Technology and the Future Workplace
Tegan Thomas, Dthrees Client Relationship Manager talks to us about the future of the workplace and the vital role technology plays.
Tell us about yourself…
I am the newest member to the Dthree team, responsible for managing Dthree’s existing relationships as well as developing new relationships with property agents, consultants and potential clients.
Outside of work I love travelling, experiencing different cultures, meeting new people and tasting new food!
Why Business Development?
A lot of people I speak to in this sector happen to ‘fall’ into Business Development, however, this was something I’ve had my heart set on for a while now. My first job out of school was for a Design and Build recruitment company specialising in placing Sales and Marketing Managers within the fit-out sector, so for me it was a natural progression. I loved the thought of meeting new people, learning new things about the industry and building genuine relationships.
The events side is another key reason I decided to move into Business Development. I find it so fulfilling organising a calendar of events to help grow the business. Dthree hosted our first ‘Women in property’ event in July which was a huge success and great to meet so many inspiring women within our industry.
As part of my role, I also attend (as well as host) industry events to help shape and broaden my knowledge on the ever changing expectations and functions of the workplace.
What have you learnt so far from this role?
The fundamental significance that the office holds for any business and the people using it. The modern office is all about creating a workplace where people actually want to be. After all, the happier you are, the more productive you will be.
One key trend of 2019 is the evolution of Workplace Technology which now holds a huge significance to the successful functioning of a well-designed office. Something we live by at Dthree is that office design is not just about how a space looks, but is mostly about how it works – technology plays a key part in ensuring our working environments actually work.
Over the last few years the workplace has been moving in a “home from home” direction, where employees are put first on a number of levels, from wellness to flexibility. Agile working is also on the rise as most office workers don’t need to be based in the office 5 days a week to do their job effectively. For companies to enable this so that it works well and benefits both them and their employees, technology is vital. Smart offices, smart buildings and Augmented Reality are key ways technology is increasingly being used within workplace to improve how businesses / people work, and are features we can expect to see more of to form the ‘future workplace’.
Smart Offices
A smart office is a workplace where technology enables people to work better, faster and of course, smarter. Beacons, sensors and mobile apps help employees perform menial tasks quickly, so they still have enough time to focus on growing businesses and innovating’
The workplace is getting smarter. Companies are starting to realise the benefits of converting their current office into a smart work space. From retaining staff to improving collaboration there are several reasons why offices are becoming smart.
Smart Buildings
‘A smart building is a structure that uses automated processes to control the building’s operations including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, security and other systems. It uses sensors, actuators and microchips, in order to collect data and manage it according to a business’ functions and services.’
Smart building essentials include:
- Sustainability
- Staying Connected
- Accessible (Mobile phone door access)
- A WELL building
It is predicted that by 2030, millennials are expected to make up 75% of the workforce – and they are demanding a more productive and flexible work environment that enables activity-based working.
Augmented reality
Augmented Reality works to improve communication by providing presence as well as flexibility to workers. Augmented reality is an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to overlay digital information on an image of something being viewed through a device.
There are many benefits for implementing AR within the workplace. From real estate to travel & tourism to construction and retail it seems to be improving business growth as well as customer interaction. Construction companies are using AR to train employees about health & safety on building sites. It offers a hands-on experience without any risk to workers safety or the equipment. It is also particularly useful within the real estate sector. AR is enabling clients to look around a property without even needing to leave their office.
Cloud computing is ‘the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer. It is the future of the office and allows employees to work flexibly as they can access data from their home, whilst they’re on holiday or even on their commute to and from work (providing WIFI). This allows business to communicate and share files a lot easier internally and externally, if you are involved in a project across different locations, you can use the cloud to share files.”
Find out more about our office designs and how we implement technology in the workplace here