India’s corporate real estate leaders have accelerated AI adoption to 91% actively piloting workplace applications, up from under 5% in 2023, yet only 5% report achieving most objectives according to JLL’s latest report. The “India’s AI Revolution in Corporate Real Estate” study, drawn from the JLL Global Real Estate Technology Survey 2025, highlights a stark execution gap amid 93% of executives prioritising workplace cost cuts through smarter space decisions.
Explosive Pilots Meet Limited Outcomes
While AI experimentation has surged 18‑fold in two years, 56% of organisations achieve only 2‑3 goals, 26% achieve none to large extent, exposing challenges in scaling beyond pilots. Legacy technology failures compound the issue: 88% report at least three existing systems underperforming, creating data silos that undermine AI reliability. JLL Managing Director Ajit Kumar warns that proving savings will separate scalers from stalled initiatives, with infrastructure upgrades now strategic for 58% of firms.
Indian CRE teams target high‑impact areas: portfolio optimisation (59%), energy management (54%), and real estate data workflows (49%), bypassing low‑value tasks for boardroom priorities. By 2030, 33% of workplace heads will report to CTOs, up from 16%, as offices evolve into technology platforms.
Infrastructure Crisis Blocks AI Scale
Outdated systems plague 88% of organisations, with 57% lacking defined AI strategies leading to fragmented efforts. Workforce gaps affect 29%, slowing integration of AI into hybrid strategies and cost optimisation. JLL Chief Economist Dr Samantak Das stresses upgrading disconnected tools as AI’s entry cost, enabling clean data for performance gains.
Successful firms map tools/processes upfront, set measurable targets tied to savings/energy/space metrics, and form cross‑functional teams spanning workplace/IT/HR/finance. JLL’s Bengaluru executive board convenes to chart AI‑driven CRE transformation globally.
