Category: Newsletter

How do employers create commute-worthy work environments while minimizing real estate costs? Meagan Riley, Growth Principal at JLL Spark, explains VergeSense’s smart building technology that enables company leaders to access accurate and comprehensive occupancy insights for critical CRE decisions.
 
Read more in VergeSense: Occupancy Intelligence for a True Understanding of the Workspace

PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

The War for Tech Talent Isn’t Over. Here’s How to Win It in 2023
HqO shares four tips to attract and retain industry talent this year and beyond.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

Is It Really Good to ChatGPT?
Laurent Grill, Partner at JLL Spark, discusses how generative AI can be a beneficial tool for the built world, but full potential is yet to be seen.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

Australian Prop Tech Summit 2023
Sydney, Australia | May 2-4, 2023
Carolyn Trickett is speaking on the latest investments from a VC perspective.
 
CREtech London
London, England | May 10-11, 2023
Raj Singh is speaking with Stephanie Hyde, CEO of JLL UK.
Andre Bothma and Tanguy Quero are attending.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

5 Ways Tech Can Help Commercial Landlords Reduce Costs and Increase Profits
propmodo.com | April 13, 2023
 
GPT-7 Will Be Smarter Than We Are
globest.com | April 17, 2023
 
Proptech Spies Opportunity in Flex Space’s Hybrid-Driven Growth
commercialobserver.com | April 25, 2023
 
Why Developers Are Turning to AI to Deliver Complex Projects
commercialobserver.com | April 26, 2023

Smart buildings carry a host of definitions depending on the expected outcomes from tenants and landlords. At JLL Spark, we evaluate our clients’ challenges and analyze building data to customize their tech portfolios, producing results that surpass those of a general approach. 
 
Andre Bothma, Growth Principal based in London, highlights these solutions in The Science of Smart Buildings: PropTech to Improve Workspaces.

PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

BXP Unveils New Street-to-Seat Journey for Clients to Easily Access Buildings and Spaces with iPhone or Apple Watch
SwiftConnect partners with BXP to launch CRE’s first connected experience for building access systems.
 
Best Places to Work 2023
Dealpath is listed on Globe Street’s list of best CRE workplaces.

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INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
New partnerships or follow-ons with our existing portfolio

ESG Building Intelligent Leader Infogrid Closes $90 Million Series B
The funding enables product enhancement, strategic hires, and customer acquisition at the heels of growth in 2022.
 
ALICE Technologies Extends Funding Series B Round to Access $47M in Capital
JLL Spark participates in the follow-on to enhance ALICE’s construction optioneering platform.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

How to Invest in the Future of the Office: A View From Three Investors
Kitty Sullivan, Investment Principal at JLL Spark, weighs in on technology that helps manage the logistics of a hybrid workforce.
 
Data, Climate and Hybrid Work Transform Commercial Real Estate
Managing Partner Raj Singh discusses the future value of data generated from buildings.
 
Migration Out of Urban Cores Slowed in 2022
JLL research shows improved net migration rates for major markets.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

Australian Prop Tech Summit 2023
Sydney, Australia | May 2-4, 2023
Carolyn Trickett is speaking on technology to improve the commercial tenant experience.
 
CREtech London
London, England | May 10-11, 2023
Raj Singh is speaking with Stephanie Hyde, CEO of JLL UK.
Andre Bothma and Tanguy Quero are attending.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

How AI is Helping PropTech Overtake FinTech Investment and Green in the Built World
tech.eu | April 4, 2023
 
Inside CRE’s Frustrating Battle to Reduce its Carbon Emissions – and Save Humanity
bisnow.com | April 6, 2023
 
Collaboration Has Driven Return to Office, But How Is It Measured?
propmodo.com | April 9, 2023
 
Real Estate is Just Not That Into the Metaverse… Yet
commercialobserver.com | April 11, 2023
 

Despite the recent banking issues, our portfolio companies are in good financial standings and business is moving in the right direction. Check out our latest updates and insights at the close of Q1 2023.

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

The 26 Hottest PropTech Startups of 2023, According to Venture Capitalists
Congratulations to our portfolio companies Dealpath and Juno for being named on this list!
 
Do You Have a True Understanding of Your Workplace?
VergeSense on the importance of understanding a workplace before making critical decisions around portfolio and space optimization.

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INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
New partnerships or follow-ons with our existing portfolio

Shared Studios Announces an Investment from JLL Spark to Help Make Distance Irrelevant
The investment will enable our newest portfolio company to produce a digital conferencing solution for corporate offices and businesses.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

Move Fast and Break Things
Ryan Severino, Senior Director of JLL Research, shares his insights on the recent banking issues as they relate to CRE.
 
Revamping Green Leases is Critical to Decarbonising
JLL’s new report: Green Leasing 2.0 to deliver shared ESG value for owners and occupiers.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

RETCON 2023
New York, NY | April 2-4, 2023
Laurent Grill, Daniel Correa, and Javier Araujo O’Neill will attend.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Proptech’s Hot Take on SVB’s Bank-Run-and-Done Shocker
commercialobserver.com | March 17, 2023
 
Gen Z is Coming for the Housing Market
businessinsider.com | March 21, 2023
 
Commercial Property Debt Creates More Bank Worries
wsj.com | March 21, 2023
 
The Metaverse is Quickly Turning into the Meh-taverse
wsj.com | March 29, 2023
 

Our investment in Re-Leased equips JLL clients with the latest technology, increasing efficiency and productivity to business processes. Carolyn Trickett, JLL Spark Growth Principal based in the APAC region, works closely with Tom Wallace, Founder and CEO of Re-Leased, and shares his story of developing a platform to ease the pain points of commercial real estate property management. 
 
Learn more about his journey as an entrepreneur in our Founder Profile: Tom Wallace of Re-Leased

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

The Beck Group Partners with ALICE Technologies to Expedite Project Delivery and Reduce Risk
ALICE’s construction optioneering platform will be used for capital projects at the Dallas-based architecture and construction firm.

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INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
New partnerships or follow-ons with our existing portfolio

Acreto Security Announces Investment Partnership with JLL Spark
Our newest portfolio company delivers superior levels of cybersecurity protection for buildings and PropTech.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

JLL Climbs Barron’s Most Sustainable Companies List
The recognition highlights JLL’s sustainability investments as part of its strong ESG efforts.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

MIPIM
Cannes, France | March 14-17, 2023
Andre Bothma, Arnaud Bouzinac, and Sean Wright are attending.
 
GCVI Summit
Monterey, CA | March 15-16, 2023
Laurent Grill, Raj Singh, and Kitty Sullivan are attending.
 
BuiltWorlds 2023 Venture West Conference
San Francisco, CA | March 21-22, 2023
Ajey Kaushal will speak on the panel Real Estate Tech: Will ConTech & PropTech Converge?

UKPA Debate: Should PropTechs provide greater support to property companies to help with implementation? Or should property companies be better prepared?
London, England | March 29, 2023
Andre Bothma participates on Team 2 of the debate.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

What is Generative AI and How Does it Factor into the World of PropTech?
goproptech.com | March 7, 2023
 
Six New Imperatives for Real Estate Players
mckinsey.com | March 7, 2023
 
Is the Metaverse Dead Before it Arrived?
globest.com | March 8, 2023
 
Podcast: CREtech CEO Michael Beckerman on Why Much of the Pain in Startup World is Healthy
bisnow.com | March 12, 2023
 
BofA Gets More than $15 Billion in Deposits after SVB Fails
bloomberg.com | March 14, 2023
 
Proptech VCs and Startup Founders Already Struggling from the Housing-Market Downturn are Now Reeling from the SVB Collapse
businessinsider.com | March 15, 2023

This week we take a deeper look into a startup with a mission to help companies adapt to their future of work. HqO is an innovative solution for our clients to create an engaging workplace for employees while generating valuable data for decision-makers. Learn more in our latest blog post from Eddie Carroll, Growth Principal at JLL Spark.

Unlocking the Future of Work: Building an Engaging Workplace with HqO

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

The State of the Workplace 2023
Download HqO’s latest report on trending amenities, features, and technologies for the workplace experience.

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INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
New partnerships or follow-ons with our existing portfolio

A WeWork Rival from Scotland: Desana Grabs $7.4M Funding to Expand to the US
JLL Spark co-led the round with PropTech1, investing in the flexible coworking platform.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

British Property Federation Calls for Data-Sharing and Regulatory Certainty to Accelerate the Decarbonisation of the Property Industry
JLL and the BPF release a report identifying the key challenges for real estate to reach net zero.
 
21 Top Real Estate Venture Capital Firms 2023
JLL Spark is recognized on this list of venture capital investors in high demand.
 
Jones Lang LaSalle: From a Spark to a Catalyst
PropTech investing positions JLL as a market leader. 

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

New York Build Expo
New York, New York | March 8-9, 2023
Daniel Correa and Javier Araujo O’Neill are attending.

MIPIM
Cannes, France | March 14-17, 2023
Andre Bothma, Arnaud Bouzinac, and Sean Wright are attending.

GCVI Summit
Monterey, CA | March 15-16, 2023
Laurent Grill, Raj, Singh, and Kitty Sullivan are attending.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Companies Are Slow to Adopt Robot-Operated ‘Dark’ Warehouses
wsj.com | February 17, 2023
 
Office Landlord Defaults Are Escalating as Lenders Brace for More Distress
wsj.com | February 21, 2023
 
How Hybrid Work is Changing Offices of the Future
wsj.com | February 22, 2023
 
Israel’s PropTech Scene Turns Toward International Expansion
commercialobserver.com | February 27, 2023
 
As Americans Work From Home, Europeans and Asians Head Back to the Office
wsj.com | February 28, 2023

As companies learn the pros and cons of a remote or hybrid workforce, many of the common challenges can be resolved with a customized tech stack to enable team synergy. JLL Spark Partner Laurent Grill shares his experience and key insights on the importance of creating an environment that fosters a strong company culture and the technology to support team connections in a dispersed set of employees. Read more in our latest blog post:
 
The Future of Company Culture

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

Build in Digital’s Top 50 ConTech Partners
Alice is on this list of top construction technology firms in the built environment.
 
The New Real Estate Game: A Future-Ready Framework for CRE Investment
Dealpath Co-founder and CEO Mike Sroka shares insight on how data is helping major companies with their real estate decisions.
 
Miami and PropTech: Why More Firms Are Considering the Magic City
LandTech is featured in the article on Miami’s PropTech ecosystem.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

Leading PropTech Investors From JLL Spark and PSP Growth Join CRETI Venture Board
JLL Spark Investment Principal Kitty Sullivan is elected to the board of directors.
 
China’s Messy Property Market Shows Promise for Foreign Investors
Managing Partner Raj Singh highlights JLL Spark’s interest in partnering with PropTech in China.
 
PropTech Fundraising Accelerates in Asia-Pacific Region on Rising Demand for Decarbonisation in Real Estate Industry
Chris Pu, Managing Partner of JLL Spark China Ventures, is quoted on rapid growth of China’s tech startup scene.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

Alleycon
New York, New York | February 17, 2023
Laurent Grill is speaking; Daniel Correa and Javier Araujo O’Neill are attending.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Generative AI is Building the Foundation of PropTech’s Next Wave
techcrunch.com | February 7, 2023
 
PropTech Seed Rounds Shift in Frequency and Amount
commercialobserver.com | February 7, 2023
 
Loans Coming Due, Lease Expirations Spell Trouble for Office Market: Report
commercialobserver.com | February 9, 2023

The way we work has a new look. There are many factors to this evolution causing companies to identify the best balance of in-person, hybrid, or remote workers and the technology to enable optimal operations. Tanguy Quero, JLL Spark’s Investment Principal based in Paris, addresses the most common challenges and shares his insights on solutions designed to ease our new way of work.
 
Tech for the Future of Work: Thinking Inside the Boxes

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

Re-Leased Appoints a Global Chief Revenue Officer to Spearhead Ambitious Growth Plans
The commercial property management platform anticipates growth in key international markets, software enhancements, and a series of new products and partnerships.
 
BuiltWorlds 2022 Top Deals 50 List
Veev earns the top spot on this list of the largest venture deals, funds raised, and acquisitions in the built world.
 
OpenSpace Wins an Award at the Emaar Innovation Challenge
Our startup is recognized in the “Customer experience/smart & healthy buildings” category. Congratulations OpenSpace!

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

‘A CRE Revolution’ Coming as Federal Investment Sends CRE on Green Hiring Spree
JLL’s Josephine Tucker, Managing Director of Clean Energy and Infrastructure, and other sustainability focused real estate professionals share their perspectives on the demand for specialized talent.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

IOT Solutions World Congress
Barcelona, Spain | January 31 – February 2, 2023
Andre Bothma is attending.
 
IMN’s ESG & Decarbonizing Real Estate Forum
Nashville, Tennessee | February 7-8, 2023
Raj Singh is moderating the panel “Using Technology to Build and Enhance Your ESG Strategy,” featuring Juno, Veev, and Prelude Ventures.
 
London PropTech Show
London, UK | February 15-16, 2023
Tanguy Quero is attending.
 
Alleycon
New York, New York | February 17, 2023
Daniel Correa and Javier Araujo O’Neill attending.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Landlords to Be Hit By $200MM in LL97 Fines Next Year, Study Estimates
bisnow.com | January 19, 2023
 
Layoffs are a Nail in the Coffin for Whatever the Metaverse is
businessinsider.com | January 23, 2023
 
The Job Market for Remote Workers is Shrinking
wsj.com | January 24, 2023
 
Big Tech is in Big-Layoff Mode, but PropTech Might Not Be and Here’s Why
globest.com | January 30, 2023
 
How Can Real Estate Data Leadership Prepare Firms for the 2023 Big Data and AI Inflection Point?
proptechconnect.com | January 31, 2023

JLL Spark China Ventures is on a mission is to deliver real estate solutions to JLL China and its clients by partnering with local startups. Read more about how we are applying our expertise as venture capitalists and real estate specialists to build a PropTech ecosystem in the region:
 
PropTech to Enable CRE Innovation in China

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

Built In’s 2023 Best Places to Work
Congratulations to Dealpath for being recognized as one of San Francisco’s best startups to work for!

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

Blueprint 2023 Predictions
Raj Singh shares his PropTech predictions as part of an influential group of industry investors and startups.
 
Building a Greener Future Begins with Buildings
Ramya Ravichandar, VP of sustainability products at JLL Technologies, discusses the opportunities for companies to meet sustainability targets.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

IMN’s ESG & Decarbonizing Real Estate Forum 
Nashville, Tennessee | February 7-8, 2023
Raj Singh is moderating the panel “Using Technology to Build and Enhance Your ESG Strategy”

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Air Quality and the Future of Work: Why IAQ Matters So Much to Employees
Infogrid’s research reveals that most employees are concerned that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is affecting their health.
 
Meet the Guy Whose Algorithm Can Solve the Crisis for America’s Empty Office Space
businessinsider.com | January 8, 2023
 
ConTech Trends to Watch in 2023
proptechconnect.com | January 11, 2023
 
So Much FinTech M&A
techcrunch.com | January 15, 2023
 
PropTech VCs and Principals Swoon Over Multifamily’s Predictability
commercialobserver.com | January 17, 2023
 
Metaverse Landlords Are Creating a New Class System
wired.com | January 18, 2023

Last year, the commercial real estate industry saw trends in adopting technology for sustainability and remote or hybrid work to meet the demands of net zero goals and employee experience. Will this momentum continue in 2023 or will new challenges arise in the wake of market conditions? Read our forecast in our latest blog post:
 
2023 PropTech Predictions from the JLL Spark Team

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

Jones, a liability management solution for commercial real estate companies, now offers scheduled email reports sent directly to owners, managers, and developers.
Attend a webinar on February 2, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. EST to learn more about Jones’ reporting capabilities. Click here to register.

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INVESTMENT ACTIVITY
New partnerships or follow-ons with our existing portfolio

NYCEDC PropTech Piloting Program
The City of New York and JLL Technologies launched the program to benefit New York City-owned and -managed assets.
Click here to complete the Call for Interest Form.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

CRETI 2022 PropTech VC Awards
JLL Spark is awarded the PropTech Commercial Real Estate VC of the Year
 
Five Trends that Shaped Real Estate in 2022
Once niche real estate markets are now mainstream, including hybrid work and sustainability.

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PROPTECH EVENTS
Connect with our team at the following events

Envision 2023, a UK Property Perspectives Event (hosted by JLL Technologies for JLL clients and prospects)London, England | January 18, 2023
Andre Bothma will represent Spark at the Tech Showcase.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Reshore and Restore: Unlocking American Innovation for the 21st Century
a16z.com | December 16, 2022
 
UK is the Leading European Tech Ecosystem as Investors Pile In
news.sky.com | December 21, 2022
 
2023 Vision: Uncertainty with Heavy Unrealistic Expectations
globest.com | December 27, 2022
 
Will DC Office to Multifamily Conversions Continue in 2023?
commercialobserver.com | January 2, 2023
 
New York Landlords Try Carbon-Sucking Towers to Comply with Compliance Law
bloomberg.com | January 4, 2023

JLL’s data strategy enables business users to make sensible, data-driven decisions in all areas of our business. Whether advising clients, managing buildings, or increasing operating efficiencies, we present timely insights to decision-makers through data fusion and analytics.
 
Michael Norton, Chief Data Architect at JLL Technologies, provides a detailed look into JLL’s Enterprise Data Platform in our newest blog post, Enhancing Client Service with Data Visibility.

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PORTFOLIO COMPANY UPDATES
What’s new with our startups

Announcing Nine Startups Selected to Participate in the AWS Sustainable Cities Accelerator for Infrastructure
Ecolibrium, a JLL Spark portfolio company, is on this list of startups developing solutions to help cities address infrastructure-related sustainability challenges.

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IN THE PRESS
Insights in the media from JLL

Dynamic Real Estate: The Path Forward
Sharad Rastogi, JLL Technologies President, discusses how technology can help the industry adapt to evolving needs.

JLL Research: Tech Outlook 2022
Download the report to learn more about tech’s rapidly changing commercial real estate demands.

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INDUSTRY NEWS
Learn more about the current landscape of PropTech investing

Crypto Collapse: Death Star for Metaverses? 
globest.com | December 1, 2022

NYC’s Silverstein to Raise $1.5B in Office-to-Housing Push
bloomberg.com | December 5, 2022
 
Real Estate was Always Skeptical of Crypto. Block-Chain is Where the ‘Real Value Lies’
bisnow.com | December 7, 2022
 
Half of Workers Frustrated with Office Tech
placetech.net | December 7, 2022
 
2023 Will Be a Fantastic Vintage for VC in Latin America 
allvp.com | December 9, 2022
 
Venture Capital Funding for Proptech Drops Sharply in 2022: Report
commercialobserver.com | December 14, 2022