In a hybrid workplace, having integrations to make operations simpler is a necessity. Hybrid work requires a lot of communication, automation, and security. The point of a “connected” workplace is that everyone is working together seamlessly and is focused on achieving goals for the company.Â
In this article, we will discuss what exactly is a connected/integrated workplace, its importance, and how you can transform your workspace into one.
What is an integrated workplace?
An integrated or connected workplace refers to a set of technological tools that allow for the smoothest operations for your team to work productively and without any issues. An integrated workspace is crucial in a hybrid workplace as the most updated technology is needed to keep operations running effortlessly.Â
With people working from home and in-office, you must make sure that your workplace can keep up with the demands of your team and industry. The best way to do so is to ensure that your space is automated and updated with the most useful integrations to avoid wasting time on unnecessary and easily automated tasks.
Benefits of an integrated workplace
1. Automation
Automation is a key component that will make your space simpler to manage and sustain. In your hybrid work model, you will want to make sure your team has access to booking their necessary workspaces when they come in and be able to see who is using what area and for how long. This will create transparency within your company and also allow your team to plan out their work better.Â
For example, if one of your employees wants to book a room or a desk to do their work in-office, they could easily do so online and reserve their spot, knowing that they will have somewhere to sit and be productive when they come.
2. Lower costs
When you integrate your workplace, it may cost more than you initially planned to spend, as good software and technology are not usually cheap. However, by integrating your office space and creating better automation and security, you prevent the risk of problems coming along that could cause a big loss of revenue.Â
For example, without a booking system in place, your employees would risk losing time trying to find available spots and being disorganized, which could cause a loss of productivity and motivation.Â
Another aspect could be a potential breach in your security system. Without a proper security system in place (especially network security), your company could face major financial loss.
3. More time to focus on more important tasks
With the automation of your space, and other aspects taken care of by great technological tools, you and your team will be able to focus your time on more important tasks that pertain to your business. For example, think about figuring out what you’d do if you had more employees coming into the office than your office would accommodate.Â
If all these aspects are taken care of and are completely out of your hands, then you can focus on growing your business, a task that is not easily automated.
4. Familiarity with your space
With a connected workplace, things seamlessly link with each other through various integrations, creating a pathway for your tools to operate consistently. With this in motion, it will allow you to understand your workspace better. You will be able to see where the needs are and fix them accordingly. This will also instil a sense of familiarity with you and your team about your space and the demands that come with it, as well as any issues that you may need to resolve.Â
You will also be able to make informed decisions based on these tools’ data about your space
How to integrate your workplace
A great thing to keep in mind when creating an integrated/connected workspace is that not every place is the same. With different space needs also come different technological needs. However, a couple of aspects are important to keep in mind when building a connected hybrid workspace. For example, you must consider privacy and security and a good space booking system and a good management system. All these technologies will be stored in the cloud and make for a pleasant and organized work experience.Â
Office automation is a crucial component when moving to a hybrid work model. When integrating your space, it comes down to analyzing your needs, doing your research, and finding the best products that can benefit your company and team.
A guide on how to find tech tools that will benefit you:
Step 1: Analyze your business and space
The most important part of building a connected workspace is learning where the workplace needs help. If you need to find a way to automate bookings, then look into booking management systems. If you need to build security around your space, then look for security systems.Â
Try to recognize the areas that are lacking or that you need help with and figure out your space’s needs before you dive into anything else.
Step 2: Get to know your team's needs
Your employees’ needs are just as important as your space’s needs. A good way to determine what your team thinks is by surveying them. The best way to make an informed decision on behalf of your team is to involve them and give them a voice.Â
When you have found areas in which your employees may be spending too much time that could be easily automated or taken care of, that would be a good indication of what you should be looking for.
Step 3: Research what's on the market
Once you’ve established the needs of your space and team, the next step is to compile a list of all the tools that may help you achieve your goals. Again, it is a good idea to do some research on every tool and compare them so that you can narrow down the list even more before trying them out.
Step 4: Try them out
Many tools offer free trials or even scheduled demo sessions where you can go and test them out. Make sure you take advantage of this and try out the options you have narrowed down. By trying them yourself, you will recognize whether these tools will be beneficial to you and your team or if they won’t be.Â
Once you have tried them out, it’s time to decide and choose the one that fits your company best.
Step 5: Integrate and make adjustments as you go
After choosing a tool, you can safely integrate it and teach your team how to navigate it. Keep in mind that a lot of adjustments will need to be made as time passes. Do your best to explain everything properly from the get-go, and try to understand it best yourself so that you can answer questions when needed.
Conclusion
Making your hybrid workspace integrated is a very important part of efficiency and productivity. Integrated workspaces create many beneficial outcomes for your workspace including lower business costs and easier automation leading to productivity.
