The evolution of leasing technology: How JLL is transforming the brokerage landscape

In an industry long defined by handshakes and paper trails, commercial real estate brokerage continues to undergo a significant transformation as it embraces technology. The commercial leasing space is being reshaped by shifting occupier demands, rising expectations for speed and data transparency, and the breakthrough potential of AI. 

To meet this moment, JLL has built a unique innovation engine—pairing internal product and development expertise with a dedicated corporate venture arm. JLL Leasing Technology and JLL Spark Global Ventures are working together to build, fund, and scale solutions that modernize every aspect of the leasing experience—for brokers, landlords, and tenants alike. Over the past few years, the two teams have collaborated closely to align new and existing portfolio investments with JLL’s core tech stack and broader platform. This partnership has fostered a shared vision for technology and enabled the faster rollout of disruptive innovations across our brokerage business. 

A Unique Model in Real Estate Innovation 

JLL’s approach is rare in the real estate industry. Rather than choosing between building in-house or investing externally, we do both—strategically. 

• JLL Leasing Technology develops tools from the ground up—aligned with broker workflows, integrated with JLL data, and continuously refined through user feedback. 

• JLL Spark, our venture capital arm, identifies and invests in emerging PropTech startups building the next generation of real estate tools. 

This dual model sets JLL apart. Internal teams address immediate needs, while Spark helps us harness external innovation to stay ahead of what’s coming next. 

The Innovation Loop: How Product and Venture Work Together 

The strength of this partnership lies in its feedback loop: 

1. Spark finds or funds an innovative solution 

2. Leasing Tech pilots and productizes it 

3. Brokers use and refine it 

4. Feedback flows back to both teams 

5. New ideas and improvements are continuously delivered 

This dynamic cycle creates innovation at a pace and scale that neither a standalone product team nor a VC fund could achieve alone. The result? Tools that are widely adopted, deeply integrated, and scalable across the enterprise. 

AI Enablement 

Nowhere is this partnership more evident than in JLL’s deployment of AI. Through joint efforts, we’ve launched two major AI-driven tools—Ren and qbiq—transforming AI from a conceptual trend into a daily productivity enhancer. 

qbiq (JLL 3D Visualizations) 

• This AI-powered space planning tool revolutionizes how tenants visualize potential office layouts. It uses AI to quickly generate multiple floor plan options and immersive 3D tours based on client-specific requirements—reducing a process that once took weeks to just hours. 

By integrating qbiq, JLL enables clients to explore and optimize their future workspace interactively—before signing a lease. 

Ren 

• Ren is an AI-based relationship intelligence platform that analyzes vast data sets to surface insights for building and strengthening client relationships. It curates relevant news and context for each contact, enabling meaningful, timely outreach. 

• Our brokers report: 

• More meetings booked and reasons to reach out to prospects 

• Newer brokers growing their business pipelines faster 

• Seasoned brokers unlocking more value from their networks 

JLL Spark provided the foresight and funding. JLL Tech delivered the platform and rollout. The result: scalable AI tools in the hands of every broker.  

“Ren and Qbiq are proof that when Spark and JLL Tech partner, AI becomes more than a buzzword—it becomes a daily tool for every broker.” — Patrick Leiser, Senior Director, Product – Leasing Technology 

Conclusion: Leading Through Innovation 

JLL’s evolution from traditional brokerage to technology leader shows how embracing innovation can transform not just a company, but an entire industry. By continuously investing in new technologies, making strategic acquisitions like Raise Commercial Real Estate, and building innovation engines like JLL Spark, we’ve created a system that meets brokers where they are—while complementing our platform with the best of JLL and the broader tech ecosystem. 

With core platforms like LeasingOS leading the charge, and a pipeline of innovations from JLL Spark enhancing broker capabilities, the future of leasing technology at JLL promises deeper integration between digital and human intelligence—creating value for clients in ways that were unimaginable a decade ago. 

Written by Daniel Correa, Growth Principal based in New York, USA

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