Your guide to transforming your office

Over the next several years, the company workspace will likely shift in a number of ways. Here are just a few changes on the horizon:

• Improved collaboration and remote work technology: From improving connectivity options for remote workers to adopting cloud and collaboration apps, it’s vital that companies equip their teams to work from anywhere on any device.
• Shared desks or spaces and hybrid work arrangements: An increasingly common approach, shared spaces allow employees to plan time in a workspace as needed. Team members can come into the office for face-to-face connection or to have a quiet space to finish projects and work remotely when they aren’t needed in the office.
• More comfortable, “homey” spaces: With so many employees now comfortable working at home, companies will want to give them some of the same amenities in the office. Comfortable furniture and more residential color schemes help mimic the feel of the home office.
• More space per employee: With new concerns over hygiene, many companies are increasing their estimate of square footage per employee from 125 sq ft per person to a more generous 195 sq ft per person. This extra space, combined with hybrid and flexible schedules, can allow employees to maintain physical distance while in the office.
• Increased sanitation measures: Frequent sanitization of surfaces, improved air filtration and screening measures for employees entering the office space are just a few of the measures companies are considering to keep employees healthy.
• Increased self-serve options: Some companies are already using vending machines to dispense personal safety equipment. Kitchens and breakrooms will likely employ more self-serve options for food and drink as well.

It’s impossible to talk about corporate real estate in a post-pandemic world without addressing the importance of keeping employees and customers healthy and safe. Going forward, companies will need to address issues such as sanitation, air filtration and health screening of employees and visitors and ensure they have the connectivity to support these new imperatives along with a dispersed workforce.

In this new world, technology is a vital link in creating a workspace that meets high health and safety standards.

• Connectivity: Robust connectivity across all locations allows employees to quickly pivot to working remotely when the company workspace isn’t an option. For example, if an employee falls ill and exposes co-workers, those affected can easily work from home if they have the right connectivity.
• Network monitoring: With team members spread across geographies, it’s more important than ever to give the IT department ways to oversee the network. Solutions such as SD-WAN give better security and control over a dispersed network while simultaneously positioning team members for better productivity.
• Integrations: As companies implement more touchless technology to support remote working, communication and collaboration, healthy building initiatives and more, integrations become a business imperative. The right integrations of apps and monitoring software can help companies have complete line of sight into their IT systems from a centralized location.

Collaboration apps, cloud technology and robust connectivity can allow your employees to work anywhere, anytime, on any device. For companies that embrace and adopt a fully collaborative approach to work, there are no limits to where and when employees can be productive.

According to IDC, the worldwide unified communications and collaboration market grew 26.7% in 2020.

Many companies realized just how unprepared they were for business disruption in spring of 2020 when government restrictions required them to close their offices and ask employees to work from home. But disruption doesn’t just come in the form of global pandemics. Anything from a localized weather event to a national emergency can keep employees from getting to the office.

Reimagining the workspace and retooling work technology can position your company to weather disruption. For more information about how to maintain business continuity, download our sheet Five Steps You Can Take Today to Prepare for the Next Disruption.

Now is the perfect time to look forward and think about how to create a work environment that encourages collaboration, positions your company for growth, meets the needs of customers and sets a good example for other organizations.

• Business continuity: Don’t be caught unprepared for the next disruption. Now is the time to make sure your employees can collaborate from anywhere. It’s a good time to think about migrating to cloud solutions that position your team to work anywhere on any device.
• Connectivity: Whether your team works from one location or hundreds, connectivity is mission-critical for everything from day-to-day operations to surviving disruption to long-term competitive advantage. Commercial landlords need to ensure that buildings have the infrastructure necessary for tenants, and business owners will need to look for properties and locations that provide the best foundation to build their own networks. Increasingly, companies will look for real estate that indicates a sustainable and forward-thinking approach to connectivity through certifications such as Wired Score.
• Devices for the mobile worker: As work arrangements become more fluid, it may be a good time to make sure that your team members are equipped with everything they need to shift from office to home and back again as needed.