A 2020 Year in Review on Digital Strategy Trends

Haynes Strader, Vice President of Data Center Solutions, CBRE, returned to Not Your Father’s Data Center for a look back and assessment of one of the craziest years in recent memory. To summarize the market during the pandemic, Strader said, “CBRE had a really busy first quarter, and then, in March, we saw a big screeching halt as everyone was trying to figure out what was happening.” There was still lots of activity, even with a slump in transactions. “We’ve seen that start to pick back up with what’s shaping to be a busy fourth quarter. I think we’re going to be rocketing into 2021 from both an enterprise standpoint and a hyper-scale standpoint.”

Strader pointed out how the pandemic accelerated digital transformation in many different sectors and industries during the pandemic, from the shift for many businesses to remote work and learning to telemedicine in healthcare.

“The same thing is happening with eCommerce and food delivery,” Strader said. “You’re seeing people who normally wouldn’t be comfortable on a computer or their phone engaging with a service provider now, having been forced to do that for a year, feeling much more comfortable.”

How has the pandemic affected the commercial real estate market? Strader said there is still an abundance of activity, and businesses will continue to need space after COVID-19. Strader also believed many positions might permanently shift to remote, and that the needs of companies for large spaces will reduce. On the flip side, the rapid and expanding digital storage requirements will see those businesses’ needs increase and continue to grow in that marketplace.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

continuous improvement in education
Continuous Improvement in Education: If You Want Different Outcomes, Change the System
February 24, 2026

School systems across the country are under mounting pressure to improve student outcomes while navigating shifting standards, staffing shortages, and rising expectations around accountability. Yet many reform efforts fall short because they are fragmented and short-term. According to Learning Forward’s Standards for Professional Learning, sustained and job-embedded professional learning is linked to improved educator…

Read More
growing with sales
Get Vertical! Growing with Sales for Success
February 24, 2026

Buying behavior has shifted dramatically. Today’s B2B customers do most of their research before ever speaking with a salesperson. In fact, 61% of B2B buyers say they prefer a rep-free buying experience, according to a 2025 Gartner survey. At the same time, U.S. retail e-commerce sales exceeded $1.192 trillion in 2024. Growth still depends…

Read More
All Blacks
Standards, Identity, and Legacy: Leadership Lessons from the All Blacks and Other Elite Teams with James Kerr
February 23, 2026

Dynasties are rare. Most teams rise, win for a season, and fade. A superstar retires. A coach leaves. The chemistry shifts. What once felt inevitable suddenly looks fragile. Sustained excellence is far harder than a single championship run — it requires standards that survive ego, systems that outlast individuals, and a culture strong enough to…

Read More
governance
Exploring the Intersection of Board Governance, Community Engagement and Creativity with Ann Margolin
February 23, 2026

Behind every city vote, hospital budget or zoning decision is a leader navigating tough, often conflicting priorities. Right now, public leaders are operating in an environment of rising healthcare costs, workforce shortages and heightened community expectations—especially within safety-net systems that collectively provide billions in uncompensated care each year. The stakes are real—they affect patients…

Read More