Megatrends are major shifts in society that affect people and businesses in a number of different ways. Attempting to identify these trends and interpret the drivers gives us improved opportunities to develop our business faster and with greater accuracy, in a way that better corresponds to customers’ needs.
1. URBANISATION
Stockholm is one of the cities in Europe that is expected to grow at the fastest rate over the next few years. According to forecasts, Stockholm County will have half a million inhabitants more than today by 2030. The number of office workers is growing at roughly the same pace as the population in Stockholm, which boosts demand for office premises. At the same time, most office workplaces are currently located to the north of the city, while residential areas have a more even geographical spread. As a result, a large number of office workers in Stockholm are forced to travel from their homes in the south to their workplaces in the north. The need for a more even distribution of housing and offices in and around the city is therefore considerable.
- Fabege’s response: Fabege works actively with urban development that takes Stockholm’s growth into consideration. We are now one of the most specialised operators on Stockholm’s property market, with opportunities to develop thriving districts in the inner city as well as north and south of the city centre. Our high geographical concentration and our focus on offices have given us a solid position in the submarkets in which we operate: Stockholm inner city, Hammarby Sjöstad, Solna Business Park, Haga Norra, Arenastaden and Flemingsberg.
2. CLIMATE CHANGE
Over the past few decades, an increasing amount of attention has been devoted to issues relating to climate change. Sweden’s position regarding its carbon footprint is clear: net greenhouse gas emissions are to be zero by the year 2040. Climate change also means periods of extreme weather will become more common in society. It will therefore become increasingly important to manage challenges resulting from reduced groundwater levels, storms and energy shortfalls in future. New technology creates opportunities for construction using adapted materials and production methods, and environmentally certified buildings will become an increasingly significant competitive advantage in reducing costs, attracting tenants and boosting profitability.
- Fabege’s response: We raised the bar further for our sustainability work in 2018. Our goal is climate neutral property management by the year 2030, which means we must continue with our active work to reduce our carbon footprint. 82 per cent of the property portfolio is now environmentally certified. We also plan to step up efforts to secure the operation and condition of our properties, preparing them for a future that looks set to feature more extreme weather.
3. DIGITALISATION
Digitalisation is likely the fastest and most powerful megatrend the world has ever experienced. It will affect every community, individual, company and service, and fuel change within most areas. Innovative solutions are being harnessed in the move towards the smart city, in order to improve and facilitate life for everyone spending time in the city. New digital technology creates opportunities for new ways of living, and means that functions are becoming automated, completely new services are emerging and our behaviour is changing. It also means that customers and employees are imposing entirely new demands on us as a property owner.
- Fabege’s response: Over the past few years we have linked all our properties up to a digital fibre network. This allows us to compile and analyse information about each property in real time. We can also optimise our use of resources with regard to consumption of electricity, water, cooling and heating. We are analysing opportunities to improve our ability to adapt premises for our customers using digital services. One example is the Fabege app, which enables tenants to report faults and receive information about current incidents in the property they are in.