If you’re looking for ways to future-proof your workplace and keep up with emerging technology, here are 6 trends your company should say YES to in the year ahead.
Technology has come a long way in the past decade. Driverless cars are moving passengers from A to B. Robot waiters are taking lunch orders. And although we don’t all have cyborg office sidekicks just yet, workplace technology is evolving at breakneck speed.
From integrated sensors to facility management software, there has never been a better time for facility managers to leverage emerging workplace trends and improve the way their people connect and work as employees.
Remember how cassettes and VHS tapes were phased out shortly after the dawn of the internet? Well, the same thing is happening to printed floor plans in the workplace.
Here’s how enhanced digital wayfinding and touchscreen kiosks are turning static floor plans into powerful workplace tools.
Tools like Visual Directory® in OfficeSpace turn can turn your floor plan into a powerful, digital search engine. With enhanced wayfinding, anyone on your team can use a digital version of your facility floor plan to:
Employees can access your floor plan on the go, using any device. And changes to your floor plan are reflected in real-time. Which means that if an employee switches seats, or if a printer is moved from one location to another, everyone on your team will be able to see the change instantly and act accordingly.
Many companies are taking wayfinding to the next level by installing touchscreen wayfinding kiosks throughout their facilities.
Wayfinding kiosks give your employees instant, convenient access to your floor plan while they’re walking the floor. Dedicated wayfinding kiosks throughout your facility can bring huge improvements to employee efficiency and satisfaction. They can also help new hires and site visitors find their way around your facility with ease.
You might have heard that inspiration is more likely to strike while you’re moving around. But did you know that activity-based workspaces that encourage movement throughout the workday can affect major improvements to employee productivity, engagement, and job satisfaction?
In a survey by Slumders and Clariji, over 60% of respondents said they had more energy in an activity-based working environment. And British utility company National Grid slashed operational costs and saw increases in employee productivity after introducing activity-based working.
Forward-thinking companies are acting on this data by creating activity-based workspaces that foster collaboration, inspiration, and engagement.
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At OfficeSpace we’re seeing our clients set up activity-based workspaces for:
A workplace management platform can help you designate and manage activity-based workspaces in your facility. Sensor technology can also help you monitor usage data and optimize your facility’s activity-based workspaces over time.
Room booking software has been around for a while now. Until recently, though, it functioned as a standalone app, separate to a company’s workplace management platform. Now, room booking software is integrated with most major workplace management platforms.
When room booking software is fully integrated with your workplace management platform, it brings a new level of efficiency and ease to the room booking process by:
The benefits of implementing room booking software aren’t exclusive to employees. The fact that room booking software can improve business drivers is great news for facilities managers and workplace leaders, too.
Flexible working has been around for a long time now and, through plenty of trial and error, organizations have discovered that there really is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to desk sharing in the workplace.
This is why we’re seeing major advancements in workplace management software—improvements that are helping facility managers create a fully customized approach to desk booking that works perfectly for their employees.
Workplace software tools like Desk Booking in OfficeSpace can help you offer any combination of hot desking (book desks on the spot) or hoteling (reserve desks in advance) in your facility.
If you have workplace sensors installed, you can also set up and automate the management of free addressing desks and neighborhoods. Sensors and your IWMS give your employees real-time access to available free addressing desks on your floor plan, so there’s no need for your facilities team to get involved with the booking process.
Workplace sensor technology is exploding in popularity. Installed throughout the workplace, sensors collect anonymous facility data that was impossible to track manually.
Workplace leaders in every industry are combining sensor technology and workplace management software to:
We’ve partnered with leading providers like VergeSense and SenzoLive to help our clients leverage sensor technology and make improvements to the workplace.
If you’re new to workplace sensor technology, check out the 11 ways you can use sensors in the workplace.
Internet of Things (or “IoT” for short) technology is a catch-all term for devices that are equipped with sensors, software, and other connectivity capabilities that allow them to sync and exchange data.
You’ve probably experienced IoT devices like smart home appliances and smartwatches in your personal life. And there’s a good chance that they’re already working away in the background at your workplace, too.
If you’re new to the idea of an IoT-powered facility, here are some of the ways our clients are using IoT technology to bring improvements and efficiency to the workplace.
If you could supervise different areas of your facility without having to walk the floor and check those areas manually, would you do it? IoT sensors are helping facilities managers do just that by automatically monitoring requests and other facility tasks. IoT devices can also monitor equipment and spaces and notify the right department if something needs to be restocked, fixed, or checked out.
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IoT technology is also widely used for facility monitoring and building security. Devices like security cameras and fobs, motion-sensor lights, automated locks, and alarms are contributing to 24/7 workplace security.
Integrating the following IoT devices and tech to your workplace can make huge improvements to employee satisfaction and well-being:
IoT technology can also optimize your space to improve air quality and reduce noise.
Combining workplace technology with a powerful workplace management platform like OfficeSpace means you’ll have the tools and features you need to transform the workplace and deliver an exceptional employee experience.
OfficeSpace integrates with the world’s leading workplace technology providers. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help you create the workplace you’ve always wanted, book a demo with our team.
And if you’re still not sure where to start with emerging workplace technology and trends, Learn how to audit your current workplace tech and prioritize your future needs in our guide: Technology for your workplace, where to begin?
Photo Credits: Carlos Muza, Daria Shevtsova, Gerd Altmann