5 Mega Trends That Are Changing The Workplace In 2021

Add-On Products, our Platinum Sponsor for the 6th FUTURE Workplaces Summit, shares their thoughts on the 5 trends that are changing the workplace in 2021. Continue reading:

 

MEGATRENDS IMPACTING THE WORKPLACE

In the last decade, and especially in the last year, we’ve witnessed major changes in the workplace. Technology has played a pivotal role in the shift we’re seeing. The following are some megatrends in work technology that are transforming the way we work now and into the future.

 

1. HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENTS

Work is no longer a place that you go – it is something that you do. Employees now have greater control over their work environments than ever before. Many people who started working from home during the pandemic were expecting to stay remote full-time but as vaccination rates increase and things start to normalize, a growing number of employers are encouraging workers to return to the office. As a result, companies are implementing rotational schedules and hybrid work environments with unassigned desks so that workers can spend part of their time working in the office and the rest of the time at home. 

To enable employees to seamlessly book hot desks and meeting rooms before they get to the office, it’s important to provide access to a booking app, such as the Workspace Booking App. This app allows workers to review floor plans and tap the touchscreen to book hot desks in the office directly from their mobile devices. With the flexibility this app affords, workers are no longer confined to a specific time and place, and they have better control over their work schedules and environment. They can even use the floor plan to see where their team members are sitting and book a workspace near them.

 

2. ACCELERATED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

In just a span of months, the scale of the digital transformation that has taken place in response to Covid-19 is enormous. Companies have quickly adapted to the circumstances and adopted new technologies, including contact tracing apps, apps to support employee mental health, hot desk booking tools, collaboration platforms, and more.

 

3. ENHANCED CYBERSECURITY

Cyberattacks and data breaches have become increasingly commonplace. In response, there has been a greater focus placed on strengthening company cybersecurity strategies. One major area of consideration is authentication and authorization services for user logins. Single sign-on has been adopted by more and more companies so that employees could maintain a single set of login credentials rather than maintain multiple application passwords for day-to-day work.

 

4. SMART OFFICE SOLUTIONS

We live in a world dominated by smart devices that connect to the Internet and sync with our smartphones. Smart devices are changing our workspaces and the way we do work. Connected devices that we use at work include wireless presentation systems, meeting booking software, digital signage, and online collaboration tools. The right tools and equipment can boost collaboration between employees both remotely and in the office, as well as improve productivity and streamline processes.

 

5. DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING

The basis of any commercial enterprise is information, and today, we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. Big data is a collection of data from both inside and outside your company that you can use for analysis. Many companies are good at collecting data but don’t know what to do with it. 

Translating mountains of data into actionable insights and smart decisions is no easy feat, but it can be done with the right tools and strategies. Take meeting room and hot desk booking software, for example. Resource Central captures a wealth of data about how meeting rooms and workspaces are used and then provides insightful reporting to empower companies to make informed decisions about workspace arrangements.

 

THE FUTURE OF WORK

The question is not whether companies should embrace these trends but how fast they can do so.

Both in-person and remote teams are working together to collaborate and complete tasks using emerging technologies and innovative tools designed to boost efficiency and support flexibility.

To learn more about Add-On Products and the meeting room booking software tools we offer that can benefit your workforce and increase productivity, sign up for a free trial or free online demo!

 

 

Editor's Note: This article was first published on Add-On Product's blog.

Read more insights by Add-On Product:

https://www.add-on.com/blog/entry/what-return-to-work-technologies-do-you-need

https://www.add-on.com/blog/entry/how-a-desk-booking-app-can-make-your-return-to-office-plans-a-success

4th Advanced Materials In Construction Summit: A Sustainable Future

 As a society, we are becoming increasingly more environmentally conscious and every industry is looking for ways to be more sustainable and have a positive impact on the environment. The construction industry is no different.

According to the World Green Building Council, the construction industry is one of the major consumers of natural resources by generating around 39% of the world’s carbon emissions.

As the industry pushes to adopt a more sustainable approach to infrastructure and the built environment, using advanced materials has become increasingly popular to deliver green buildings that are both resilient and eco-friendly. Materials such as self-healing concrete, cross-laminated timber, smart glass windows, nanomaterials and more are helping the industry build towards a better and more sustainable future.

Let’s examine a few use cases of modern, advanced materials in construction:

3D Printed Concrete

By using 3D printed concrete, you can save a lot of production cost on material waste since no framework is required during the building process and the printer only uses the materials required to build the structure. It also greatly reduces production time and the personnel that’s needed to have projects completed in a quicker time than traditional methods.

Smart Glass Windows

Smart glass windows are more energy-efficient and can provide the flexibility that’s needed to control the amount of light/heat that enters a building. By being able to easily switch from clear to opaque settings, it’s becoming increasingly popular for open-space design since privacy can still be achieved quickly and without the need for curtains or other drapery.

Eco-Friendly Insulation

Using eco-friendly insulation like hemp, cellulose or wood requires less energy than conventional materials as they don’t require much processing in their production. They also have lower conductivity and higher thermal mass that helps it regulate temperature to help save on utility costs.

Cross-Laminated Timber

Cross-laminated timber is strong, lightweight, and sustainable plus has a lower extraction and processing impact than steel and concrete. Also when exposed to fire, the multiple layers allow the panel to remain structurally stable, unlike materials such as steel.

Now more than ever it’s important to focus on exploring the best practices of using next-generation materials in the construction sector. That’s why we are excited to return for our 4th Advanced Materials in Construction Summit in Berlin, Germany on November 18th and 19th, 2021.

This hybrid event will bring together building, construction, material science and architecture experts to review the latest technologies and strategies for creating buildings of the future.

We will have the pleasure of hearing from top expert speakers from major brands such as DAW SE, Knauf Insulation, Hilti Group, Holcim, Wacker Chemie AG and other key players in the market about their experiences and the latest innovations in building materials that they use to add real business value to their organizations. Our expert speakers will discuss the materials mentioned above, as well as others, and will showcase how their organization is using these advanced materials to construct the infrastructure of the future.

We are looking forward to connecting with everyone whether you choose to join us in the vibrant city of Berlin or virtually from the comfort of your home. No matter where you are joining us from, all attendees will be connected through our online platform to build valuable business relationships with your peers starting 3 weeks prior to the event and allowing you to stay in touch even after the summit is over.

Request your free brochure today to discover the full line-up of speakers and see the complete event agenda. Tickets are available now! Register today to save your spot so you don’t miss out on this invaluable industry event.