If there is anything that we can be sure of in the world, it’s that technology will always be advancing. One of the areas where technology is continuing to evolve and change the way that we work is in business. As we head into a future of increased AI and automation, technology is giving businesses more options in terms of how they are managed and run, and how employees behave.
The impact of this on commercial units is that more and more businesses are looking for technologically enabled units. The commercial property that is chosen by a business to rent needs to be suitable for the technology that businesses are expecting to use, to give them the best outcome for them. This could mean a number of different things, from needing to have the best quality internet connections to the ability to ensure that the commercial unit is optimised for the best sustainability.
As technology continues to develop, it is important for commercial unit landlords to be aware of the kind of technology that businesses as using more commonly in their workplaces, to give you an idea of what facilities and amenities are needed in order to attract the best businesses to the commercial unit.
In this article, we are going to have a look at some of the leading workplace technological trends in the UK at the moment, and their impact on commercial units in terms of what is needed to make these units as attractive as possible to potential tenants.
Sustainability
ESG is still an important factor for businesses that are forward-looking. Sustainability makes up an important part of this, and increasing numbers of businesses are looking towards technology to improve their sustainability, both in terms of their environmental impact and also in terms of saving themselves money (through more efficiency, for example).
When it comes to energy efficiency, technology such as motion sensors and smart devices is a great way to ensure that energy is only being used when it is required. For commercial unit landlords, ensuring that motion sensors are installed in the best places can be a great selling point for potential tenants, and good internet connectivity really is becoming a necessity.
Other technology can also help to monitor emissions and waste, which can also be very useful for the sustainability-conscious business.
Workspace Management
In recent years, we have seen changing trends in where employees are working from, with changing company policies about the amount of time that can be spent working remotely or in the office. Many businesses appear to have settled on a hybrid working approach. This means that employees are spending differing amounts of time in the office, working from home, coming in for collaborative work, or particular meetings, and the truth is, it can be very difficult for employers to keep track of where people are, when.
It is important to be able to manage where people are, at what time, to be able to ensure that there is space for everybody, whether it is an individual desk or space, or a meeting room or conference room.
For commercial unit landlords, having a mixture of different spaces can be a good way to attract different businesses, providing more flexibility for their tenants. Along with these, however, workspace management technology is necessary.
This technology would normally comprise a desk or room booking system, and perhaps technology that enables employees to show where they are at what time – a clocking-in system, for example.
Audio-Visual Technology
Following on from the point above, conferencing technology is also becoming increasingly important. Having good audio-visual technology (and the technological facilities that can enable the use of good technology).
As people look to work remotely at times, or for businesses with a workforce dispersed around the country (or, indeed, the world), audio-visual technology such as good size and high-quality screens, and speakers are essential. Of course, following from this, having the energy and internet quality to enable the use of this technology is vital.
One example relates to the screens that businesses are now looking to use. Today, an increasing number of businesses are looking to use OLED screens (replacing the LED screens that have previously been preferred) due to their superior quality. Rooms might need to be adapted to house these screens, and perhaps commercial unit landlords could consider the conditions of these audio-visual rooms, adding, for example, the appropriate lighting, the ability to darken the room, etc.
Incorporation of AI
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is revolutionising the way that businesses are being run, not only in the way they carry out their particular service or purpose, but also in the way that employees behave and work. AI is being used by businesses for everything from building innovative products to marketing materials to controlling the temperature and light within the commercial unit.
For commercial unit landlords, the technology is needed to enable this AI, as required by the tenants, but also to meet their expectations. As AI seeps into our everyday lives, we are increasingly going to be expecting technology to remember our temperature or light preferences, for example, or even how we have our coffee. Businesses looking to rent a commercial unit will, of course, be increasingly looking for this technology to be available to them.
Final Thoughts
As businesses look to embrace technology, mainly in the expectation that it will help them to deliver their purpose at a better quality, for less money, whilst being as efficient as possible, in as pleasant an environment for employees as possible, commercial unit landlords need to be aware of what is required for this.
In many cases, it could be as simple as providing a high-speed internet connection, but for others, it might involve the installation of features such as room-booking technology, temperature control, and high-quality audio-visual screens, for example.
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