A mere five to eight years ago, having a forward-thinking and tech-savvy workforce meant equipping everyone with a smartphone so all employees, from in-house accountants to off-site field workers, could communicate instantly across time zones and geological barriers. Then, the adoption of Video Teleconferencing (VTC) became more prevalent to facilitate smarter, more effective meetings. As the cloud grew in popularity and scope, data migration took centre stage as companies around the world began the slow and meticulous process of weeding through years of data stored on legacy systems.
Now, the face of the modern office is rapidly changing. On the one hand, many of the technologies that were so prevalent a few years ago are still adopted in full swing today. Smart devices are still affixed to almost every hip, meetings are even more impressive as VTC technology advances, and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platforms help departments leverage cloud computing capabilities.
Still, thanks to the emergence of some impressive tools and more advanced IT services, today’s office worker has access to more capability than ever before, and it appears we’re just scratching the surface. Here are three of the most promising trends that are helping to redefine what a typical workday looks like.
Smart Desks That Deliver
Standing desks or sit/stand desks have been a mainstay in some offices for a few years now. Developed in response to the knowledge that prolonged periods of sitting can have detrimental health effects over time, these desks are designed to promote worker mobility and encourage alertness and productivity.
Still, the innovation doesn’t end there. Newer models are equipped with sensors that can alert an employee when he or she has been sitting (or even standing) too long, and it’s time to move around for a break. They’ll even display instant data on your sitting and standing metrics, so you know exactly what you need to improve upon. While the benefits of this adoption are obvious at the employee level, there are company-wide initiatives as well.
Executives can turn these smart desk installations into a gaming experience for the workforce, allowing departments to compete against each other to see who can garner the healthiest data reports. Thanks to IoT integration, these insights are easy to pull up and record. Moreover, the inputs recorded from these machines can help C-suite leaders better understand how the desks are being utilised. This is especially important in a hot-desking office, defined as one that allows workers to use or rotate desks as required rather than assigning one to each employee.
Smart Conferencing Tools to Promote Collaboration
As technology continues to sophisticate, it’s expected that the traditional meeting and conference room environment is transforming as well. While projectors may have been the go-to source for displaying video and PowerPoint presentations in the past, today’s displays are all about supersized sleekness. To that end, big screen televisions are quickly becoming mainstays for their ability to showcase data more dynamically.
Keep in mind as well that these are not just any big screen televisions. Rather, they’re usually equipped with state-of-the-art smart technology such as Chromecast and Apple TV, meaning that speakers don’t have to fumble around with a flash drive before giving a presentation. There are also apps, such as Zoom, that make it easy for any remote employees to join a conference on-the-go quickly. By just providing a name or a 9-digit number, they can be a part of the conversation instantly, reducing the need for cumbersome email chains sent the day before detailing dial-in instructions.
On the horizon, look for voice-enabled Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies to take centre stage in the business world. Soon, someone will be able to simply walk into the conference room, say a phrase such as Connect to the 9:30 call with headquarters and cue up all the necessary systems. Innovations such as Amazon Alexa for Business are already enabling this functionality on a smaller-scale basis, and as adoption grows, the functionality is expected to become a mainstay.
Energy-Saving, Intelligent Lighting Systems
Research reveals that large office buildings in the United States use approximately 20 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per square foot per year. Smart offices wouldn’t be complete without taking into account ways to help companies offset any power bill spikes that they experience as a result of these new installations. More effective and intelligent lighting systems are appearing to be the response.
There are myriad energy-saving kits available on the market today that seek to remediate this issue. While the specific features of each vary, they’re all designed with one key factor in mind: automation. Most use IP-connected endpoints located in the ceiling to allow companies to automate the colour, intensity and even the temperature of the lighting system. This same automation and IoT integration can be leveraged to help control thermostats, office security systems, HVAC units and more to boost energy savings and better control costs.
As more organisations seek to go green to help the environment and promote a healthier, more eco-conscious company culture, these installations are especially appealing. As such, they are poised to proliferate in the near future, allowing companies to reduce their carbon footprints and make wiser use of office energy.
Today’s Workplace: Smarter, Savvier and More Successful
For those just entering the workforce, having easy access to these types of tools that can improve productivity and cross-department collaboration may seem like a given. Yet, for generations used to sitting through meetings with bulky overhead projectors and dial-up internet, they’re a promising step in the right direction. As the year continues to progress, there’s room for even more developments and possibilities are thrilling. When employees are equipped with the tools they need to be smart, social and savvy, success soon follows.
