Abstract

Commercial real estate transaction processes are inherently complex, multi-faceted, and multifarious due to multiple intermediaries, a high volume of signed documentation, high costs, and the illiquid nature of these transactions. An emerging area in blockchain technology is smart contracts which hold much potential to transform the commercial real estate industry through the digitalization of decentralized business models that ensure transaction transparency and validity. Despite the potential benefits of smart contracts, their use in the commercial real estate industry is at a nascent stage. In response to this gap, this study proposes a novel approach using Ethereum blockchain technology to enable intermediaries to transact in an informationally symmetrical way within an open real estate in Switzerland. The proposed conceptual model employs tokenisation on the blockchain and is developed using the action design science research methodology. The model undergoes several stages of evolution from pre-design, which is validated through expert interviews, to arrive at the final conceptual design. The study identifies key factors that influence the application of blockchain in real estate transactions, namely adoption, governance and compliance, transaction costs, transparency and immutability, security, and scalability. The results indicate that smart contracts have the potential to significantly reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency in the commercial real estate industry.