Productivity is a major driving force for large and small businesses. Fostering a collaborative environment can be linked directly to positive business outcomes, including increased growth, employee retention, and the development of holistic business strategies. The modern office is the epicenter of recent productivity-boosting technological innovations and processes. Here are just a few.
Maintain a common user experience
It’s incredibly hard to get a multi-generational, global workforce on the same page. The prevalence of remote work has paved the way for a variety of different collaboration tools, from Slack to Google Hangouts. Managing a project team using disparate tools can be frustrating, as employees find themselves crossing product suites as they grow. This can lead to a lack of communication.
Thus, maintaining a shared user experience is crucial to productivity, regardless of a standardized technology platform. Cloud-based and software-based solutions aimed at unifying communications have emerged to meet this need. These help achieve a seamless experience, connecting local and virtual teams through collaborative conferencing technology.
Establish a healthy work-life balance
A proper work-life balance helps to engage and retain employees. Modern technological solutions are emerging as a way to help better maintain programs and processes aimed at helping workers have healthy relationships, inside and outside of work.
HR professionals can leverage digital tools and software systems such as a cloud-based HCM to drive mentorship programs, coordinate workplace wellness initiatives, and provide a forum for employees to share cross-functional ideas and plan meetups and activities. All of these activities help foster a healthy, collaborative environment that encourages employees to bring their best to work each day.
Understand the importance of design
Modern office design has experienced many transformations during the last decade. From Silicon Valley to New York City, the shift toward high-tech spaces has greatly influenced how workspaces are constructed and furnished. There are different schools of thought, but if there’s one thing that can be agreed on, it’s that productive workspaces emerge when aspects of technology and ergonomics intersect.
For example, many of today’s workspaces incorporate alternative working environments like soft seating, ancillary furniture, or “huddle rooms” that help employees destress and work more productively.
Gone are the uncomfortable wood furnishings and expensive artwork. Experts suggest that alongside the emergence of outsourcing and streamlined departments, the corporate headquarters of the future will center around flexible modular workspaces embedded with smart technology. These office ecosystems will be oriented toward collaborative, cross-functional project teams that possess a keen digital acumen. Evolution in design is helping to streamline the workplace and engage remote and onsite workers.
Takeaways
Productivity revolves around constant innovation. Nowhere is that innovation more crucial than in the spaces professionals physically and virtually work in. These spaces have to accommodate all types of employees and help foster an engaged and collaborative workforce. Through a blend of software, hardware, and functional design, office spaces are fast becoming hubs of productivity helping to drive the future of work.
