How Workplace Technology Can Support the Return to the Office

Employees are worried about returning to office. Many have seen they could get their jobs done wherever they are and no longer see the need for the cubicle. As employees make a return to the office, technology will be at the center of what was once office-centric workplace and good communication will be important as companies make this transition. In this article, we are going to explore how workplace technology can support the return to the office.

Using Portable Technology

During the lockdown, portable technologies like laptops and tablets were instrumental in ensuring the possibility of remote working. It is surprising that many organizations were not using portable tech in their offices prior to the outbreak. The companies who were slow to incorporate these technologies have no choice but to be tech-savvy if they want to maintain productivity.

The use of portable technology helps in facilitating remote working, and allows employees to work wherever they expect maximum productivity. The daily use of portable technology will ensure workplace readiness for the future.

Using Collaboration Tools

Collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc., have showed that the most face-to-face meetings could easily be done virtually. Several office hours have been saved by using collaboration tools. As employees return back to the office, collaboration tools will ensure smooth transition, especially when it comes to video conferencing. Another benefit of collaboration tools is that that they will help in communicating with employees while enforcing social distancing in the workplace. Also, they increase efficiency in liaising with customers and clients without direct contact.

Using Tech to Control Office Traffic

One of the biggest challenges many businesses face when returning to work after coronavirus is preventing overcrowding in their office. To avoid overcrowding, businesses need to have a system in place to prevent overcrowding, maintain social distancing and ensure maximum productivity. With a large workforce, simply communicating daily with the team can be less effective. With occupancy sensors, you can track office traffic, identify where people work and gather frequently. For a quick short-term fix, you can implement tech that can ensure your occupancy levels are safe before entering the office, and also track capacity.

Using Technology for Better Ventilation and Air Quality

The nature of how COVID-19 spread has caused a huge concern for many business owners. Because of how the virus quickly spread via ventilation, businesses may need to consider ways to improve the ventilation in their office. Most corporate tenants have a central heating system or air conditioning. Central air conditioning helps in controlling temperature but does not improve air quality. In order to improve ventilation, it is essential to consider the implementation of an HVAC system that provides a better quality of air in the office by bringing in fresh air from outside and removing “dirty” air from inside, as well as controlling temperature and replenishing oxygen levels. Studies have shown that when you improve the air quality at work, you improve productivity.