Print.IT Reseller - issue 71

01732 759725 40 CONNECTED WORKPLACE ...continued the indoor air quality sensors to the ventilation system can help reduce CO2 levels and increase performance. Building occupancy levels As people begin to work differently, taking advantage of the opportunity to work from home, as an example, the office space must also adapt. Banks of empty fixed desks come at a considerable expense which need not be the case if agile working spaces were instead used. The spread of Coronavirus is creating an exaggerated view of this, of course, but using occupancy sensors to monitor desk and meeting room space will enable fact- based decision-making. Having the correct number of fixed vs hot desks could help dictate how many employees could be allocated to a space and how many floors / buildings are required. Equally, using this data to understand how meeting rooms are used will help dictate how many meeting rooms there are and of what size. Access to data Needing a specific paper file which is locked away in an office cupboard when you're at another location is a situation I'm sure we’ve all experienced at some point or another. Being able to securely access the information we need, when we need it, on the devices which best meet our needs, is key to enabling the Connected Workplace. In our roles as ‘knowledge workers’, where we think for a living compared to undertaking the physical tasks completed previously, it’s critical that we’re able to access and apply information. This helps us to solve problems and generate ideas. Storing this information in cloud environments assists with this, but a more formal document management system will help control the documents including who has access to them and what versions are in circulation. Assets support people Printers and multifunctional devices have long supported the completion of work through the printed page. They continue to ensure their relevance in the workplace is maintained through the additional functionalities which are being created. An example of this might include the variety of apps which are being built to solve specific client issues. Outside of the physical office, it’s likely that smartphone, tablet and laptop devices enable work to be completed in an effective way. The technology provided through work was historically far superior to the devices we had available to us in our personal lives, but this is no longer the case. Work devices now need to play catch-up, as smart speakers and security technology become commonplace in the home. These will, in time, play a more significant role in helping us run efficient workplaces. Benefits and opportunities As is often the case in such situations, doing nothing is typically not an option. If you’re standing still, there’s a good chance that you're actually drifting backwards. The competition will be making strides in these areas, so it's best to get started now. Below are some of the main benefits which can be realised: n Increased productivity which drives efficiency gains across the business; n Happier and more fulfilled employees which increases retention rates and reduces the cost of replacing talented individuals; n Healthier employees which reduces the time taken off ill or with stress; and n Increased knowledge and an overall improved employee experience, which in turn will help create a better customer experience, resulting in greater levels of success for the business. End clients are seeking support on this journey, which provides a golden opportunity for managed service providers. Expanding the service offering and creating deeper partnerships will be far more likely to successfully defend competitor enquiries. Keeping in mind that for the workplace to truly deliver, buildings, people, assets and data must work together seamlessly. This will help deliver a greater employee and customer experience as well as ensure higher levels of operational excellence. www.ibcg.co.uk the employee experience is poor. If employees are unhappy or unfulfilled, it stands to reason that the customer experience will soon suffer too. Building blocks of the connected workplace There are four key building blocks of the connected workplace; four components which need to be considered, specifically: n Buildings – the physical environment in which people work, which as stated earlier, continues to evolve away from fixed office space; n People – including the management team, employees, visitors, customers and suppliers; n Assets – physical assets such as smartphones and laptops, printers and multifunctional devices. But also, software assets, apps and cloud services we use on a daily basis; and n Data – both the data used to complete work as well as the data created by the buildings, people and assets. All of these are related to one another. All connected. They all have an impact, positively or negatively, on how work gets done, and if we get any of these wrong, or we stand still for too long, we’ll start to fall behind. Buildings’ impact on wellbeing Health and wellbeing are directly impacted by our surroundings. Monitoring indoor air quality data in real-time using widely available sensors, provides the information necessary to make informed decisions. Temperature, humidity and CO2 levels have an impact on wellbeing. Everyone will have experienced periods of lethargy during the working day where we’ve not quite felt on the ball. CO2 heavily influences our ability to stay focused, use information effectively or undertake complex strategic thinking. Linking The technology provided through work was historically far superior to the devices we had available to us in our personal lives