Smart offices are currently one of the most popular trends in workspace design. Recent stats predict the value of the smart office market to reach $85.11 million by 2026, with North America accounting for almost half of the growth.

A smart office leverages design and technological solutions to improve the efficiency, productivity, and comfort of the workspace, which will positively impact the organization’s bottom line and employee retention. Here are some solutions you should consider investing in to turn your workspace into a smart office.

Benefits of Making the Switch to Smart Office Design

Gone are the days of conventional office setups. With technology advancing at warp-speed, smart offices are fast-becoming the new norm, and it’s easy to see why. A smart office leverages cutting-edge technologies to effectively streamline and automate office operations, resulting in a (sometimes vastly) more efficient and productive workplace. Here are five game-changing benefits of incorporating smart office technology in your workplace:

Boost Relationships with Smooth Communication

Poor office relationships tend to lead to poor performance, which inevitably has a negative effect on business outcomes. Smart offices promote far smoother communications via user-friendly collaboration tools, instant messaging, and uber-convenient file-sharing software. Tools like these help to foster a low-friction environment, where people and ideas can interact with ease to form a foundation for effective collaboration and innovation. 

Be sure to take any reluctant individuals under your wing and encourage them to embrace this tech – it can feel daunting or even intimidating for some, and many people aren’t initially big fans of change, so they may need some extra support to get them feeling comfortable with it.

Supercharge Productivity

Searching for an improved workspace (and the upheaval of relocation) can be a major distraction for employees, with the potential to cause a loss of morale and productivity. Research indicates that companies that invest in new infrastructure experience increased productivity and overall growth. Investing in smart equipment, devices, and systems can dramatically improve morale through a smoother running of business operations.

Improve Employee Retention

Smart office solutions promote a more positive work culture and greater harmony among employees. It has the power to connect every individual as a team, enhancing the easy flow of communication, helping to keep staff feeling united, and transforming the ease with which many operations are performed, resulting in improved employee retention.

Simplify Work Scheduling

Smart technology allows for the creation of simplified work schedules for employees, streamlining the process of work management. With easier document and file sharing among employees, the entire process of work management becomes, well, more manageable.

Increase Employee Engagement

Employees who are the most satisfied with their workplace tend to be the most engaged. They rock up to work energized and eager to generate ideas and contribute to overall business progress. The foundation of a smart office is the Internet of Things (IoT), an intelligent ecosystem that manages various working conditions with the help of several connected devices, and is designed to enhance employee engagement.

IoT in the smart office can be divided into three main categories: infrastructure, repurposed intelligent home devices, and business-specific IoT devices. These technologies are integral components that can essentially help to control virtually everything, from lighting, temperature, and security, to communication, scheduling, and general workflow management.

Investing in smart office technology can bring about exciting transformations in the way your business operates. By improving relationships, boosting productivity and employee retention, streamlining work scheduling, and enhancing engagement, you can create an impressively positive work culture that benefits everyone. 

Here are some key smart office features to consider.

Smart Desks

These desks are designed to be adjustable and usually feature electric motors that allow users to switch between sitting and standing modes. They have outlets that allow occupants to connect electronic devices and accessories easily. Another characteristic of smart desks is that they are usually designed to minimize the amount of space they take in the office without impacting the occupant’s comfort.

Smart desks are ergonomic and come in many shapes and sizes, from standing to traditional sit-down desks. Some of their ergonomic features include adjustable keyboard trays, comfortable armrests, and adjustable monitor arms, which help them preserve your employees’ comfort and well-being even when they work very long hours. 

They also include in-storage solutions, such as drawers and shelves, making it easy to keep your office supplies organized and within reach. On top of that, they feature built-in charging ports for workers’ smartphones or laptops.

Smart Conference Rooms

Implementing these solutions can make conferences and meetings more efficient and productive. Among other tools these conference rooms are equipped with, we find interactive smart boards (or whiteboards), high-end video conferencing technologies, and voice-activated assistants that can help teams get the most out of their meetings.

Smart conference rooms are designed to eliminate distractions and promote collaboration, which is essential for successful meetings. They also allow participants to send updates and reports on the go or even share files over a secure network.

By adding a smart conference room to your office, you can significantly improve the outcome of your meetings, while also providing employees with a more engaging and rewarding work experience.

Access Control Solutions

These systems ensure that only authorized personnel can access your office or specific areas. They are one of the most effective security solutions you can implement, and you must take advantage of them in your smart office.

They include RFID security systems, like keypads and card readers, as well as facial recognition or fingerprint scanners. In addition to helping the business prevent unauthorized access, they can also help you keep track of who is entering and leaving the office and when. These solutions are also useful for businesses and organizations that want to monitor their employees’ attendance or working hours, or to keep track of hybrid workers when they visit the workplace.

One of the most recent trends in access control is substituting physical credentials (like keycards or keys) with digital ones. This allows users to access the office via their smartphones or tablets, which provides an additional layer of security when lost or stolen, as they usually require a passcode or MFA to be used and can be more easily deactivated remotely.

Climate Control Solutions

Implementing smart climate control technologies can provide your office with numerous benefits. 

First, climate control solutions can help you save energy by automatically adjusting the temperature and humidity of your workplace to its current needs. Moreover, by interacting with occupancy sensors, smart climate control systems can detect when the office is empty and shut down HVAC systems, reducing energy consumption.

Climate control technologies range from window sensors that detect when the temperature is too high or low outside to air conditioners and heaters that can be activated at specific times of the day.

Other smart technologies can also be used to monitor the level of air quality in your office. This can help you maintain a healthy and comfortable environment for your employees and also reduce the risk of diseases or allergies.

Smart Lightning Systems

Another technology that can help you make your office more productive and comfortable is smart lighting. It allows office managers to control the intensity of the lights in specific areas of your office, as well as adjust the color temperature for different activities or tasks.

For example, you can set a warmer light for the breakroom to promote relaxation and well-being or switch to brighter lights when your employees need to work on demanding tasks.

Smart lighting systems also allow you to set up automated schedules that turn lights on and off at certain times. Moreover, by communicating with occupancy sensors, they can detect when the office is empty and turn off unused lights, decreasing energy costs.

A Final Word

On the whole, adopting smart office technologies can help you automate processes, improve productivity and maximize your energy efficiency. 

Even though devices may appear like a senseless cost to some, they will significantly boost your ROI in the long run.