In our latest Spotlight Interview, we spoke to Adam Ghadiali, Head of Growth UK at Bright Spaces. Adam talks about the adoption of digital twins, how they help improve efficiency and save costs and the future of the industry.“One prominent opportunity lies in the increasing prevalence of virtual exploration in real estate decision-making. With 85% of individuals now conducting research and virtual exploration before committing to physical viewings (and increasingly post-physical viewings), there’s a clear demand for immersive digital experiences.“

Q1- Bright Spaces is an award-winning organisation and grown successfully across the years, can you tell us briefly what sets Bright Spaces apart from other organisations in this competitive market?

What sets Bright Spaces apart is our unique approach to customisation and adaptability. Unlike other organisations, we provide a platform that allows clients to select and combine solutions tailored to their specific objectives. Our off-plan customisation feature enables clients to differentiate their offerings in ways previously unattainable.

At Bright Spaces, agility is key. We pride ourselves on our ability to work swiftly and efficiently, ensuring that we remain responsive to the evolving needs of our customers. Our customer-centric approach drives everything we do, recognising that each integration presents unique requirements and considerations. We reject the notion of one-size-fits-all solutions, preferring instead to craft bespoke offerings that truly meet the needs of our clients.

Plus, our vertical alignment ensures that we are deeply integrated into our clients’ decision-making processes. Whether it’s sales strategies, preventive maintenance protocols, or stakeholder management, we are committed to being closely attuned to the priorities of our clients, allowing us to provide tailored solutions that deliver tangible results.

Q2- Bright Spaces began its operations in Romania with now successfully expanding into the UK and Middle Eastern regions. What differences have you seen in the adoption of 3D digital twins amongst these regions?

Historically, the practice of test fitting spaces has been a standard procedure, offering landlords valuable insights into potential layouts and configurations. However, in recent years, we’ve witnessed a divergence in this practice, particularly in the UK. Landlords are increasingly hesitant to commit significant upfront investments in leasing or selling spaces through such methods. This reluctance can be attributed to various factors, including changing market dynamics and economic uncertainties.

In Central Eastern Europe, the traditional model of using test fittings remains deeply ingrained in the real estate industry. Landlords and stakeholders in this region continue to prioritise comprehensive evaluations of spaces, leveraging technology to inform decision-making processes.

Despite the divergence in adoption approaches, the desire to embrace technology, including 3D digital twins, is palpable within the UK market. However, the transition from intention to action has been relatively slow.

Q3- One of the ways that PropTech is helping the real estate industry is by improving efficiency and reducing costs. How does Bright Spaces’s solution contribute to this goal, and can you give any examples of how your technology has helped companies reduce costs and save time?

By providing a centralised platform that serves as a single point of truth for all specifications and streamlining commercial agreements, our digital solutions facilitate confident and efficient leasing experiences.

One of the key ways in which our technology contributes to cost reduction is through the optimisation of marketing, architecture, and sales expenses. Our digital twins have been proven to yield significant cost savings, with clients experiencing reductions of up to 25% in these areas. For instance, our 3D custom space planning tool includes a minimum of five high-resolution CGIs along with virtual tours, eliminating the need for clients to approach alternative or more traditional CGI companies, thus saving valuable resources.

Our clients have also reported substantial ROI by leveraging our technology. By streamlining the decision-making process and providing stakeholders with comprehensive insights, our platform enables spaces to be leased up to 30% faster compared to traditional methods. This accelerated leasing process not only translates to cost savings but also results in increased revenue generation and improved operational efficiency for our clients.

Q4- Can you discuss how Bright Spaces facilitates integration with other tools and software commonly used in real estate management, such as CRM systems or financial software?

Bright Spaces prides itself on its seamless integration capabilities with other tools and software commonly used in real estate management. Our approach is centred around ensuring compatibility and ease of adoption, thereby simplifying the onboarding process for our clients.

One of the key features that facilitate integration is our open API function embedded within our software. This enables effortless connectivity with a wide range of existing CRM systems, including popular platforms such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, HubSpot, and others. By integrating with these CRM systems as a standard practice, Bright Spaces seamlessly fits into our clients’ leasing processes, minimising disruptions and maximising efficiency.

We also have a dedicated admin panel that serves as a central hub for recording crucial data, such as the distance virtually walked by users. This data adds an extra layer of valuable information for the sales CRM system, empowering our clients with deeper insights into customer engagement and behaviour.

In addition to integrating with CRM systems, Bright Spaces actively collaborates with other leading proptech solutions through partnership models. For instance, our partnership with Demand Logic (an energy consumption optimisation and preventive maintenance solution) exemplifies our commitment to simplifying complex processes in real estate management. By serving as Demand Logic’s pre-visualization tool, Bright Spaces enables the seamless mapping of assets, eliminating layers of complexity and streamlining operations for clients.

Q5- Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for proptech in the real estate industry, and how is Bright Spaces positioning itself to take advantage of these trends?

One prominent opportunity lies in the increasing prevalence of virtual exploration in real estate decision-making. With 85% of individuals now conducting research and virtual exploration before committing to physical viewings (and increasingly post-physical viewings), there’s a clear demand for immersive digital experiences. Bright Spaces recognises this trend and is strategically positioning itself to cater to the virtual research phase comprehensively.

Another significant trend highlighted by the McKinsey report “Future of B2B Sales: The Big Reframe” underscores the growing digital savviness of buyers. Today’s consumers are more technically proficient and seek engagement on their own terms, driving the need for accessible and flexible platforms. Bright Spaces is well-positioned to capitalise on this trend by offering a platform that ensures 100% accessibility across devices, allowing users to engage with our solutions at their convenience.