Workplace Trends to Watch in 2020
Trends in the workplace change at the speed of light, and in order to support employee engagement and satisfaction, it’s important to understand how they’re shaping office design. Keeping on top of these trends can give your team and your business a competitive edge. Below we explain which trends to watch and the best ways to leverage them.
Cloud Coverage
Cloud computing and storage is expected to keep growing exponentially throughout the coming months. Using cloud-based software and platforms can streamline business processes and office management from the ground up. You can find tools for facilitating collaboration, optimizing project management, organizing data, document storage, customer relationship management, and so much more. And it’s all available to you without the hassle of managing installations and updates, which can free up your IT staff for other projects.
Think about your current setup and the cloud- or web-based tools you currently use to run your business. Do you frequently find that they’re not working because of poor internet connectivity? Are you lacking the infrastructure to invest in these tools to begin with? Depending on your answer, your bottom line could be negatively impacted by the lack of support you have to leverage cloud-based tools.
Automation
Repetitive, everyday tasks are perfect for automation. The same tools that use the cloud can also help you save time and money and make your days more efficient with automation. Marketing is one of the best examples of how automation can benefit your business. Schedule social media posts, outsource content creation, and invest in platforms that can dig deep into your data (without too much work on your end) to help make informed decisions.
And it doesn’t just stop at that! Setting up auto-pay for business bills and setting up electronic invoicing and payments can also help free up your days for more integral business-building tasks. Delegating is another way to automate tasks that software might not be able to take care of. If you’re in sales, for example, use a virtual assistant to book appointments and make follow-up calls to potential or current clients to help build those relationships.
Remote Working
While working from home was once a luxury, remote flexibility is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. Remote working can boost employee morale and engagement, improve productivity, and reduce absenteeism. The key to a successful remote work program is to build a workspace and IT infrastructure that supports the tools that allow for seamless communication when a worker is out of the office and needs to check-in or participate in videoconferencing.
The best remote work strategy, though, is starting with a plan. While it’s not reasonable to dictate to employees how to work when they’re not in the office, it’s important to have a standard set of guidelines in place. These ground rules will hold employees to your high expectations and prevent the pitfalls and miscommunications that could easily lead to productivity issues.
Activity-based workstations
Not all employees need (or want!) to sit at a desk in front of a computer during work hours, and your office space should support those choices. The trend is manifesting as diverse set-ups that include defined areas for different tasks: A casual area for socializing, team workstations instead of individual desks, a huddle room for virtual meetings, or large tables for easy team communication.
Choosing an office space that has plenty of room to shift this setup is key for making this trend work. Skip cubicles or offices with closed doors! You want a wide-open, flexible footprint that allows for dynamic movement. This approach isn’t right for every employee or organization, but when it works it has been shown to improve morale, engagement, and productivity.
BYOD
Do you remember when it was a big-time faux pas to use your personal phone at work? A bring-your-own-device policy is a trend that has turned that idea on its head. Companies are realizing the benefits of not having to invest in disparate tech for employees and skipping the training and educational period that many teams need when they adopt a new device.
While BYOD can eliminate a long list of frustrations in the workplace, it also requires a sharp eye on cybersecurity. The IT infrastructure needs to be fast and secure, with the ability to control how data comes in and goes out. Your employees may be sending private, sensitive information during work hours — work hard to protect it.
Regardless of the trends that come and go, if your workspace doesn’t currently have what it takes to leverage them, your business could suffer and it’s time to upgrade. If you’re a business of any kind, the Globe Building’s position on the fiber optic backbone, on-site power substation, and unique construction provide abundant resources to run your business reliably and affordably into the future!
