Page 7 - Spaces Magazine Volume 1

smartspaces.app | Yourspace,butsmarter How ‘hotelification’ of the office is enticing people back to work By Correy Faccini Smart Spaces The Covid-19 pandemic had far-reaching consequences that can still be felt in all corners of society. One such remnant of the pandemic’s aftermath is the work from home culture that has gripped the nation’s workers. Workers were asked to set up a home office, battle disruptive pets, and have conference calls from the kitchen for years. It’s no surprise that once offices opened up again, it brought a reluctance to return from a workforce that appreciated the convenience of a home office. Whether it’s the draw of not facing the morning commute, extra time to visit the gym of an evening, or the home comforts that can’t be found in an office environment, the nation collectively concluded that five days a week in the office shouldn’t be mandatory. This caused problems for building owners and operators though. With office rent being one of the largest costs a company has on its balance sheet, a disconnect between businesses and their employees began to form. No senior management team want to force employees back to the office if they don’t want to be there. Yet, they can’t watch on as an empty office space haemorrhages money. Where some see a problem, others see an opportunity. It’s become increasingly apparent that the fluorescent lit, barren workspaces we once knew weren’t going to cut it. It became the prerogative of a company to entice their workforce back, not through demands but because they wanted to. Here enters the hotelification of the office. This refers to the lateral move many buildings are taking to portray their office spaces as a more enticing and overall experiential environment to be. The best hotels put a significant amount of investment and attention into the guest experience. This guest experience covers everything from the aesthetics of the hotel, to the amenities and workshops on site, from the check-in process to the functionality of their own digital services. The focus on the office experience is a welcome one. Now, buildings are transforming into a more connected, efficient, and enjoyable place to be. Whether it’s yoga sessions at lunchtime, wellness and wellbeing initiatives on-site, deals and offers from local businesses, or an enhanced level of convenience for those who need it most. Technology sits at the core of the evolving office environment. Building and office apps are seeing an increased uptake, helping businesses unite a number of isolated features into one place. Whether that’s booking meeting rooms at a click, ordering lunch to your desk, reserving a space on a workshop, or even finding the closest available electric vehicle charging point – everything an employee needs is in one place, seamlessly enhancing the office experience. Moreover, this embracing of emerging technology means that the built environment is beginning to catch up in an area it has often been slow to embrace. Often, the property sector has been deemed to be a slow adopter for technology. However, the needle is starting to shift. Let’s consider Apple Wallet and smart phone integrations. We tap our phones to get through the barriers on the Underground, we add our boarding passes and concert tickets to our mobile wallet, yet when accessing buildings we’ve been relying on fobs and physical cards. The focus on the office experience is a welcome one. Now, buildings are transforming into a more connected, efficient, and enjoyable place to be.