Gaze launches workplace intelligence tool in New Zealand

Gaze Commercial has launched Gaze Workplace Intelligence in New Zealand to help businesses measure how office space is used under hybrid working patterns.

The launch comes as office attendance data points to a growing gap between workplace design and actual use. In New Zealand, 93% of organisations now support hybrid models, employees spend an average of 3.3 days a week in the office, and workplaces operate at about 64% utilisation across a typical week.

That mismatch has direct cost implications for employers with long-term leases and large office footprints. Gaze Commercial estimates the average workspace costs about $10,800 a year in rent, operating expenses and fit-out, meaning underused desks and meeting areas can add up to substantial avoidable costs.

Steffan Wiliams, workplace strategist at Gaze Commercial, said many companies still make property decisions without reliable data on how staff use their offices.

"For businesses, that gap comes at a significant cost," Wiliams said.

"The average workspace is estimated to cost around $10,800 a year in rent, operating expenses and fit-out. Better aligning space with actual use could save a 125-person company around $270,000 annually."

He said the issue is not a collapse in demand for offices, but limited visibility into actual patterns of use. Hybrid work has changed attendance habits, with employees and teams often concentrating their in-office time in the middle of the week rather than spreading it evenly across five days.

"Most organisations don't have a clear understanding of how their space is actually being used. It's one of their biggest costs, but one of the least understood," Wiliams said.

How it works

The system combines occupancy sensors with AI analysis to monitor desks, meeting rooms and whole office floors. Data is sent to a central platform and displayed on a live dashboard, allowing companies to track utilisation over time and compare the performance of different parts of a workplace.

The platform also uses predictive models to estimate future usage patterns. Gaze Commercial said this could support decisions on lease renewals, office redesigns and workforce planning by giving property and workplace teams a clearer evidence base.

Wiliams said privacy concerns shaped the system's design.

"This isn't about monitoring people, it's about businesses understanding one of their biggest costs," Wiliams said.

The case for closer measurement comes as many employers face pressure to justify office spending while maintaining spaces that still support collaboration, meetings and team activity. In hybrid settings, attendance can vary widely across business units, making averages less useful for day-to-day planning.

"That shift is well underway offshore, but in New Zealand it's only just beginning," Wiliams said.

Internationally, companies have been using occupancy data and forecasting tools to decide whether to reduce floor space, reconfigure layouts or change workplace policies. In New Zealand, adoption has been slower, even as hybrid work has become common and office attendance remains uneven.

Many businesses still rely on anecdotal observation or outdated benchmarks when making long-term property decisions, according to Gaze Commercial. That can create problems when lease commitments run for years and office layouts no longer reflect how people actually work.

"While many workplaces were designed for a five-day week, peak attendance now occurs midweek, while large parts of the office sit empty at other times," Wiliams said.

For landlords, occupiers and workplace advisers, the issue is becoming more pressing as companies approach lease events and reassess their space needs. A business that overestimates attendance may carry excess cost, while one that cuts too far may struggle to support staff when demand peaks.

Wiliams said poor information can affect both spending and workplace effectiveness.

"That creates risk not just in cost, but in how effectively the workplace supports the business," Wiliams said.

Industry data cited by Gaze Commercial suggests hybrid working is now the dominant model not only in New Zealand but globally, with around two-thirds of organisations establishing structured hybrid policies. As that shift becomes embedded, office planning is moving from static assumptions toward more continuous measurement.

"As hybrid working becomes a permanent feature of the New Zealand workplace, businesses need to ensure their office is fit for purpose and delivering value in line with one of their largest ongoing investments," Wiliams said.