The workspace of the future: What to Expect

By Manas Mehrotra, Founder, 315Work Avenue

Workspaces in the present are negotiating changes that are fundamental and that redefine the experience of working. These spaces continue to advance at a rapid pace and from AI-powered smart buildings to health and safety tech and are absorbing transformations that give a glimpse into their future. What we see now is an enhanced visual experience, power-on-the-go capabilities, and quick progress in space management and extended reality technology that is setting the tone for a highly futuristic workspace. Coworking is now a revolution that’s changing the way we work and people are reinventing the workplace experience, finding new opportunities, and boosting community collaboration in these shared, hybrid workplaces. And the one thing that binds all people together is technology. Hence, there’s a great deal to look forward to as we step ahead in the office space whether you’re an employer, employee, or a professional interested in the latest workplace trends. Here is what we can expect as we move forward in the era of changing work culture.

Hybrid cluster and hyper-flex Spaces will be the norm

Hybrid cluster environs are a collaborative workspace that are very different and combine the benefits of both physical and virtual environments. They feature high end technology to facilitate communication and collaboration between remote and in-person participants. Such office spaces enable seamless interaction between team members, irrespective of location. This trend has become popular in recent times as more companies embrace the remote and hyper flex work modules. Workforce moreover is on the lookout for companies that offer hybridity and hyper flexibility as options to work and the pandemic has undoubtedly made flexibility imperative to the current business environment. According to a recent report, the flexible space stock in India is expected to cross 80 million sq ft by 2025.  

Technology integration will be imperative 

Coworking spaces are not only about getting work done, but are part of the modern lifestyle. The workforce expects new services and benefits from their workspace, including a healthy social interaction and access to the latest tech. This makes it a necessity to have technology integration partnerships which is not only common, and is often required in order to attract and maintain the workforce. Tech integration is a key feature of coworking spaces, and it’s only going to become more important as the industry evolves.

AI will power smart office buildings

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the way we live and work and smart building technology and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are natural partners. Hence, sensors are the biggest transformation that has occurred in recent times with regard to offices. For instance, occupancy sensors detect the presence of people in an area, air quality sensors monitor air quality and motion sensors detect movement and trigger alerts or activate systems. The data emerging from these sensors will enable optimum technology to be used in office spaces and based on data analysis, necessary adjustments can be made to build a productive workspace.

Health and Safety tech are priority

Post the pandemic, offices across the spectrum have initiated measures to enhance the health quotient in the office. Employee health and well-being are a vital part of a successful and productive workplace now and along with sustainability will influence companies as they redefine their workspaces. Through a combination of wearable technology, smart building technology and tech-embedded infrastructure, we can monitor and improve employee well-being in real-time. This takes into account physical activity and other health metrics and providing insights that employers can use to promote healthier lifestyles and better working conditions.

Enterprise-grade security

The flexibility of cloud-based technology makes possible scaling the coworking space access control infrastructure.  This enables a redefinition of work space security and creation of a policy for access control with a comprehensive flexible platform. The workspace ensures that only authorised members have 24/7 access and restricts drop-in visitors to regular business hours combining physical security with a best-in-class digital keyless experience. The entire process is automated to provide a modern and efficient solution for workspace with smart and seamless technology.

In conclusion, it can be said that work spaces are becoming smarter by the day. The coworking sector is becoming mainstream and is already accounting for 20% market share of the overall office space demand in recent times and the share of flex workspaces is expected to touch 35 per cent by 2025. As more people make the choice of working remotely, coworking spaces are an attractive zone for professionals who desire to collaborate with others and be part of the community. The advancements in technology that enable better communication will keep growing making it easier for the workforce to collaborate on ideas and work.  Companies today focus on dynamic set ups that go beyond work and enforce a collective purpose among employees. All of this creates a highly modern workspace that adapts to the transformations of the 21^st century and offer the best work experience.