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Workplace technologies being fast-tracked by COVID-19

Technologies like workplace apps or climate sensors are not necessarily new – however, their adoption has been accelerated thanks to the requirements of our new working world.

October 12, 2020

As organisations around the world re-open their buildings, it's vital that employees are returning to a safe and healthy environment. Workplace technology solutions can help you navigate this next normal.

In this post, we explore four key workplace technologies experiencing an uptick in demand as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Workplace apps

Before the pandemic, enabling employees to book a desk or meeting room via their mobile phone was considered a rare nicety.  More recently, such apps have become highly sought after. Apps are not limited to booking systems though; smart workplaces are using them to minimise physical contact, with capabilities to:

  • Access buildings, floors and elevators
  • Order food and beverage
  • Stay up to date on emergency communications
Contactless tech

Mobile apps are one way to create a contactless work environment. Other technologies gaining traction in the workplace include:

  • Voice control: Siri, Alexa and the like are already commonplace in the home, but expect this technology to become progressively more common in corporate and commercial environments.
  • Gesture control: Gesture control (such as waving your hand to open a door) can be used where non-secure access is appropriate. Others uses could include gesture-driven lobby displays, wayfinding kiosks, or digital whiteboards in meeting rooms. 
  • Biometric access control: Facial recognition provides a genuinely frictionless, contactless experience. Biometrics can be used for purposes including secure access and the creation of personalised environmental settings such as light and temperature, as well as personalised wayfinding.   
Sensors and environment monitoring

With an increased focus on the ‘healthy office’,  many workplaces now feature connected technologies that gather data about the office environment.    

IoT sensors, for example, can capture a wealth of data on its surrounds. This allows workplace leaders to implement environmental improvements such as heating, cooling and lighting which all have significant impacts on employee health and wellbeing.  

Virtual-friendly meeting room technology

Conference and meeting rooms are getting a makeover to create a productive and efficient meeting experience for those physically present as well as those who connect virtually. These digitally-inclusive rooms incorporate:

  • Easy to use, fully integrated video conferencing software
  • High-quality camera equipment 
  • Digital whiteboard tools
Where to invest

As with any technology, once you begin to explore what’s possible, it is easy to become dazzled.  We suggest starting by establishing your business and technical requirements, then assessing technologies against those needs.  Another factor to consider is how these technologies can grow and change with the organisation’s needs in the future, post-pandemic. 

If you’d like to learn more about what your organisation might need, join us for our upcoming webinar: The Smart Office of the Post-Pandemic World: How to use workplace technology to right-size your workplace, ensure employee safety and optimise wellbeing.

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