We are in the midst of a new revolution – the hybrid work revolution.
COVID-19 has not only impacted work models, but it has impacted how commercial office spaces are used and managed. Many emerging technologies and tools are helping businesses to adapt their commercial office spaces to the post-pandemic workforce and helping business leaders to identify the potential to downsize their office spaces.
Read on to learn about the technologies and tools that have emerged alongside the hybrid work revolution.
Emerging Trends In The Commercial Office Sphere
The pandemic has introduced many technological innovations and has impacted how business leaders approach their commercial office space management. The pandemic’s additional requirements placed on businesses can be introduced and facilitated using these effective technologies.
Hybrid Working Models
The pandemic forced many businesses to quickly shift from an in-office work model to a remote work model, which has caused companies to adopt tools and technologies that facilitate remote working.
Now that businesses are returning to the office, the tools that support remote working allow them to offer employees hybrid work options. Hybrid working will enable employees to save time and money spent commuting to the office each day and improve their quality of life. It also benefits in-office collaboration and communication, which most businesses need to function effectively.
In addition to improving the quality of life for employees, hybrid working allows business leaders to change how they use their commercial office spaces. They can use tools to analyze whether there is an opportunity to downsize their office space, which is a desirable option and can significantly reduce the business’ monthly overheads. Communal workspaces, also known as co-working spaces, are becoming increasingly popular to facilitate collaboration when employees visit the office.
COVID19 has introduced a new way for businesses to manage their employees remotely, which presents a massive opportunity for improved productivity and savings.
Lease Management Software
With businesses downsizing more frequently due to the increased adoption of hybrid working, it has become increasingly crucial for business leaders to manage their leases effectively. Business leaders must observe important milestones like lease renewal and termination more closely.
Lease management software allows business leaders to manage their lease portfolios more effectively. Lease management software provides business leaders knowledge of any changes in their commercial property leases, such as amendments or changes in rent, terminations, and renewals. Missing these critical events can be particularly costly, so it is important that business leaders keep track of these milestones for their commercial properties.
You can share your lease management software reports with your team to build better strategies and improve communications between relevant parties. Your leasing team will always be in the loop with lease management software without any additional effort.
Occupancy Management
If business leaders choose to use a hybrid work model following the pandemic, it can be helpful to gather data regarding office space usage.
By integrating occupancy management software with internal and external door locks in their access control system, business leaders can analyze whether there is an opportunity to downsize their office space. For example, if their occupancy management software shows the occupancy levels within their office building rarely rise over half of the whole occupancy level, this would indicate that the business needs only half of their current office space.
This is a precious tool that can help your business save money on office space and evaluate how useful the amenities and workspaces in your office building are to your employees.
Desk Hoteling
When introducing hybrid working, business leaders must ensure employees are guaranteed space when they visit the office. If your employees drive to the office only to find no spare desks available, this will waste company time and cause employees to become frustrated. With the increase in super-commuters due to hybrid working, their commute may be longer than a fully in-office work model.
Desk hoteling allows employees to reserve desk space in shared office space for when they plan to visit the office on a user-friendly app. The app displays your office floor plan, which seats are booked, which are available, and who each desk is reserved for. This way, your employees can sit with friends or in teams when they visit the office.
Summary
These tools and implementations have all emerged in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic, making remote working options accessible to a wider range of businesses. Businesses can evaluate their lease spending and determine whether hybrid working would present the opportunity to downsize their office space and significantly reduce their monthly overheads.