The COVID-19 pandemic changed numerous aspects of how we live but it profoundly changed how many people worked, forcing millions to work from home. It also put a spotlight on corporate technology and whether companies could still operate productively and efficiently with many of their staff working at home.
There was a fast adoption of home working technologies such as Zoom, a popular video conferencing platform which reported a daily rise in meeting participants from 10 million in December 2019 to 300 million by March 2020. And Microsoft Teams has more than tripled the number of daily active users since late 2019.
Smart Buildings Take on New Meaning
With an increased focus on health and safety in the workplace, smart buildings can help ensure the workplace and building environment is up to par. Smart offices use automated processes to enhance buildings operations, from air conditioning and heating, through to lighting and security.
This shift towards a fully integrated, tech-enabled and connected network is allowing for big data analysis. For example, the use of technology and sensors means workers may be able to know where in the office is currently best for ‘quiet’ work, or when to avoid peak lift traffic, or where to locate colleagues in the office, or even allocate workspaces or car parking spaces based on the person’s itinerary and preferences.
And in the new socially-distanced workplace, sensing hardware coupled with analytics are able to plan seating allocations based upon configurable social-distancing guidelines/regulations. This newly added feature to the pre-existing analytics tools shows the power of utilizing data and software.
We believe demand for smart office buildings and space will grow over time. Buildings with advanced technology can support a company’s environmental, sustainability, health and wellness objectives while also offering better overall experience for the workforce.