Change and disruption are inevitable. But is it possible to notice shifts while they’re actually happening? Certainly, people can be cognisant of a departure from established norms. But when the scale of change is seismic, it can be difficult to fully comprehend it in the moment. This is especially relevant in the world of work, and the juncture that we, as employers and employees alike, find ourselves at.
Putting modern offices into context
In the wake of WeWork, a once-dominant player in office real estate, filing for bankruptcy, discussions about what office space represents in the contemporary context are more prevalent than ever.
One thing is for certain, there’s no going back to pre-pandemic norms. The rules around offices - what they represent and how often we should attend them – have changed irrevocably.
Employees want flexibility. In fact, a recent study by technology provider, Cisco, explored the hybrid working model of 28,000 employees across 27 worldwide markets. 82 per cent of respondents believe the flexibility provided by hybrid work has made them more satisfied and motivated in their roles.
In addition, when employees do decide to work from the office, their expectations for office-based functionality – such as meeting room and work desk technology – are sky high. There is a new demand for in-office technology to not only be consistent and dependable, but to also offer an exceptional user experience.
Up until a few years ago, office space itself would have been considered the facilitator for the entire typology of work functions. But, in this contemporary hybrid working environment, technology is now the cornerstone of work processes and collaboration.
Technology, therefore, has to be the top priority for any organisation investing in new office space, or renovating an existing one. Newly developed or refurbished workplaces offer unique opportunities for technology to fuel modern work practices, rather than hindering them.
The modern office should be a valuable environment that is enticing to employees. Plus, because it’s now often a place that an employee chooses to visit, IT decision-makers and facilities leaders must ensure it works as a collaborative and flexible space for both physical and virtual employees.
Tips and tricks to help define your priorities for any new space:
- Conduct user surveys
- Identify underutilised areas or meeting rooms and understand why they aren’t being used
- Investigate what technology and digital collaboration needs your employees have. What role do they want the office to play in their workday?
- Conduct observations of common areas. How are they being used? Are there any challenges that need to be addressed?
- Invite employees to workshops to define what the office is now, and what it could be in the future
- Pose open-ended questions to customers and employees about their office.
A partner for future planning
For most businesses, undergoing an extensive renovation project or moving into new office spaces are not an everyday occurrence. Such a process demands a lot of time and resources. Prioritisation in this regard can often prove tricky, but for any successful business, this should start with people and technology.
It’s imperative that the needs and goals of your people are assessed from day one of the process, not tacked onto the end of a project. Then, you need define what technology and services are needed to help your teams thrive.
At Kinly, we believe that technology is as important to a successful business as utilities. As a result, technology experts should be involved as early as tradespeople, architects and interior designers in any construction or renovation process.
This enables the all-important flexibility and scalability within the physical space and helps to future-proof your new office. As mentioned, modern expectations have shifted dramatically. Offices now need to be fully equipped with dependable meeting room technology and work desk collaboration capabilities.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Cisco. Its new and comprehensive portfolio of simpler, smarter and more practical business collaboration solutions are designed to empower employees in the hybrid work era.
Striking the right balance between enticing employees back to the office without compromising on the flexibility they desire is crucial. The companies that transform their offices spaces to support hybrid work will be the ones that prosper long-term.
Download Kinly and Cisco's Shaping the Future of Work eGuide to get more insight into how to prioritise your technology for the digital evolution of office spaces.
If you have any questions or need advice about how to prioritise technology within your own office project, please get in touch.
