An effective space utilization strategy offers many benefits. Whether it is enhancing workforce productivity and communication or reducing an organization’s overhead, a well-implemented space management and space utilization strategy can do wonders for an organization.
This is where investment in space management software should be considered that helps you achieve desired business goals, provide actionable insights, and achieve projected cost savings. You should have a solid space utilization strategy, which depends on what and why you’re looking at space utilization, and how it is going to benefit your organization as a whole.
Here’s a closer look at key points of an effective space utilization strategy.
Implement 4 Levels of Monitoring
You have to start with leveraging IoT sensors and other technologies to collect the space utilization data, which will further help you understand what exactly you need.
- Level 1 – Measuring
Any space utilization is incomplete without measuring the occupancy and vacant spaces at your workplace. The strategy itself involves very close observation to assess this data.
- Level 2 – Monitoring
Monitoring is a must! This intermediate space utilization strategy is highly recommended for companies with a traditional office layout with some of level space sharing. It’ll help you know which office spaces are used more often.
- Level 3 – Passive Manipulation
A space utilization strategy integrates with your workspace’s existing building intelligence and IT solutions like building management system/software, lighting sensors, beacons, and more.
- Level 4 – Active Manipulation
Active manipulation is the need of the hour. It empowers your organization to have a connected work environment, dynamic offices, and employees who can work both within and outside the office without any collaborative challenges.
Is It the Best Space Utilization Strategy? 5 Questions to Ask
- What are your goals?
First of all, you need to determine what type of space utilization strategy you need? Do you want to improve collaboration, employee engagement, productivity, or operations? Or you simply want to optimize the workspace portfolio? After a thorough understanding, you can move ahead to the next step.
- What is the scope of the project?
You need to prepare your mind whether it is a one-time project or ongoing initiative. After understanding the scope and timeframe of the project, you can easily identify whether leasing solutions will be more cost-effective or buying.
- Do you require real-time space utilization data?
Well, it is you who would better know whether your space utilization strategy involves real-time data analysis or not. If you are planning to use the sensor data along with an integrated space management system, you’ll need real-time data.
- Is it legal?
Your employees may be concerned with their privacy and security concerns, as they’ll be regularly monitored. You must remain transparent with your intentions and assure them that it won’t be a threat to their privacy and security. The space management solution will be monitoring motion and occupancy only, and not their faces or other information.
- How ‘Smart’ is your workplace?
In the present era of technology innovations, your organization, its workplace, and infrastructure have to be ‘Smart’ as well. Since you’ll be dealing with a lot of data, you need high-speed internet connectivity, ultra-modern servers, computer systems, and investments on other IT infra support.
Implementing the Right Space Management and Space Utilization Strategy
Considering the various factors and the need of the hour, it is highly suggested to invest in efficient space management software that helps you in creating and working on a good space utilization strategy that can go a long way to improve profitability.
Amit Prasad is the founder and managing director of SatNav Technologies and has business interests in a wide range of IT products. SatNav Technologies is an IT products company focusing on cloud based map data products and a pioneer in GPS, FMS & LBS Technologies. The product suite includes SatTracx in-the-field location based solutions and A-mantra in-the-office facilities management solutions. QuickFMS from a-mantra is a cloud based facility management system which enhances organization’s efficiency.