Information and communications technology and industrial property

Purpose - The purpose of this is to paper discuss the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) upon the industrial property sector through the identification of observable trends now and in the near future. The paper looks at the current ICT influences on industrial property, highlighting the nature of the impact and its implications for the sector. Design/methodology/approach - The paper draws upon the authors own experience of the industrial and IT sectors to isolate key technologies and resulting changes in the drivers of industrial property. Research limitations/implications - The focus of this paper is on demand side factors that affect the supply of an industrial product. The impact of ICT upon the efficiency and operation of industrial facilities themselves is excluded. Practical implications - Through the facilitation of changes in occupational demand, ICT has had a dramatic effect upon the industrial property sector over the last 30 years, changing the paradigms of location, structure and configuration beyond recognition. Originality/value - The industrial property sector does often feature in discussions of the impact of ICT upon property generally. Yet of all the types of property, arguably industrial has seen the biggest quantum change over time facilitated by ICT. This article adds value to that debate through highlighting this fact.