Abstracts of recent major presentations of the International Development Research Council (IDRC), the world’s preeminent corporate real estate association.
“Using Web-Based Technologies to Manage the Corporate Infrastructure,” New York World Congress, May 2, 2000: Peregrine Systems’ Nancy Johnson Sanquist told this jam-packed workshop session, “Infrastructure management is the mortar that connects the clicks with the bricks for the creation of business value.” However, “a silo reality” still dominates many efforts, she noted. Sanquist described a range of integration strategies and tools, including an “infrastructure management game board.”
The program then turned to an analysis of the evolution of Fidelity’s infrastructure management initiative. “We used to be a short-order cook in this arena before we got into the occupancy planning business. We’ve learned to design tools around processes, not vice versa,” noted Fidelity CFO Karen Pritchard.
Stephen Bell described how Fidelity has moved a broad range of real estate processes online, including work orders, project management, move management, space planning, lease management and tenant billing. The integrated approach has also cut the portfolio’s vacancy rate from 11 percent to 3.5 percent in only two years, he added.
The two executives also shared lists of the “significant benefits” and “lessons learned” in Fidelity’s infrastructure integration. *
“Site Selection Data Standardization: A Report on the Results of the Site Selection Data Standardization Task Force,” New York World Congress, May 2, 2000: A cooperative effort among some of the industry’s most prominent players, the standardization process will soon release its first version of the software, which will be renewed once a year thereafter.
“Data drive the decisions,” stressed the South Carolina Dept. of Commerce’s Wayne Sterling.
Noted Wadley-Donovan Group’s Dennis Donovan, “Web-enabled site selection [is] about a year away.” *
“Opening General Session Welcoming Remarks” Gov. George Pataki, New York World Congress, May 1, 2000: Pataki told the record-setting attendance about “New York’s renaissance,” including a No. 5 ranking in Site Selection‘s 1999 tally of new and expanded corporate facilities. Quipped the governor, “I can see why Hillary Clinton wanted to move to New York.” *
“FutureWatch Forum: The Future of e-Business and Its Impact on Corporate Real Estate Professionals,” May 3, 2000: Charles Martin Jr., chairman and CEO of Net Future Institute, broadly outlined the e-world’s emerging shape, including “major cyber-trends” on the horizon. “There are two kinds of people in this environment: those who get it, and those who don’t,” Martin said. “Those who get it never go back.” *
* denotes summary presentation available on Web
