Colliers: Asia Pacific Firms Expect AI Roles, Many Lack Office Plans

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Every company in a Colliers survey of Asia Pacific office occupiers expects AI to create new, specialised roles. Many have not carried that expectation into their workplace and lease decisions, the report says.

The report, "Asia Pacific Workplace Insights: Forces shaping office decisions in 2027", surveyed 313 corporate occupiers across 11 markets: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

What respondents expect

Besides the 100% expecting new specialised roles, 62% expect more project-based or cross-functional teams, and 85% expect fewer roles and more productivity. Colliers says AI's first effect is on the nature of work itself, which raises the importance of the office as a hub for exchanging knowledge and ideas.

Its conclusion is that the biggest workplace risk is not AI but failing to plan for it.

Measuring the office

Business performance is the office's main job for 55% of occupiers, followed by collaboration and innovation at 52%. Yet one in four (25%) do not formally measure workplace performance, and another 10% rely mainly on leadership views.

India and Southeast Asia

In India and Southeast Asia, AI is mostly seen through a human capital lens. More than 40% rank new AI-driven roles, skills and collaboration as a top priority, 50% expect it to drive demand for different space types, and only 7% name a smaller footprint as a priority. The cluster has a 71% office-centric anchor, and 34% are still pursuing growth and expanding operations despite sensitivity to geopolitical risks.

Cost efficiency and skill availability remain the leading factors in location decisions. Compared with regional peers, occupiers in India and Southeast Asia show a stronger appetite for upgrading to higher-quality space and reconfiguring workplaces.

Source: Mint