{"id":51579,"date":"2024-11-27T16:50:36","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T16:50:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yardi.co.uk\/?p=17062"},"modified":"2026-03-11T10:42:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T10:42:55","slug":"how-can-tech-and-data-help-to-rev-up-the-retail-sectors-revival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/en-gb\/how-can-tech-and-data-help-to-rev-up-the-retail-sectors-revival\/","title":{"rendered":"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up the Retail Sector&#8217;s Revival?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Leading industry voices came together for a roundtable discussion hosted by BE News and sponsored by Yardi to debate the role data and technology could play in helping sustain growth in the retail sector.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-industry-guests\">INDUSTRY GUESTS:<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mike Cook, director, UK and Ireland, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yardi<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Michael Fitsum, director, head of operations, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mandg.com\/realestate\/en-gb\/real-estate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">M&amp;G Real Estate<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Denz Ibrahim, head of futuring and place asset management, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lgim.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LGIM<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Allan Lockhart, chief executive, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrr.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NewRiver<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sabri Marsaoui, founder and director, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.blackstarrealestate.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Blackstar Real Estate<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Scott McKenzie, director of property management, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.topland.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Topland Group<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Natasha Patel, head of market intelligence, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avisonyoung.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Avison Young<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jack Sibley, head of proptech and innovation, <a href=\"https:\/\/relatedargent.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Related Argent<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Hannah Smith, principal consultant, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.caci.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CACI<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Peter Stals, chief financial officer, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.viaoutlets.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">VIA Outlets<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Simon Creasey, head of content, <a href=\"https:\/\/benews.co.uk\/\">BE News (chair)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov3-2.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17070\" style=\"width:500px\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>After years of being talked down, affected by the rise of online shopping and a myriad of closures, with the likes of Arcadia and JJB Sports going to the wall, physical retail seems to be getting back on track.<\/p>\n<p>Deals and funds raised over the past few months show there is still an appetite for bricks and mortar. These include British Land\u2019s circa \u00a3700m retail park shopping spree, Frasers Group\u2019s acquisition of more than 1m sq ft of retail space to add to its growing portfolio of stores and NewRiver\u2019s \u00a350m-plus fundraised to support its possible takeover of Capital &amp; Regional.<\/p>\n<p>The question now is: could the rise of tech and data help level up the retail sector\u2019s revival? And how can technology help sustain revenue generation and improve growth?<\/p>\n<p>Retail investors, landlords and asset managers are currently using technology to address longstanding sales and pay points. But technology and data can also be harnessed to create a competitive edge, with advancements such as AI hailed as revolutionary by NewRiver\u2019s Allan Lockhart \u2013 improving operations and decision-making.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Allan-Lockhart-3.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17071\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Allan Lockhart, NewRiver<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cTechnology has significantly disrupted the retail real estate sector over the last 10 to 15 years, and we\u2019re now sitting on another revolution in terms of technology and AI,\u201d said Lockhart.<\/p>\n<p>Looking back to 15 years ago, he admitted that, in hindsight, he would have invested more in research and data \u201cbecause when you\u2019re buying real estate today, it\u2019s very expensive \u2013 your upfront costs can equate to about 7%\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Lockhart added: \u201cWith duration you\u2019re vulnerable to risk and changes, as happened in the past. For us as a business, we\u2019re thinking a lot more around what\u2019s going to happen in the future, and we\u2019re investing more in our data and in our systems.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tech-adoption\">Tech Adoption<\/h2>\n<p>\u201cCompared with those in other sectors, landlords and tenants in the retail sector are guilty of not being quick to adopt technology,\u201d said Yardi\u2019s Mike Cook. \u201cTechnology within the retail sector is nowhere near as well used as in the residential and coworking sectors, which have been more rapid in their adoption of tech,\u201d he commented.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Mike-Cook-2.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17078\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Mike Cook, Yardi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>But according to Cook, there is now a realisation in the retail sector that data is needed and that, where possible, data should come from a single point of entry. \u201cIt needs to in order to run retail, where there\u2019s more of a partnership with your brands or tenants,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>Peter Stals of VIA Outlets provided a European angle on collecting data from the 1,150 brands housed in the company\u2019s 11 outlets on the continent. \u201cWe\u2019re operationally intensive and collect a lot of data to manage our business, so in that sense, we\u2019re data rich. And 20% to 25% of our GRI is based on variable rent, and that then drives the minimum base rent into the following years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stals said VIA was \u201cheavily dependent\u201d on brand sales performance, adding: \u201cWhile we are looking at this from a tenant covenant perspective, as opposed to more traditional real estate management models, our focus here is on optimising that brand sales performance to directly drive our own top line.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\u201cWe\u2019re operationally intensive and collect a lot of data to manage our business\u201d<br \/><strong>Peter Stals<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>VIA\u2019s in-house retail teams use daily sales data, sales densities, capture and conversion rates and other metrics and performance data to see what\u2019s performing well and what isn\u2019t. That data then helps the company work with brands on a partnership basis to address issues and mutually optimise performance. It also enables it to make leasing decisions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur lease structures have landlord flexibility to move brands in and out and around the centres,\u201d said Stals. \u201cThese decisions are enabled on a day-to-day basis through the performance data we capture. Room to optimise that, automate it and analyse it further is always there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cThere is movement in the wider industry towards the niche [retail] sector in terms of lease structure and the partnership model.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Jack-Sibley-2.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17075\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Jack Sibley, Related Argent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>How brands are actually using the data they capture was a topic raised by Related Argent\u2019s Jack Sibley. \u201cWhen we look at our portfolio, the proportion of the smaller independents are using platforms like Shopify,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCompared with five years ago, we\u2019ve got more of that centralised data capture and automated analytics \u2013 that\u2019s empowering them to use data to run their business and make business decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>There was scepticism around the table, however, about the overuse and overreliance on data. On this point, Blackstar Real Estate\u2019s Sabri Marsaoui said: \u201cI\u2019m not convinced data in isolation is the golden bullet to solving this retail crisis. Nowadays, as landlords, we have access to so many different types of data, and within itself, this can create issues \u2013 in trying to wade through the reams of available data points in the hope of finding the pertinent information to help us make decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-data-paralysis\">Data Paralysis<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1024\" width=\"602\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Simon-Sarbi-Michael-2.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival? - Simon-Sarbi-Michael\" class=\"wp-image-17080\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">L-R: Simon Creasey, Michael Fitsum, Sabri Marsaoui<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Marsaoui said that while he understood the importance of understanding retailers\u2019 transactional sales figures and density metrics, \u201csometimes in having too many different data points, it can lead to becoming paralysed by indecisiveness \u2013 as all too often you can always find different sources of data to substantiate conflicting conclusions\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>He added: \u201cAt Blackstar, we utilise relevant data to help us make informed decisions based on what we feel is right at that moment in time. We don\u2019t get hung up on \u2018what does the data say in isolation?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is why a distinction needs to be made between data and information,\u201d said Michael Fitsum of M&amp;G Real Estate. \u201cThe technology we\u2019re referring to here is an enabler to manage the data and convert it into information,\u201d he explained. \u201cWe can utilise the data in an efficient and effective manner and assist the decision-making process.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">\u201cI\u2019m not convinced data in isolation is the golden bullet to solving this retail crisis\u201d<br \/><strong>Sabri Marsaoui<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Michael-Fitsum-2.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17077\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Michael Fitsum, M&amp;G Real Estate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to Fitsum, if technology is being defined simply as data storage or a data gatherer, \u201cthen it is not delivering what it should\u201d. He added: \u201cWe need to differentiate, and hopefully, we will see more advancement in that process where we have platforms that collect the right level of data and convert that into information to make efficient decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The panel then turned to the issue of the financial side of installing and using the technology, and who should pay: the operator or the landlord. Marsaoui, whose firm, Blackstar, deals with the asset and property management of community shopping centres, which tend to have high numbers of smaller, independent occupiers, said: \u201cThe challenge we have is convincing these types of occupiers to invest in and adopt technology because of the high costs associated with doing so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added that his viewpoint was skewed, because he had spent his entire career working in the secondary and tertiary community end of shopping centres, not the premium end. \u201cAs landlords at this end of the market, we don\u2019t have endless pots of gold to invest,\u201d he said. \u201cWe must be careful where we deploy our cash. From my many years of experience, occupiers prefer for us to invest our capex into improving the public realm and facilities<br \/>to make the centre more appealing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Topland\u2019s Scott McKenzie agreed, saying that with any small, independent family business, technology becomes a cost. \u201cThey\u2019re looking at it and saying: \u2018Well, if you\u2019re investing in it as landlord, then happy days. Thank you very much \u2013 I\u2019ll have some of that. But if you\u2019re asking me to pay for it and it\u2019s straight off my bottom line, then I don\u2019t need that. It\u2019s something I can do without.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim-2.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17073\" style=\"width:400px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?w=400 400w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?w=500 500w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?w=600 600w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?w=800 800w, https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Denz-Ibrahim.jpg?w=1000 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Denz Ibrahim, LGIM<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>LGIM\u2019s position as a long-term investor, owner and developer allows it to invest in assets that have the potential to have a multifaceted impact \u2013 reaching investors as well as society, according to LGIM\u2019s Denz Ibrahim. \u201cWith our patient capital, we can take a much longer-term view when curating future-ready environments,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p>By investing in and partnering with independents, such as those in its build to rent neighbourhoods, its street markets and the Kingland Cresent scheme in Poole, \u201cwe [LGIM] deliver curated, relevant places, supporting occupiers through flexible leasing packages and ready-to-move-in spaces\u201d, said Ibrahim, adding: \u201cNot only this, but we also supply key technology, which allows us to learn and adapt, together with the occupiers.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-agile-environments\">Agile Environments<\/h2>\n<p>He added that strategically incorporating technology had enabled LGIM to better understand customers and occupiers and measure the intrinsic value for the wider asset, whether it is spend, dwell, engagement, journeys or foot-flow, \u201cso we deliver environments that are responsive and agile\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>There was consensus around the table that regardless of who pays, getting tenants to use the tech can be a struggle. \u201cFor us as a business, the biggest problem is the buy-in to use the data or to use technology,\u201d said McKenzie. Topland started using Yardi\u2019s technology in 2022, and McKenzie said operators still do not use the system as well as they should. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter what you\u2019ve got \u2013 if you haven\u2019t got people that are going to use it, it means nothing,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Discussion then moved on to the current wonderkid of the technology world: AI. \u201c[AI] has changed the world,\u201d said Lockhart. \u201cThe reality is that we don\u2019t yet know to what extent. We\u2019ll be able to ask questions around every subject matter. It\u2019s going to be really fascinating as to how that is going to change the world we\u2019re in. But it\u2019s all based on data.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe can accurately tell a location how influential a store is in triggering online spend\u201d<br \/><strong>Hannah Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-making-lives-easier\">\u2018Making Lives Easier\u2019<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Hannah-Smith-1.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17074\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hannah Smith, CACI<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hannah Smith said CACI was working on numerous things with AI \u201cthat will really help with our world and make our lives easier\u201d. Part of CACI\u2019s work is an Online Halo analysis that demonstrates how investment in physical stores encourages more people to come in and engage. She added that while<br \/>the customers might not make that purchase in the shop at the time, they may do so later when they are online at home.<\/p>\n<p>According to Smith, there was previously no way of capturing that data, but CACI\u2019s AI Online Halo analysis uses actual in-store versus physical spend at a brand level across catchment. \u201cSo we can accurately tell a location how influential a store is in triggering online spend \u2013 then we can start to make more intelligent decisions in terms of leases: how much rent and how fair those negotiations are,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Avison Young\u2019s Natasha Patel said everyone needed to be wary the problems we are actually solving by using AI.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSignificant money can be invested in AI \u2013 particularly given the hype surrounding it \u2013 to solve something which is minor, but there needs to be more thought around what the significant problems that need to be solved are, and whether AI can help,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n<p>Patel also said the industry should look at the bias in some of AI\u2019s large language models: \u201cThere\u2019s been enough thought process around it, but how do we solve bias in these models? We\u2019re talking about the decision-making process and predictive analytics, which is fantastic, but we must think carefully about the data that\u2019s powering these tools, so we don\u2019t get a level of bias when we\u2019re just using these ChatGPT-type tools to ask questions and get the results.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-clear-definition-needed\">Clear Definition Needed<\/h2>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote has-text-align-center is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cAI technology and different forms of data are one part of the equation alongside gut feel\u201d<br \/><strong>Natasha Patel<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Natasha-Patel-1.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17079\" style=\"width:400px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Natasha Patel, Avison Young<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Cook said he totally agreed with the concerns about AI and identifying the problems it is solving. \u201cThere is so much noise around AI that it can become confusing for the end users,\u201d he stated, adding \u201cthat there needs to be clear definition on what AI is solving and its relevance and benefit to the end user \u2013 otherwise it may not be utilised and become redundant very quickly\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>According to Patel, it is important that data, technology and AI are not seen as a magic solution to all problems. \u201cThey\u2019re not. AI technology and different forms of data are one part of the equation, alongside gut feel and going off and seeing an asset or speaking to the occupiers,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>For Lockhart, getting the right dataset and systems, which can be processed quickly, with the right sort of analysis that enables and empowers teams to make better decisions, \u201cwill lead to better capital allocations, which is an important driver of the success of a company\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, said Marsaoui, technology and data \u201care obviously going to continue to be a key element in the revival and repositioning of our failing retail spaces\u201d. He added: \u201cHowever, I absolutely believe the data must be used alongside an entrepreneurial mindset and gut feeling. I don\u2019t want us to<br \/>lose sight of how important and critical that is to the future success of our retail centres.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/benews.co.uk\/informed\/how-can-tech-and-data-help-to-rev-up-the-retail-sectors-revival\/\"><strong>First published on BE News<\/strong><\/a><\/em> | <a href=\"https:\/\/benews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/here-2.pdf\">PDF Version<\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"17076\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov-Jack-Sibley-and-Sabri-Marsaoui-1.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17076\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-id=\"17069\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yardi.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2024\/11\/Be-News-Retail-Article-Nov2-1.jpg\" alt=\"How Can Tech and Data Help to Rev Up The Retail Sector's Revival?\" class=\"wp-image-17069\"><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Leading industry voices came together for a roundtable discussion hosted by BE News and sponsored by Yardi to debate the role data and technology could play in helping sustain growth in the retail sector. INDUSTRY GUESTS: Mike Cook, director, UK and Ireland, Yardi Michael Fitsum, director, head of operations, M&amp;G Real Estate Denz Ibrahim, head [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":897,"featured_media":51904,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_s2mail":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3387,3501],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commercial","category-events"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v24.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Yardi Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Roundtable discussion to debate the role data and technology could play in helping sustain growth in the retail sector.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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