Technology will redefine offices in 2021

As we move ahead in 2021 businesses will leverage technology to create more functional, efficient, sustainable and productive workspaces. Commercial developers will focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning to render an advanced and protected work environment to employees.

If there is one thing that 2020 has taught us, then it is not to predict things. All our predictions went awry when a pandemic swept us off our feet and presented us with a scenario, which had have never been imagined by anyone. And yet here we are, but the important question that arises is how various workplaces will unfold in the future and will it be save to resume offices.

If there is one thing that can be said with certainty, then it is the technology usage will grow significantly in commercial real estate in the upcoming quarters. The unabashed march of technology and the myriad opportunities it presents every day goes to show that it is only going to progress from here. It is a no-brainer that technology allows an employee and an enterprise to be more productive. So what is in store for a futuristic workplace when it adopts technology automation? Will technology make the future workforce redundant, or will it make the workplace more productive? To these and many more questions, the answer is self-presenting.

A futuristic shared workplace will be a smart office that will optimise space and leverage technology to offer cutting-edge solutions to employees. This is where we will see people and processes converging with Artificial Intelligence (AI), Automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Smart and secure spaces

A smart office is a workplace where technology allows people to work faster and better. It is dynamic and designed in a way that helps employees to collaborate, ideate, and innovate. The idea is to offer intelligent workplace solutions using automation. Imagine a secure access system that operates on cloud. Keys will become a thing of the past. As we enter the new normal, and workplaces get redesigned, technology will be the crucial driving enabler in offering flexible workspaces.

Energy management solutions

Automation also allows seamless operation of facilities at shared workspaces. The workplace of the future needs to be adaptable to these changes and a pandemic should not shatter its core. The infrastructure and the ever-evolving technology around it should stand the test of time.

Sustainable practices would mean leaving fewer energy footprints. A robust IoT would help detect faulty systems in the building, thereby saving time, energy and cost. Smart tech solutions will allow an organisation to zero in on wasteful energy expenditures. For instance, imagine the conference room’s lights switching off when not in use or a device using minimal energy and going into sleep mode.

Virtual Reality

Have you always thought of Virtual Reality (VR) in the context of gaming or other entertainment options? But VR is now being rigorously used by co-working spaces as they create virtual presentations of the workplace. VR-enabled solutions make visits of a prospective customer hassle-free. Visiting a physical office can be a thing of the past as facility tours can be organised using immersive VR experiences.