KF: What were the origins of Zonifero and what prompted you to start a property management business? What markets are you currently operating in and what are your expansion plans?

JR: Zonifero has its origins back in 2017, when an app was created for the internal needs of SoftwareHut in Bialystok, Poland, to make it easier for new employees to find their way around the workplace, which at the time - also thanks to acquisitions - was increasing in number. It soon became apparent that a product of this type - originally an office map with the ability to book resources and communicate with other employees - solves problems that other companies also have, and after some adjustments - the product began to meet the expectations of developers as well. In addition, the pandemic accelerated the processes of change and, for example, the adoption of desk reservation solutions. When it became clear that this could be a commercial solution, the decision was made to spin off Zonifero S.A., which happened in mid-2020.

Since then, the company has been growing dynamically in Poland, and since we usually work with large corporations - we are increasingly implementing our solution abroad as well. So far we have already succeeded in 7 countries - from France to Singapore, while Hungary is the first country outside of Poland where we have implemented Zonifero in an office building.

KF: What services do you offer your customers?

JR: Zonifero is a technology platform that allows you to manage most digital solutions for office tenants from one place. With our tools, you can manage parking, handle visitors, reserve desks, rooms and other amenities, organize hybrid work, communicate with tenants and employees, analyze the use of office resources, etc.

KF: Can you talk about specific technology solutions that have revolutionized your approach to property management?

JR:Our philosophy is simplicity through comprehensiveness. Our product has a lot of functionality, plus it can be extended through integrations with office software (e.g. HR), access control systems, parking systems, electric vehicle chargers, BMS/HVAC, sensors of various types, or even products from the "smart furniture" category like lockers or reception packages.

With Zonifero, all of these things can be managed through a single tool, while employees can use them through a single mobile app.

KF: What are your predictions for the commercial real estate market in the coming years?

JR: The world is moving online - this applies to shopping as well as work or services. This process cannot be stopped. At the same time, we remain human beings and the aspect of relationships, of physical interaction with another human being, but also of changing our surroundings, of communing with a nice space, with physical objects, is something important to us.

Thinking about commercial real estate, therefore, one has to realize that it ceases to be of such utilitarian importance. An office is no longer necessary to do work, just as a store is no longer necessary to store....

KF: What are your most important goals for the coming years? Do you plan to introduce new services or expand into new markets?

JR: We have been striving for a long time to become a company operating in international markets. We have just - as one of 8 European companies (and the first from Poland) joined the REACH UK accelerator program . It's the best gas pedal for technology companies working with real estate, and it opens up huge opportunities for us.

KF: How does the company plan to develop in the area of technological innovation and digitization?

JR:First of all - from the very nature of our business, we are very open to partnerships. With manufacturers of complementary solutions, with technology buyers, with service providers in the commercial real estate segment. We develop our solution based on conversations - formal and informal - and feedback from the market. It is the market, our customers and partners who decide what Zonifero will be in 2, 3 or 5 years....

An interview with Jacek Ratajczak reveals how a small internal project has evolved into a tool used worldwide. Zonifero is not only responding to the needs of the market, but is actively shaping the future of property management with innovative technological solutions. The company is looking to the future with hopes of further expansion and growth, focusing on flexibility and systems integration. As you can see, their success in foreign markets is just the beginning.