Redefining Office Occupancy: Moving Beyond the Numbers
Over the past year, workplace occupancy has begun to stabilize across global markets. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s What Occupiers Want 2025 report, average office occupancy now sits between 51–60%, with many organizations shifting from reactive downsizing to proactive portfolio management.
Yet beneath this surface of stability lies a deeper challenge: how can Corporate Real Estate (CRE) leaders truly understand — and optimize — the purpose, performance, and experience of their office spaces?
At MySeat, we believe this requires moving beyond simple headcounts and toward a more integrated, human-centric analysis of the workplace.
The New Normal: Stabilized — but Suboptimal — Occupancy
Today’s 51–60% office occupancy remains well below the pre-pandemic 65–75% range. While return-to-office initiatives and lease stabilization efforts have slowed contraction, many organizations still struggle to define what “good” looks like in a hybrid environment.
Occupancy data must evolve from static snapshots to dynamic models that reveal:
- When spaces are used — hourly and daily patterns, by resource category and by zone
- Which types of spaces underperform — and why
- How current policies influence attendance and usage patterns
High-resolution, sensor-driven data from platforms like MySeat helps CRE teams identify inefficiencies and redesign spaces that match the new rhythms of hybrid work.
The Office as a Service: A Rising Demand
Cushman & Wakefield’s 2025 report also reveals that 85% of occupiers now seek more from their landlords — amenities, services, and community — and 46% are willing to pay for it.
As this “office-as-a-service” model gains traction, both occupiers and landlords need data-driven insights to:
- Measure how amenities influence space usage
- Justify premium rents through demonstrated value
- Optimize service offerings based on actual demand
Through detailed usage analytics and benchmarking, MySeat helps both sides navigate this evolving service-driven workplace economy.
The Purpose Gap: Aligning Office Experience with Intent
Another key finding: only 60% of employees believe their office supports collaboration, relationships, and culture — the very reasons most firms cite for maintaining physical space.
This experience gap creates friction:
- Lower space satisfaction
- Slower return-to-office uptake
- Reduced ROI on leasehold improvements
By linking occupancy sensor data with employee feedback and experience metrics, organizations can pinpoint:
- Which spaces truly foster collaboration
- Where design investments will deliver the greatest impact
- How to align workplace strategy with employee expectations
Conclusion: Why Data-Driven Workplace Strategy Matters
It’s no longer enough to count heads in seats — or to rely on incomplete metrics like badge swipes or booking data. As organizations rethink leasehold improvements, hybrid models, and workplace experience goals, advanced occupancy insights offer a critical edge.
With sensor platforms like MySeat — fast to deploy, wireless, and unobtrusive — CRE leaders can:
Move beyond static utilization to dynamic behavioral insights
Demonstrate ROI on workplace investments and right-size portfolios
Shape strategies that drive both engagement and performance
Provide common ground for CRE, HR, and business leaders to align decisions
In today’s environment, where cost efficiency remains a priority but employee experience increasingly drives success, data-driven decision-making is the bridge. The office must evolve from being just a space to becoming a strategic platform for talent and culture.
If you’d like to explore how advanced occupancy data can support your 2025 strategy with fast results and measurable impact, reach out to us at MySeat.ca. Our systems are completely turnkey, keeping things ultrasimple for you and your team.
Talk to us to learn how fast and easy it is to pilot advanced occupancy analytics at your locations.