CHICAGO—Offices throughout the US and around the globe are undergoing profound changes as more firms ditch traditional notions of space utilization. In addition, suburban firms increasingly want to move into downtown neighborhoods that younger employees find more appealing. But transforming an office or moving into a new space can be arduous, and many companies don't have the many types of expertise needed. However, the power of big data now makes it possible to streamline all that decision making.

JLL has just unveiled a service called JLL InSite, which brings workplace design, planning and budgeting into one package. As reported in GlobeSt.com, the Chicago-based company recently released its 2018 US and Canada Office Fit Out Guide, a report that compares build out costs for a range of office styles in 59 top markets. InSite leverages that data and allows clients to also envision potential new spaces with 3D walk-through visualizations. As a result, companies can quickly choose how their new office will look, a process used to take weeks or even months.

“We've shrunk all that down to a matter of days,” Megan Mackinson, vice president of occupancy planning at JLL, tells GlobeSt.com. InSite even tells clients, whether they plan to move or stay put, how to integrate code-compliant egress plans, fire escapes, stairwells, restrooms and other standardizations into overall office plans. And even before any site tours happen, clients receive a full market analysis of their chosen location.