It’s no surprise that technology has become integral to our working lives, from collaborating with team members from across the globe via online meeting spaces, to checking on deliveries back home on a smart doorbell during the course of the working day.

But we don’t always think about our offices and workspaces themselves as locations for the latest tech or smart solutions, aside from the laptops, phones and digital tools we use to carry out our jobs day-to-day.

So how can embracing tech-driven design actually level up the workspace itself? What tips, tricks and tools can we bring to otherwise innovative interiors that really supercharge ‘smart’, and help boost productivity, security and sustainability?

Make the most of automation

It’s a simple concept, but automation is all about giving your tech the opportunity to do the hard work for you. Our working days are packed with repetitive or mundane tasks that could be easily automated with the help of a few smart features, so why not embrace the extra time avoiding those tasks delivers, and the potential energy savings too?

Starting with lighting, sensors can be used to make sure rooms are only lit when necessary. No lights left on overnight, or during breaks from work, and no fiddling around with switches when setting up a meeting space. More complex automations can even be used to alter lighting based on time and seasonality. Dark evenings don’t necessarily need internal lights to be as bright as sunny daytimes, for example.

Everyday office equipment can be automated to save power too, from printers which activate during the working day only, to digital screens that display relevant information to specific teams when they’re scheduled in the office.

Whole zones can also be created using LED lights which adapt to different colours and moods, so when it’s time for a team creativity session one simple command can bring energising tones which can return to normal when focussed tasks resume.

Choose a sustainable and smart environment

There are plenty of elements that affect the office environment, including HVAC systems that manage temperature, air and extraction. Legacy systems might require these systems to be turned on and off, or set to a simple timer. But smart options now exist that can really boost sustainability and create a healthier working environment too.

Think about instances like high pollen counts, or local air pollution, where higher levels of extraction might be needed. Or the cooling potential during a heatwave. Smart systems can adapt to local conditions, weather reports, predicted developments or scheduled events to change how HVAC works, and anticipate requirements before workers even know they exist.

Bring the tech to your tables and chairs

The office environment isn’t the only area where tech can make a difference. The furniture around you can also be incorporated into a tech ecosystem that brings fresh functionality and innovation to the workspace.

Look for tables with integrated, digital screens where work can be shared or ideas developed. Touchscreens in flat surfaces can allow on-the-go collaboration during ideation sessions, or a new outlet for supplementary media during meetings and presentations. Other elements, like integrated phone or laptop charging capabilities, can also limit the stresses of everyday office work which often get in the way of the stuff that matters.

Stay secure and safe

One clear advantage of smart tech in the office environment is in the field of security. For the workplace, this tech comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Where in the past cameras might have passively recorded, monitored by security staff either remotely or on the ground, new smart solutions couldn’t be more different.

Sensors can be used to trigger notifications for key personnel, whether that’s unexpected activity in a part of the building which shouldn’t be accessed, or even AI-powered facial recognition to differentiate between employees, guests and potential intruders.

Smart security tech also allows all sorts of tiered and graded access to different areas and routes, depending on team membership, seniority or security clearance. So it’s easy to create a segmented workspace that helps employees stick to the areas they’re needed in.

If you’d like to explore more smart solutions for your office or workspace, our full service design team would be happy to help.