Planning office layouts might seem straightforward: cubicles, desks, offices, conference rooms, and maybe a break room—easy, right? But have you ever noticed the "dead spaces" that remain unused? The empty desk in the corner, the break room that no one uses, the conference room that holds meetings once a quarter. These spaces take up company costs while being ineffectively utilized.
Repurposing these spaces can transform them into more efficient areas for collaboration and productivity while also cutting costs and reallocating company resources. By leveraging data and an occupancy analytics solution like Dojo Analyze, businesses can make informed decisions to optimize their workspace.
Understanding Occupancy Analytics
Occupancy analytics involves collecting and interpreting data related to the use and occupancy of physical spaces like offices and buildings. This data includes information on the number of people present in a space at a given time, entry and exit patterns, and more. Businesses can use this information to make informed decisions about resource allocation and optimize their space utilization.
Empty Desks: Hot Desking, Reservations, and Hybrid Work Schedules
In our post-pandemic world, hybrid and remote work schedules are more common than fully in-office ones, leading to unused "dead" spaces. By utilizing occupancy analytics and badge swipe information, businesses can understand who is coming into the office and on what days, allowing for the reallocation of space and desks as necessary.
Hot desking is an office arrangement where employees do not have assigned seating. They choose where to sit based on their needs for the day. This eliminates unused desks and promotes teamwork as employees collaborate across departments.
Employing a reservation system like Dojo Flex allows employees to reserve desks, areas, or collaboration rooms daily based on their needs. This helps businesses track space utilization and plan strategically.
Empty Conference Rooms and Break Rooms: Transforming into Collaborative Spaces
Every office needs rooms and areas for employee collaboration. However, it's essential to ensure these spaces are used to their full potential. Using data collection and occupancy analytics, businesses can identify which collaboration areas are being utilized and how often.
Underutilized spaces can be repurposed to meet the company's needs, such as:
Collaborative Workspaces:Â Transform areas into collaborative spaces with comfortable seating, whiteboards, and technology for remote team connections.
Focus Rooms:Â Create rooms for deep work with comfortable seating, noise-canceling features, and adjustable lighting.
Training Centers:Â Equip areas with technology for workshops and seminars, including presentation equipment and interactive whiteboards.
Client Engagement Areas:Â Design inviting spaces for hosting clients, partners, and stakeholders with comfortable seating and interactive displays.
Innovation Labs:Â Develop spaces where teams can experiment and prototype new projects.
Leveraging Occupancy Analytics for Optimal Space Utilization
Effective space planning is crucial in addressing the prevalence of "dead spaces" in offices. By utilizing data collection and occupancy analytics, businesses can implement solutions such as hot desking, reservation systems, and planned work schedules. These strategies help cut costs and ensure a productive, efficient, and happy workplace.
Effective space utilization fosters a productive and collaborative environment, making it essential for running a successful business.
Authored by Isabella DeLeo
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