4 questions to help you tackle the challenges of hybrid
Does your approach to occupancy management provide data to address supply and demand in the hybrid workplace?
As the hybrid workplace becomes the norm, commercial real estate leaders need to move away from traditional occupancy management metrics to account for the constant ebbs and flows of their office footprint. A more flexible workforce requires a new approach to workspace data – one that can account for the “musical chairs” of hot-desking, hoteling and other space considerations inherent to today’s hybrid work.
According to JLL research, the average office only utilized 60% of its existing space during pre-pandemic “normal” times. Today, with employees keeping increasingly unpredictable work hours, reliable data on how and when your employees are using the office has never been more important if you hope to provide a positive work experience.
Whether they’re located at home, at a co-working space or at the office, hybrid employees expect flexibility in how they choose to perform their work. Have you adjusted your approach to occupancy management to fit changing workstyles?
Here are four key questions to consider so you can meet the new supply and demand needs of the hybrid workplace:
1. What are your goals and objectives for your hybrid office?
Are you looking to cut operational costs in your existing spaces? Reduce carbon emissions? Attract and retain new talent? Sit down with leaders in IT, HR and other key departments to establish goals for your hybrid workplace – and figure out if you have the resources to make those goals a reality.
2. What capability gaps exist within your organization?
Are you equipped to manage your office’s fluctuations in space demand? Can your current spaces provide what’s necessary to ensure collaboration among your employees in a hybrid environment? Do you have technology in place to help you make quick decisions to effectively manage your space? If you’re still using spreadsheets and counting heads, the data you’re using could result in space solutions that are outdated by the time they’re implemented.
3. What’s your roadmap for a better hybrid workplace?
Would your office be more vibrant if employees could see which of their colleagues was planning to come in on any given day or week? Whether your office has assigned seats or open seating, providing employees with tools that make it easy to book the type of space they need creates environment where employees can connect and be most productive. Some occupancy management solutions also incorporate AI to learn how your people use your space and make recommendations on how to better adapt and assign work areas.
4. Are you prepared to execute your occupancy management strategy?
Without the ability to measure employee experience in the workplace, you can’t plan for your future needs. An end-to-end occupancy management solution could be the difference-maker for your organization. A more dynamic approach to occupancy management, one that lets employees schedule when they plan to come to the office, can provide a wealth of valuable data. By providing real-time data and insights on how your workspaces are being used, you’ll be empowered to make better short- and long-term adjustments across your portfolio.
