Record levels of activity were recorded in the EMEA real estate outsourcing market over the last 12 months, according to a new report from CBRE.
The number of EMEA corporates requesting information or proposals to outsource all or part of their real estate function increased 40 percent in 2013, compared to the previous year.
"It is clear, specialist real estate advice is becoming crucial for corporates as they plot their entrance into new markets, seek to drive portfolio efficiencies, and ensure they have the right space in the right places to achieve their business objectives," Mark Caskey, EMEA head of global corporate services, CBRE said in the report. "We are now operating in an environment in which many multi-national companies seek cross-border advice and service delivery."
The CBRE report shows 72 percent of new outsourcing mandates issued in 2013 were multi-national with corporates looking for cross-border advice across their portfolios.
Another 34 percent were global with corporates looking to outsource real estate services across their entire portfolios.
This follows the long-term trend of corporates seeking to manage their real estate portfolios on a global or pan-regional basis, as opposed to country-by-country in order to drive efficiencies, CBRE reports.
"With many corporates still delivering much of their real estate and facilities functions in-house, there is still huge potential for market growth this year and beyond," Mr. Caskey said.