The Impact of Actual Retail Trends on the Technical and Logistic Parameters of Commercial Real Estate

Abstract

Current trends in consumer behavior, as well as retail development, can significantly affect the management of commercial real estate. One of the main trends currently affecting the commercial real estate market is the gradual increase of e-commerce, both in the Czech Republic and abroad. The preferences of final consumers have a direct link to retail stores which create the majority of tenants of commercial real estate. However, there are trends in retail stores that are related to consumer behavior. The construction and operation of commercial properties can have a significant impact on logistics solutions, often based on actual retail trends and consumer preferences of different distribution channels. These requirements may be different for a brick and mortar store and an e-commerce store. Different types of stores (brick and mortar store, online shop, their combination) require a different arrangement of layouts and demands for technical solution of the buildings. This contribution analysis the dependence of basic technical parameters of a commercial property on the type of retail arrangement (a brick and mortar store versus an e-commerce store). Among other things, the technical effects on parking areas and driveways are mentioned. This contribution is based on the outputs from the contract research project focused on e-commerce impact on the development and economy of commercial real estate, which was conducted for the InterCora Company.