Dive Brief:
- Mallcomm has launched an AI-powered sales data insights platform to help property managers analyze sales and operational data in real time, according to a Nov. 22 release.
- Property owners can use the platform to help determine the optimum occupier mix and leasing strategies and, with predictive analytics, do seasonal modeling and cash-flow forecasting, the company said.
- “The platform’s data analytics and predictive capabilities support more informed leasing decisions,” Mallcomm CEO David Fuller-Watts said in a statement. “For example, seasonal modeling can predict fluctuations in sales and foot traffic based on past patterns, helping facilities managers prepare for peak periods like the holidays or quieter seasons.”
Dive Insight:
The launch comes as retailers work to offer their customers more convenient store locations and designs to encourage the physical return of online purchases, attempting to save on return costs while increasing foot traffic and in-store sales, according to a November report by CBRE. Many retailers are also signing longer-term leases to limit potential rent increases, accommodate shifts in consumer preferences and “firmly establish themselves in locations closer to where consumers live,” a separate CBRE report notes.
Mallcomm’s platform can collect and analyze operational data, including that on parking, energy use, footfall and lease expirations, to optimize day-to-day asset management across property asset types, according to the release. The company says the product is the first to integrate multiple operations into a single platform — including “retailer communications, place marketing and enlivenment, security and operations.” Doing so helps operators improve resource allocation, operational efficiency and proactive management at a more holistic level, according to Fuller-Watts.
“Predictive analytics and seasonal modeling are game-changers for US facilities managers looking to forecast cash flow and align with tenant expectations. Our platform leverages historical data and AI algorithms to anticipate future performance trends, enabling managers to plan more effectively,” Fuller-Watts said in an email. “This foresight supports more accurate cash flow projections, reducing financial uncertainty. Additionally, it allows for proactive tenant engagement, as managers can collaborate with tenants to plan promotions or operational adjustments in advance, fostering a stronger partnership and enhancing overall performance.”
“Over the past few years the traditional ‘landlord-tenant’ relationship has been reset as property owners and retailers have had to work much more closely together to attract visitors and deliver a better experience,” Fuller-Watts said in the release. “This new commercial partnership is increasingly based on turnover-linked rents,” he said. These leases consist of tenants paying a discounted market rent as a base rent, plus a “turnover rent,” an agreed percentage of a tenant’s gross turnover above the base rent or agreed-upon threshold, according to law firm Hamlins LLP.
By bringing together data on sales and operational performance across properties, zones, brand categories and individual businesses, the platform ensures accuracy in turnover-linked rent charges, Mallcomm says. “This will inform how an asset is managed, how the retail and leisure mix is curated and help create more dynamic and successful places. It will also unlock a deeper understanding of asset performance and valuations,” Fuller-Watts said.
Analyzing real-time energy use across multiple properties can identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved to help facilities managers reduce costs, while also supporting compliance with sustainability regulations and corporate ESG initiatives. “Through integrating energy data with other operational metrics, managers can make informed decisions that balance sustainability with performance,” Fuller-Watts said.
More than 1,000 commercial properties use Mallcomm worldwide across more than 500 million square feet and over 70,000 individual units, the company says.
