How is IoT Shaping Smart Workplaces?

Many of these are possible now, thanks to the Internet of Things in the workplace, and others will become possible in the near future. There is also the possibility of experiencing more advancement in the future.
Offices have started leveraging IoT solutions and IoT devices in the workplace to transform and manage employees. Let’s discuss some real-life workplace IoT solutions that are making our offices smarter.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN BY SMART WORKPLACES?

The Internet of Things is about connecting everyday objects to the Internet to allow you to control them remotely, collect and share data, and communicate with the users involved. IoT in workplaces includes various hardware and technologies like smart devices, robots, and AI to increase efficiency and create new business opportunities.

In the office, the employees are already surrounded by devices and appliances, but IoT takes the technologies that drive these devices and connects them to generic inert objects like lights, doors, pipe systems, televisions, and fridges.

Consequently, IoT promises to turn the office environment into connected spaces, where FMs can control heating, access, and ventilation all remotely, while office employees can work with more productivity and comfort.

HOW WILL SMART WORKPLACES BE IN AN IOT WORLD?

We have all had bad days at work. You forgot your RFID pass for the door-entry system and had to call management to gain access. Your favorite desk spot was occupied, the office was too cold, the lighting above your desk was way too bright, and you struggled with the audio-visual appliance in the conference room just before an important meeting. As a result, you didn’t perform well at the meeting. On the way home, you experienced a headache and thought about looking for a different place to work.

Thankfully, not every office ruins your day—at least not every single day. Here’s one thing to understand from the above example, the design and management of the workplace have a significant effect on the productivity, engagement, and creativity of the employees.

It turns out that even in an office with state-of-the-art technology, work can be unproductive and unsatisfying.

That’s why offices are becoming “smart workplaces” by equipping IoT devices in the workplace to make things better.
Here are some applications of IoT in workplaces that offices can implement to make their workplace smarter.

1. SMART FURNITURE

You might be aware that prolonged sitting in one place can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and high BP, and unwell employees can never be productive. It is recommended to break up hours of sitting with some random activity to maintain health.

Smart furniture like stand-to-sit desks is one solution to this. Standing desks will encourage employees to switch between sitting and standing, by automatically adjusting the height of their workspace.

Other similar IoT devices for the office include ergonomic chairs that can be adjusted to each user’s height and preferences, mobile standalone workstations that allow employees to move around any location, and smart mirrors that display the time, weather, and similar information in the office restrooms, lobbies, and other areas

2. SMART SCHEDULING SYSTEM

One of the much-needed IoT solutions at the workplace is a smart meeting scheduling system to enhance meeting planning in the office.
By using the smart meeting scheduling system, several enterprises are solving meeting room underutilization issues.
This smart scheduling system monitors attendance rates and room usage metrics for better planning.

3. CLIMATE CONTROL

The most commonly used IoT technology for workspaces is climate control devices. These devices take a record of the humidity level inside the room and accordingly optimize the temperature.

Another good example of climate control is “smart window blinds,” which respond to the sunlight to protect the occupants from glare. These systems can also be connected directly to humidifiers and air purifiers to improve indoor air quality.

4. SMART ASSET MONITORING SYSTEM

Property loss can have a very high impact. Only workplace theft can cause $50 billion in annual losses to companies. Even if the device has been misplaced, finding it may take business hours.

Asset tracking technology can lower such risks. The employees can tag company assets with RFID tags, QR codes, barcodes, or GPS trackers. It allows them to manage essential properties at the workplace and create usage data for each. Also, in the case of misplacement or theft, the companies can use the tracking system to get the equipment’s location.

5. SMART ASSISTANTS FOR OFFICE AWARENESS

Smart assistants like Alexa can be great for personal management, but they lack features for business-level organizations. However, there is also Alexa for Business, which syncs the entire office’s IoT devices to provide everything from meeting tracking, weather reports, lighting, and all other custom settings.

It will be like JARVIS from Iron Man, who will manage the office on demand.

6. LIVE OCCUPANCY DATA

The other important thing to monitor at the workplace is the live office occupancy data. With IoT, you can get live information about the number of employees present at different parts of the office. At PsiBorg, we can do that with the help of door sensors that will track footfall counting and room use.