How Office Automation Can Increase Productivity

For example, several studies have highlighted the impact of different lighting levels on productivity. The book "Ethonomics: Designing for the Principles of the Modern Workplace" states that turning away from 'gloomy lighting' will improve the mood of employees and increase productivity levels. Furthermore, Cornell University's recent study has highlighted that workers in daylit office environments recorded an 84% drop in symptoms such as eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision, all of which reduce our ability to work productively.

A recent study foretells that the IoT integration market will approach $22 billion per year by 2022. By implementing integrated workplace platforms, businesses will be able to get the following advantages:

• Obtain a complete picture of an individual employee's day, from biometrics to productivity and positions throughout the office, to get actionable insights on ways to increase performance.
• Engage automated systems that streamline and optimize any office's ambiance for increased comfort and productivity.

Elements of a smart office

Smart offices use cutting-edge technology such as sensors, software, networked platforms, and IoT technology to automate workplace functions and increase productivity. Here are a few elements that can help you digitally transform your workplace:

Smart office furniture

And while smart furniture technology has made its way in our homes for years, its place in the workplace is becoming more widespread than ever. Automated office furniture should be able to anticipate and change in response to behavioral patterns; recognize you and the situational context.

Not only do organizations use this technology to validate your presence at your desk and in the office, but it has also helped them understand employee behavior inside the workspace, offering insights on which conference rooms are actually being used during the day. Another advantage was the opportunity to save on energy consumption., which is not a small thing as we are talking of a $38 billion a year bill. The introduction of smart chairs and standing desks has brought a significant impact in the workplaces today. Active chairs record ergonomic data on people’s posture when sitting and automatically regulate the backrest pressure to correct posture. Also, they analyze and suggest an easy-to-follow plan for them to achieve their activity goals.

This is especially useful to businesses with many part-time employees who share desks or come in at different hours. The smart-equipped desks and chairs can self-adjust to match an employees’ pre-set preferences once they’ve signed in.

The setups can also automatically register an employees’ hours, allowing its colleagues to know whether they are in that day or not.

Smart lighting

Smart IoT lighting devices shape office environments that use lighting to optimize productivity. Managed by smart software, users can dim and brighten lights via a smartphone app. Today’s more advanced systems use sensors in lighting fixtures to lighten and dim in reply to natural light levels, continuously optimizing the environment during the day. Other systems sync lighting with the time of day, providing bright, cool light in the morning and progressively softening throughout the day. According to a report published by BI Intelligence, smart lighting can reduce costs. In certain conditions, smart LED lighting can decrease energy costs by 75%, while improving productivity by 20%.

Temperature regulators

Having temperature regulators in the office is another trend in office automation. Employees can set the temperature based on their preference. An IoT-powered system that is based on sensors allows employees to control the temperature in their immediate environment. Through this system, individuals can track heat levels throughout a building and measure the air quality. Allowing individual employees to adjust the HVAC settings helps manage energy costs and contributes to sustainability initiatives.

Automated security items

In an office, there are numerous tools that can be used to improve the security on the premises. The tools include; smart locks, smart bells, etc. a smart lock ensures that no one else can open the premises except the company's employees. Also, you can install CCTV cameras to record the people who came in and out of the premises.

Communication tools

Smart speakers can also be installed, for example, in a big organization to ease communication. The smart speakers can be connected to microphones installed in offices to pass information to every employee at once.

Live Mapping

The live mapping technology is also used in office automation. It uses beacons and sensors to help individuals navigate their offices more productively. Various technologies help us understand how spaces are used and occupied. Live mapping can help us know which conference room is available, whether a bathroom is in use, or which area you will be able to get the quiet time you might need to solve a complex problem.

Equipment maintenance

IoT modules and sensors can be integrated into all workplace types. They can be installed in machinery or office equipment such as vending machines and photocopiers to control their operational health. Sensors can recognize shortcomings and send out alerts before the devices crash, allowing you to repair problems before they get worse.

According to a Gallup report, we spend on average 47 hours per week in the office, thus it is no surprise that more and more organizations are trying to identify their workplaces' right design features and layout. The result will undoubtedly be increased productivity, happiness, and employee retention.