Propmodo Technology

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Space utilization data is emerging as a critical issue across both the public and private sectors. The General Services Administration recently published what it called the first government-wide snapshot of federal office space utilization, listing thousands of properties that fell below a 60% occupancy benchmark. The release, required under a 2024 law, is intended to support efforts to shrink the federal real estate portfolio and address a maintenance backlog estimated between $26 billion and $50 billion. Agencies gathered the data through methods like badge scans, occupancy sensors, and anonymized mobile location data, though GSA cautioned that some of the information may be incomplete or inaccurate.

The challenges the federal government faces mirror those in the private sector. A recent Butlr survey of 400 commercial real estate and facilities decision makers found that 81% lack the data needed to make confident space planning decisions, with only 19% basing those decisions on actual data rather than gut instinct. The consequences are significant: roughly a quarter of unoccupied office space is still being heated and cooled, and nearly half of respondents have delayed or canceled renovations due to uncertainty about how their spaces are used. Together, these developments suggest that whether in government buildings or corporate offices, closing the spatial intelligence gap has become an urgent priority for reducing costs, improving efficiency, and making smarter real estate decisions.

This week we're looking at how physical retail is becoming applied data science. Despite e-commerce's dominance in the headlines, 83% of purchases still happen in stores — and the retailers pulling ahead aren't the ones with the most locations, they're the ones treating every site decision, floor layout, and product placement as a data problem. Ashley Furniture is using GIS and 3D modeling to score store visibility down to sight lines and U-turn access, Cavender's tripled its new openings by leaning on anonymized mobility data, and a $1.59 billion AI heat-mapping market is helping chains redesign aisles before moving a single shelf. Meanwhile, the economics keep reinforcing the bet: opening a store lifts online sales in that market by nearly 7%, and retailers with AI-driven capabilities are growing sales at more than double the rate of those without.

Let’s go!

♾️ Accelerated AI
RET Ventures has announced the creation of an accelerator for artificial intelligence-native, early-stage proptech startups building tech for the multifamily industry.

🥵 Share the heat load
New research has shown that data centers warm the land around them, creating a “data-heat-island effect.”

🔃 All for one
Entrata has partnered with Agora to bring investment management tools directly into its multifamily operating platform, letting customers connect ownership data, portfolio financials, and property operations in one system.

Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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