As workers begin to emerge from their remote work environments, companies are thinking about how to reorganize their office spaces for better utilization. Many workers are seeking a hybrid work setting, mixing remote with in-office hours for better work-life balance. This leaves business organizations considering IT for hybrid work in an effort to make the most of their real estate.

The push for hybrid work is beneficial on both sides as workers see an opportunity for better time management and companies see a cost reduction for real estate. Coming in second only to human resources, office space is a costly bit of overhead. While nobody welcomed a pandemic, companies are seeing a silver lining in the ability to rethink how best to use office space while maximizing the productivity of their employees through hybrid remote work.

IT for hybrid work comes in some interesting technologies, including the following possibilities:

Hot Desking: Companies are now able to consider how to “house” employees when they are in for the day, thinking through how best to equip workstations for use by hybrid work employees. The concept of hot desking allows employees to sit at different locations every time they’re in the office, but IT must support this process with a digital mapping tool to show where each employee is working for the day. They are also dealing with the challenge of ensuring that – whether the employee is remote or in-house, and no matter where they are sitting in-house – they are receiving an identical work experience.

COVID-19 Safety: While companies anticipate large numbers returning to the office, they may have ongoing or occasional need to safeguard for COVID-19 concerns. This could mean a variety of tools, including contact tracing and distancing solutions equipped through IT, as well as the potential for touchless technology. If a business organization would experience an outbreak, a hybrid remote work plan may be useful for efficiently moving to an all-remote option in short notice.

Measuring Actual Use: Internet of things (IoT) sensors could be utilized as companies enter a new era of hybrid work to determine exactly how spaces are being used, what could be utilized better, and which solutions simply aren’t being used by employees. Sensors may measure traffic flow around shared spaces and which areas are favored by employees to develop new environments for optimal real estate use.

One of the most significant challenges as teams consider IT for hybrid work is the seamless experience for employees across each work environment. Considerations like security and access are always in tension and can be complicated further by the use of virtual private networks or unsecured home devices. But when you consider that this may be the first major shift in how workplace environments function in more than 50 years, it’s an exciting area for IT.

If you’re contemplating how to utilize IT for hybrid work in your organization, contact us at Cloud Source. From network upgrades to leveraging the right technology to equip your in-house team for hot desking and other hybrid possibilities, we can help you make the most of your real estate and improve productivity throughout your company.