Software can help you decide how best to use the space in the office, by observing what spaces workers use and which ones they don’t. You can then plan to re-arrange as needed. If the company is large and hoteling is a common practice, you can use CAFM software to note which stations are usually occupied and which ones are generally ignored. This can help you see if anything about the floor design needs to be tweaked.
You can also consider using software to reserve spaces needed for more quiet and concentration, if there isn’t a dedicated quiet space already available. While each person works differently under certain noise conditions, quiet can be a great aid to creativity. When deadlines approach and a worker really needs to focus, that quiet space can especially be a life-saver. Software can help workers by allowing them to reserve hoteling or meeting room space, if some is available for the day.
In a previous blog we discussed the practice of hoteling, or a system in which desks are used on an as-needed basis, instead of belonging to one particular person. According to the Inc. article, today’s offices don’t see a 1:1 ratio when it comes to people and desks. Instead, the new relationship between workers and space lets offices think beyond the usual chair and desk. Now, workspaces can be couches, armchairs, or tables. For offices with the more traditional layouts, this new flexibility can lead to a better use of space and resources, as well as more mobility and change for office workers. Here the software comes into play by helping FMs analyze usage through space utilization reports; it can also help workers reserve open spaces where they’d like to work for the day.
Another tip for office design is to think of the office in terms of zones, like an urban planner. While the advice is meant to apply to places used for different purposes (i.e. the kitchen for conversation, somewhere more closed off for getting work done), it’s useful for FMs to think of seating workers according to what “zone” of the company they work for. Using a tool such as OfficeSpace’s Visual Directory™, FMs can see whether space is being used effectively. If a person gets promoted and needs to be closer to their team, for example, the software can help the FM make the necessary moves so that the person is in the proper “zone.”
One of the simultaneous blessings and curses with any business is experiencing growth and not being able to keep up with it. When the space can barely support the number of staff, it can cause numerous logistical problems. CAFM software can help prevent this issue by letting FMs catch the problem early on. Facilities can prevent the issue that befalls many offices when they don’t have the tools to plan for the future.
Designing a successful office requires more than just vibrant colors and interesting furniture. You also need something to support the company’s growth, organize the space, and facilitate moves into larger offices. OfficeSpace Software can help you do this by covering the less visible part of office design: space allocation. It affects more than a person would assume, and when you have a planning tool to help you track space, you can create the optimal office design.
Image credit:Grant Cochrane/freedigitalphotos.net
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