attractive with 64% of respondents globally choosing either
CBDs or creative urban environments for their offices.
Suburban business parks continue to attract a sizable portion
of occupiers especially in The U.S., with 24% opting to locate
within these markets, especially for companies in the industrial
and life sciences sectors. However, there remains a fine
balance between proximity to production sites and working
environment. If the latter is simply not attractive enough for
millennials, locating within suburban areas may become a
barrier to recruitment and retention of talent.
Survey results were not uniform across all regions. Public
transportation options are important to more companies
in EMEA and APAC regions than in North America. A CBD
location is important to more than half of EMEA companies,
compared to less than a third of APAC companies. Urban
creative markets are preferred by more companies in North
America than in other regions.
“The importance of cost in
making locationdecisions has
diminished since last year, as
occupiers increasingly locate
where they canattract talent,
gainflexibilityand enhance
operational efficiency.”
43%
OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEIR ORGANIZATIONS
PLAN TO RELOCATE SUBURBAN SITES
TO MORE CENTRAL LOCATIONS
48 The Occupier Edge