Digitization brings new demands on urban development
Gig service provider Foodora is now opening a darkstore in Stockholm to enable deliveries of more goods even faster than before. It is feasible that the concept has been spawned, or at least been pushed forward, as changed habits and digitized demands has increased over the course of the pandamic. Foodora now aims to compete with Amazon, extremely refreshing, but what does this digital transformation mean for property owners?
New requirements on commercial premises
The darkstore concept itself is actually not new in the world but it has not really grown much in Sweden, although it may not differ enormously from a conventional warehouse. A darkstore is a form of logistics warehouse for e-commerce that requires close access to the city's infrastructure. Foodora's store "Foodora Market" will open on Södermalm, in central Stockholm. The choice of locality is highly strategic, with quick access to bike lanes in order to reach customers within their 30 minutes customer promise. It is interesting to speculate whether a reduced demand on office space will make city center property owners to turn towards actors within the fast growing e-retail sector, with darkstores or similar concepts.
Urban development, as we become more digital
An important aspect is also how urban development will take place in connection with us private individuals becoming more digital. The real estate industry will need to focus a lot on the city's existing infrastructure and take into account that their customers will be more digital, in order to meet these innovative players in the market. Urban development needs to be even more proactive and fast-paced when it comes to our purchasing patterns and happy to create a close dialogue with the companies that use the city as their platform.
The housing market will also need to monitor what new services will mean for tenants and tenant-owners. Instabox, a logistics service provider, has, for example, established itself in a number of residential buildings because the property owner has deamed it a service that is important for residents, enabeling quick home deliveries. Stores delivers groceries by car or bike and several other services exist already.
New approaches
Of course, maintaining a high rate of development is not easy - an issue that is discussed frequently. But in order to be able to keep the pace with skilled and driven entrepreneurs, property owners and municipalities also need to play in the same division. In addition to the fact that actors need to find ways to become more digital, new digital solutions and an agile approach to the constant development and digitalisation are needed.