Despite the pressures of inflation and economic volatility as seen today, many companies are still investing in technology in their workplaces because it is a trend and is shaping a new way of working in the future, with trends towards flexibility, science, sustainability, and digital transformation.
A survey in October 2023 by JLL on the global real estate technology theme showed that 91% of businesses are willing to pay higher costs to rent offices equipped with technology, as they believe technology plays a crucial role in the workplace in promoting employee productivity, thereby improving business operations.
In 2024, workplace technology continues to develop rapidly, from smart buildings equipped with IoT, health and safety devices in the workplace, AV and AR experiences, 5G technology,… to technologies using artificial intelligence (AI) or quantum computing. This article will explore the top 5 technology trends in the workplace in 2024 and beyond.
Trend #1: Technology creating smart, sustainable workplaces
Global sustainability is sure to continue as a common trend in the real estate industry in 2024 and beyond, with technology playing a huge role in this issue. A smart office combined with environmentally friendly design will bring very high sustainability. So specifically, what role does technology play in building a smart workplace?
A smart office is a term describing work environments that use advanced technology to enhance productivity and convenience for employees. Smart offices typically use technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and big data to automate and optimize work processes.
In a smart office, devices such as lights, air conditioners, air filters, entry doors, security systems, and others are equipped with full sensors, connected to the Internet, and can be controlled through mobile apps or other remote monitoring and control platforms. This creates a more flexible and employee-friendly working environment.
Furthermore, smart offices can also integrate resource management systems such as task management, HR management, process management, and time management to optimize resource usage and minimize waste.
Trend #2: Enhancing audiovisual (AV) experiences
Audiovisual (AV) technology has truly exploded in the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic when it addressed the issue of remote work that had to be applied at the time. In 2023, the audiovisual industry was valued at over £165 billion and is estimated to reach £270 billion by 2026. Engineers are also constantly improving the sharpness of images and the realism of sound through their devices. This affirms that, although the pandemic has been controlled, the role of AV technology is indispensable in the workplace, whether in-person or remote. Businesses have also understood this vision and are increasingly enhancing the audiovisual experience in their workplaces.
According to a 2023 survey by Envoy, over 40% of company leaders invested in building meeting rooms and conferences at the workplace equipped with full audiovisual equipment compared to 2022. Besides meeting the flexibility in work, audiovisual (AV) technology also helps enhance connectivity and collaboration with customers and partners.
Trend #3: Applying advances in artificial intelligence (AI)
In 2023, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology continued to develop explosively and diversely in many different fields. Deep learning and Reinforcement learning continue to be the main areas of AI research and have a strong impact on workplaces in many aspects such as:
- Optimizing work processes: AI technology is used to optimize work processes in organizations and businesses. AI systems can automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, helping employees save time and focus on higher-value tasks.
- Decision support: AI technology provides information and analytical data to support business decision-making and management. Intelligent systems can predict trends and markets, helping managers make smarter and more strategic decisions.
- Customer interaction: Artificial intelligence is used in customer interaction systems, including chatbots and automated response systems. This improves customer experience and reduces response time for customer requests and inquiries.
- Supporting content creation: AI technology is used to create personalized content for customers and employees. AI systems can analyze customer data to create personalized and effective content. Additionally, AI Generators also greatly support today’s content creators.
- Resource management and work planning: Artificial intelligence is used to manage resources and work plans for employees. AI systems can automatically plan, manage time, and evaluate job results, helping to optimize work efficiency and enhance flexibility.
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The application of artificial intelligence in the workplace in 2023 plays an important role in optimizing work processes, improving customer and employee experiences, and enhancing productivity and efficiency for organizations and businesses.
Trend #4: Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Technology
In addition to AI, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies are also revolutionizing the way we work. With advantages of prior access and widespread use of artificial intelligence, AR and VR technologies are truly being leveraged in work with applications such as:
- Online meetings and conferences: VR and AR provide experiences similar to reality in online meetings and conferences. This allows remote employees to actively participate and interact with each other as if they were in the same location.
- Product design and development: In product design and development, VR and AR provide opportunities to test and interact with detailed 3D models before the product is manufactured. This helps enhance imagination while creating and minimizing errors in the product development process.
- Marketing and sales: VR and AR provide businesses with opportunities to create interactive and unique experiences for customers, from creating virtual tours to using product experiences in virtual spaces. This is also an application that Metaverse and other technology giants are heavily investing in.
- Employee training: VR and AR are widely used in employee training. This technology allows the creation of 3D interactive experiences, helping employees learn and train more effectively, especially in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and engineering.
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The use of VR and AR in the workplace is increasingly creating creative and modern workspaces, increasing work efficiency, and playing a crucial role in attracting and retaining talent
Trend #5: Workspace Management Technology
Workspace Management Technology is a trend that is being researched and developed rapidly to optimize space and resource usage in the workplace environment, with the following applications:
- Seat booking and workspace management system: This technology allows employees to book or reserve workspaces in advance, through mobile apps or on computers. This helps enhance flexibility for employees and efficiently manage workspace usage.
- Sensors and IoT (Internet of Things): Using sensors and IoT devices to collect data on workspace usage. This information may include the status of workspace usage, temperature, light, and noise levels, helping managers better understand how employees interact with the work environment and optimize space.
- Indoor Positioning Systems (IPS): IPS uses technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or RFID to track the location of employees and assets in the workspace. This helps improve resource management and security, as well as optimize workspace operations.
- Space management software: Software systems are designed to help manage and plan workspace usage efficiently. They may include features such as booking, space usage tracking, schedule management, and integration with other systems such as HR management and air conditioning systems.
- Flexible workspace management solutions: With the increasingly popular flexible work model, space management technologies must also be flexible to meet the needs of remote employees, independent workers, and workers in different offices.
Technology is being embraced by businesses in many different ways, not only to enhance productivity but also to create a modern, interesting, sophisticated, and professional work environment.
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The article referenced information from oktra.co./.