Office Data Gaps Impact CRE Strategy

Office data gaps are hindering CRE cost savings, with most executives lacking the insights needed for smart office space decisions. Read more.

April 8, 2026

Valerija I.

80% of CRE and workplace leaders lack proper office data for cost-saving decisions.
Only 19% of executives use data to plan office space; most rely on gut instinct.
24% of unoccupied office space is still regularly heated and cooled.
Energy and cleaning costs are key areas for potential savings through better office data.

Key Takeaways

Data Deficit Hampers Office Strategy

New survey results from Butlr highlight that four out of five commercial real estate and facilities executives don’t have adequate data to make informed office space decisions. The lack of reliable office data is driving up costs, delaying investments, and making it harder to optimize workplace efficiency.

Decisions Still Made by Instinct

Despite advances in proptech, only 19% of leaders surveyed base their space planning on data. More than a third admit to using gut instinct. Desk reservations, surveys, and sensors are in play, but 79% say office data challenges prevent them from confidently revising layouts. At the same time, broader capital is flowing into data-heavy infrastructure, as demand for computing power and digital capacity reshapes how investors think about real estate performance.

Operational Costs Remain High

Executives estimate that 24% of unused office space is still regularly heated and cooled, adding to unnecessary energy costs. Cleaning costs are also impacted, as 82% do not use occupancy data to direct cleaning schedules and 66% clean all areas with the same frequency regardless of use.

Renovations and Expansions Delayed

Uncertainty around office data has caused 99% of executives to disrupt business plans related to renovations, consolidations, or energy upgrades in the past five years. Half delayed or canceled planned restorations, and nearly as many paused energy management investments.

Barriers to Closing the Gap

While most adopt some form of proptech, privacy remains a key hurdle—with 92% citing it as an ongoing challenge in collecting office data. Large organizations report more pronounced privacy concerns. Integrating scalable systems and speed of deployment are also major issues cited by decision makers.

What’s Next

Better utilization of office data could unlock cost savings in energy and cleaning, and support smarter, more flexible office strategies. As CRE leaders look to bridge the office data gap, integrating solutions that address privacy, scalability, and compatibility will be central to improving office performance and employee satisfaction.