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

promoted
How to Succeed After Getting Promoted: Seeking Feedback, Acting with Intention, and Leading with Perspective
April 16, 2026

Stepping into a leadership role today isn’t just a step up—it’s a shift into constant visibility, where expectations arrive immediately and the margin for error narrows. As organizations flatten structures and demand faster decisions, newly promoted leaders are expected to deliver impact from the outset, often without the space to fully adjust. According to…

Read More
AI in business
A Practical Conversation About AI in Business: From Hype to Real-World Impact
April 15, 2026

Artificial intelligence has moved from buzzword to boardroom priority at a staggering pace. Yet despite widespread adoption, many organizations are still struggling to turn experimentation into measurable business value—some estimates suggest the majority of enterprise AI initiatives fail to scale successfully. As AI becomes “table stakes” across industries, the real challenge is no longer…

Read More
weekly drive-in
Metropolis: Weekly Drive-in
April 15, 2026

Metropolis “Weekly Drive In” reflects a new era of storytelling where AI meets real-world execution, turning everyday field performance into momentum. Centered on genuine conversions and local wins, the series highlights how the company is scaling not just through technology, but through visibility and shared recognition. In an emerging recognition economy, these updates act…

Read More
Drive In, Drive Out: The Rhythm of Metropolis
April 15, 2026

Behind the seemingly mundane choreography of a drive-in lies a broader story about how modern cities script behavior, turning even the simplest actions into rehearsed routines. What looks like repetition is really a quiet testament to systems designed for flow and control, where efficiency often outweighs individuality. In places like Metropolis, the rhythm of…

Read More