Flexible Workspace Cements its Place as Mainstream Real Estate Asset Class; Significant M&A Activity Forecast in 2019 as Sector Consolidates: Colliers International India

/ -- 2019 will see the flexible workspace sector evolve with new iterations that will continue to disrupt traditional views of what the sector is, and what it can offer building owners and occupiers on a corporate scale as it cements its place as a mainstream real estate asset class, here to stay.

"Flexible workspace operators will blur the lines between workspace and amenities, creating value for building owners, lean toward premium workspace design, and continue to pioneer new products to benefit occupiers and, critically, their workforces," says Ritesh Sachdev, Head of Occupier Services, India and Managing Director, South India at Colliers International India.

As the shape of occupier demand continues to shift, building owners must react and, as part of this, will have to decide whether to self-perform flexible workspace and amenity spaces, or; acquire, invest in or partner with an operator. This decision will hinge on whether a building owner wishes to switch from a transactional business to a service and hospitality business. Real estate will become more experience driven, and the arm's-length, light-touch, transactional era is coming to an end. 2019 will be a pivotal year in this respect, where the user experience of the individual employee will drive commercial real estate decision making.

Some of the trends to watch out for in Bengaluru and NCR are as below:
Bengaluru:
Delhi NCR: