The shift to a hybrid workplace seems only natural in the post-pandemic business landscape. It strikes a balance for companies that want to resume office operations while still meeting the employee demand for remote work options. However, this change poses a unique set of challenges for companies regarding tech investment plans.
The hybrid workplace model requires companies to manage the use of collaborative spaces while complying with COVID-19 health and safety regulations. Organizations also need to handle varied employee schedules while maintaining a sense of community among hybrid workers. As a result, companies often end up investing in too many apps in an attempt to meet these goals.
This article outlines some tips to help you make the most out of your tech investments, To help you fine-tune your tech stack.
Should There Be an App for That?
In the age of digital transformation, remote work apps and similar software solutions have become critical for day-to-day business operations, especially for companies deploying a hybrid workplace model. However, if thereâs one thing that this surge of tech investments has taught us, itâs that more does not always mean better when it comes to software.
According to the latest Businesses at Work survey, organizations have utilized an average of 89 corporate and personal apps in 2022. However, not all employees maximize all of these applications. Furthermore, learning how to use new software and navigate between apps might lead to frustration and app fatigue.
To prevent this, it is essential to continually assess whether certain apps in your business software ecosystem are necessary for your operations. Some steps you can take to do this are:
- Survey Your Employees. Your employees are a treasure trove of information regarding your business apps. They have first-hand experience using each software and can offer insights regarding which are helpful and which are doing more harm than good. Check on them regularly and ask about your current business tech stack.
- Nix Unused or Rarely Utilized Apps. Once you have identified platforms with low adoption rates or apps your employees have deemed unhelpful to their daily tasks, itâs time to start uninstalling them. Make sure you cancel the subscriptions for cloud-based SaaS platforms and officially remove them from your business processes.
- Audit Your Tech Stack. You can start fine-tuning your tech stack with unused software out of the way. Perform regular audits to see if you have apps with overlapping features or software with too many functionalities you donât even need. This way, you can ensure all of the apps in your tech stack serve a purpose.
- Consolidate Your Software. In an ideal world, cleaning up your hybrid workplaceâs software only requires you to replace individual tools with one app that can handle all your business processes. However, as that is nearly impossible, the next best thing is to integrate them or find an app capable of connecting your tech stack.
- Opt for Comprehensive Platforms. Once you streamline your tech, you must maintain it by opting for cohesive and configurable platforms moving forward. For instance, Smarten Spaces offers tools for events, amenity booking, and employee experience management in one convenient hub.
Prioritize Health and Safety In Your Hybrid Workplace
With more individuals vaccinated against the coronavirus, 2022 signaled the return to in-person offices for many. Saying that the pandemic isnât âoverâ yet. So, companies must have plans to address in-person and hybrid workersâ health and safety concerns. These include the following:
Implementation of social distancing
- Office contact tracing
- Sanitation management
- Occupancy and capacity management
Implementing these safety measures to manage day-to-day operations can seem like a tall order. This is where using hybrid workplace management platforms like Smarten Spaces can be invaluable.
These apps provide tools to check employeesâ vaccination status, perform contact tracing through scheduled bookings, and set caps on office users to prevent overcrowding. With these, you can give your employees peace of mind as they return to the office.
Make Your Hybrid Workplace Data-Driven
Fostering a data-driven culture is critical in a hybrid workplace. It allows companies to make informed decisions about space planning and policy setting. Among the best ways to do this is to find software that can aggregate and analyze your workplace usage data.
Ideally, the software you choose should keep tabs on metrics such as visitor entries, meeting room bookings, seat bookings, contactless check-ins, and service requests. Your hybrid workplace management system should also analyze scheduling efficiency, social distancing implementation, and more.
One such software that can do all of this and then some is Smarten Spaces. The platform offers strategic insights into hybrid workspace usage and potential real estate needs by giving access to department-wide data. It also has AI-powered desk booking that recommends ideal desks based on schedules and preferences and takes note of desk utilization and booking behaviors.
Having this information at your fingertips can make it simpler to measure the effectiveness of your hybrid workplace, boost overall employee satisfaction, and maximize real estate.
Leverage Space Management Solutions
Space management is a complex process that involves careful planning, data analysis, and strategizing. However, doing this manually can be tedious. So, it makes sense for a hybrid workplace to digitize the process using space management software.
Having this type of app at your disposal can improve space planning and management drastically. For example, Smarten Spaces offers space management tools that simplify lease administration, move management, and demand automation. This enables you to make your hybrid workspace more dynamic.
In addition, with space management software at your disposal, you can plan room capacities to a tee to maximize occupancy rates. Your hybrid team members can also check the available desks, rooms, and amenities in real-time to prevent schedule overlaps. This transparency in your hybrid workplace can also significantly improve employee satisfaction.
Another advantage to investing in this type of software is that you can accurately measure the utilization of your spaces. This way, companies can make the necessary adjustments to optimize their investment in real estate.
Invest in The Right Solution With Smarten Spaces
There are various factors to consider in managing a hybrid workspace. After all, each business has its unique operational requirements.
However, hybrid workspaces need systems that ensure available desks for on-site employees. These needs extend to managing COVID-19 vaccination statuses and team schedule tracking. This is where it pays to invest in smart office space management software like Smarten Spaces.
Smarten Spaces is a global SaaS company that provides hybrid workplace technology for businesses of all types and sizes. From workplace schedulers and AI desk bookings to tenant engagement and workplace safety management, we offer a complete suite of innovative solutions to prepare your company for the new business normal.
Give us a call to learn more about how Smarten Spaces can help you reinforce your hybrid workplace.