The Meaning and Importance of Future-Proofing Your Office
Over the past couple of years, many organisations have changed how and where they work. Today, the office is no longer a mere structure meant to host employees for their 9-5 jobs but a vessel of innovation regarding scalability and sustainability.
This is where future-proofing comes in, and it entails looking ahead at office developments, design trends, and advancements to prepare the current workplace for the inevitable requirements of tomorrow.
Future-proofing an office can thus be considered a form of damage control that reduces limitations, barriers, or adverse consequences as time flows and industries grow and evolve.
Readying the offices of today for the workforce of the future
The phrase future-proofing has been around for a while and can be heard multiple times in conversations surrounding modern commercial design. This is due to it denoting an incredibly vital concept, ensuring current workplaces are equipped and ready for the workforce of tomorrow.
The first step to preparing your offices for the long-term is getting a good idea of what the offices will look like down the line. Many studies can provide insight into this topic, such as surveys about what the millennial workforce is looking for in a workplace, so make sure to do due research before getting started with your plans.
Below, we provide tips on how you can go about future-proofing your offices and why investing in a future-proof office is recommended.
1. Make offices smarter
Just as your business continually adapts new technologies to further its goals, you should do the same for your offices. Many technological developments are designed to improve the workplace, allowing employees to work smarter and more efficiently. Over time, these technologies are set to become more intuitive, so why not take this as an opportunity to get the ongoing benefits of a smart office.
2. Work on a sustainability strategy
As the effects of climate change continue to make headlines, the emphasis on pushing for eco-friendly options will only become more assertive. While sustainability is not a strict requirement, it may become a prerequisite to gaining a competitive advantage in the years to come.
Corporate sustainability covers not just your supply chain but also your environmentally conscious workstation, furniture, stationery, and supplies. When it comes to furnishings and office interior design in Singapore, you should consider the following:
- Go for natural fabrics instead of synthetic ones where possible
- Opt for furniture made from ethically sourced components
- Use dual screens to reduce the amount of printing
- Make the most of natural light and bring in fresh air to cut energy consumption costs
3. Prioritise employee well-being
After experiencing the volatility of the last couple of years, many professionals globally are now paying more attention to their well-being. They want their companies to focus more on it. Of course, employee well-being is a vast concept that covers a wide range of topics, but it can be done gradually, step by step.
Given the ongoing pandemic, the priority in improving workplace wellness should be purifying and improving indoor air quality. Other ways to promote staff well-being via commercial design include:
- Investing in ergonomic furniture like ergonomic chairs
- Incorporating biophilic design elements like using natural light and having indoor plants
- Providing quiet areas for privacy-focused tasks
- Facilitating agile and activity-based work
4. Provide more collaborative work areas
While some people still prefer working in assigned office workstations in Singapore, there are now numerous employees who would rather have the flexibility to work where they want, such as in collaborative co-working areas. Incorporating such settings into your office design scheme helps ensure that you are prepared for the inevitable shifts in attitudes and behaviours that override established traditions.
Apart from working more collaboratively, employees also make the most of the more relaxed approach to flexible working. Thus, you must take the measures necessary to improve remote staff communication to ensure that productivity, efficiency, and well-being are not compromised by having dispersed departments.
Conclusion
Given the radical changes in how we work and how they took the world by surprise, there are plenty of reasons to future-proof your office and ensure it adapts to the evolving needs of your business and workforce.
If you need an expert’s help in future-proofing your office environment, partner with us at Wilsin today with our decades of experience in innovating workspaces and providing well-thought-out, future-proof, and maximising office solutions. To learn more about how we approach the concepts of future-proofing the workplace, don’t hesitate to contact us today and learn more about our products and solutions!