Seeking added value

Rising occupier expectations and high-tech developments are forcing industrial and logistics developers to continually deliver cutting-edge facilities that incorporate disruptive technologies. Our clients expect added value as early as when the talks about a project begin or when a centre is being leased. The added value is not only knowing what the latest tools available on the market are, but it is also essentially being able to identify innovations that are economically viable for landlords, which will thus both improve their image as well as how they operate. Tenants also expect to be kept up to date on the technological systems that are used by competing developers. Tenants need to be supported by a professional team of advisors when they assess what is available on the market. Such advisors can for instance review the operations of a centre from the point of view of what the tenant requires and this should be followed up with an unbiased recommendation.

In the first stage of negotiations, developers will offer basic standard facilities and once the building specifications have been discussed, any technical improvements will then be agreed upon. Standard fittings include LED lighting, which has two significant advantages for the tenants: one is that it has considerably lower service charges due to its low energy consumption and reliability, and the other is it improves occupational health and safety through better light distribution and non-breakable fixtures, which is something that is particularly important in the food industry.

Other technological systems offered in new centres often include wiring for modern ICT systems, which is essential for modern warehouse management applications and for integrating the latest technology into warehousing operations. Providing such facilities while a building is under construction is definitely much cheaper and easier than fitting it to an existing building. In large developments with heavy truck traffic, developers might offer a traffic management system, which will control the information exchange between the entrance gate, the warehouse office and the drivers, presenting the data in a visual manner as well as providing alerts and text messages.

Occupier interest in environmentally sustainable technology is expected to grow in the near future. Currently the most popular systems include using rainwater and solar panels; however, green technology is being incorporated mostly into long-term projects due to its high cost. Innovation in warehouses can be expensive and may increase the price by as much as 15-30 pct on the costs of a typical development.