JLL Report Finds Companies Are Improving Office Data As AI Workplace Planning Grows

Key Takeaways

• Space-data accuracy now second priority after portfolio optimization.
• 70% of firms still researching AI for occupancy planning.
• Fixed in-office days required by 62% of organizations.
• Office utilization hit 56% in 2026, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
• Technical spaces now 25% of portfolios but still under-utilized.

Pulse Analysis

The JLL Global Occupancy Planning Benchmark Report underscores a shift in corporate real‑estate strategy: clean, reliable data is now treated as a core business asset. Improving space‑data accuracy has risen to the second‑highest priority, trailing only portfolio optimization, because accurate inputs are the foundation for any AI‑driven decision‑making. Yet, despite the hype around artificial intelligence, more than seven‑in‑ten firms are still in the research phase or have not begun exploring AI for occupancy planning. Privacy worries, cost constraints, and system incompatibility remain the top barriers, tempering rapid adoption.

Hybrid work models are also evolving from loosely defined flexibility to more structured schedules. The report finds that 62% of organizations now mandate fixed in‑office days, while fully flexible arrangements are on the decline. As a result, global office utilization has climbed to 56% in 2026, a modest recovery toward pre‑pandemic levels, and the gap between actual usage and target benchmarks has narrowed for the first time. These gains are less about forcing employees back and more about aligning expectations with realistic occupancy patterns, allowing firms to better balance space costs and employee experience.

Data governance is emerging as the decisive factor that will separate early adopters from laggards. Companies with formal data‑management programs are already reaping the benefits of more predictive, rather than reactive, occupancy planning. The report highlights a growing focus on technical workspaces—labs, data centers, and manufacturing floors—which now comprise roughly a quarter of managed portfolios yet continue to fall short of utilization goals. By extending rigorous analytics to these specialized environments, organizations can unlock hidden efficiencies and prepare their real‑estate portfolios for the next wave of AI‑enabled workplace optimization.