Digital technologies like mobile applications, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT) are completely transforming the way we work today. The work profiles, job roles, and working styles are gradually changing too. With all the changes happening around, the traditional workplace designs are struggling to make a cut in the future. Moreover, the human to machine collaboration, dynamic workforce demographics are further revolutionizing the way we work and how we work. To address these workplace changes and challenges, companies require innovative, and next-gen workplace design concepts.

What Does the Future Hold?

When you want to determine how changing technology will transform the next generation workplace, it is important to recognize that we are marching towards an ‘individual contributor’ working style. It means multiple moving parts of the office setup collaborates with the individual contributor; which means coworking facilities and innovative workspaces will continue to dominate.

Trending technology and its adaptions in the workplace design

‘One-size-fits-all’ is no longer a relevant workplace design concept. The new age design studies the individual needs of the different types of employees and creates spaces suiting to their individual needs like whiteboard rooms, creative section, relaxation area along with high-end health and wellness features. Let us understand how different technologies are incorporated into workplace designs:

Shared Screens

Video teleconferencing and shared whiteboarding is an emerging concept that is gaining momentum.

Microsoft’s Surface Hub, for example, is built on this concept. It is a giant Surface tablet with an 80-inch TV attached. Additionally, Steelcase is collaborating with Microsoft to work on this concept and create a room where multiple rooms can be linked together and real-time whiteboarding sessions can be conducted among different teams working from any part of the world.

Credential Technology

Phones use fingerprint sensors and face-recognition to identify the owner and to easily unlock the phone. Similar concept is being adapted in the workplace, where the system starts booting without signing in with passwords and usernames. The retina-scanning, finger-print sensors, biometric system is used to identify the people. The system also enhances the overall security of the system. The concept will soon be widely accepted, and the workplace design will have to be modified accordingly.

The Cloud

Collaborative workplaces and remote workers require access to data outside the corporate boundaries, Cloud technology helps in simplifying the process. The need for dedicated data centre and in-house data storage facilities is no longer required in the office setup. Hence designs should be accordingly modified to adapt to absence of dedicated data centres.

The Internet of Things

IoT impacts the workplace in myriad ways. With the advent of Smart apps, team members can conduct teleconferencing which can seamlessly connect the remote participants. Additionally, the new age meeting rooms are equipped with facilities like call up whiteboard notes, lighting, climate, and camera adjustments, waiting time signals, etc. with voice-controlled features to fulfil the changing needs.

Futuristic furniture for a Wireless Age

The new furniture is built for a computer-driven and healthier workplace. Chairs and tables have adjustable length where the employees can adjust their desk based on their comfort-level. It also includes ergonomic features for long working hours.

Sensor Technology for Environmental Factors

The latest designing trend is to incorporate more light, temperatures, and motion sensors in the office design. These sensors collect data that generate statistics on the utilization of the different spaces around the office. It assesses the areas that are most active in the office and the ones that are underused. The designers can then rework on the unused areas to enhance its appeal. The sensors can also track the productivity level of the places.

These technologies will dominate the designing concepts of the workplace and can enhance the productivity level of employees in the company. It also enhances the overall appeal factor of the company to attract and retain the right talent.