What is a connected workplace?

It’s about more than technology

Hybrid working is completely revolutionizing how we work, and we’re only just beginning to figure out how to make it all comes together. Making remote and in-office employees feel equally involved is a tricky tightrope to walk. Many believe that having a connected workplace is the balancing pole businesses can use to help them walk that tightrope. But to do that, we need to really understand what it means to have a connected workplace in this hybrid overhaul.

The connected workplace: the obvious definition

The connected workplace was much easier to achieve just a couple of years ago. The demands of a connected workplace were more straightforward, with almost everyone working in the office. The exception, of course, is enterprise-level businesses that have always had to find ways to connect different offices.

Pre-hybrid work, businesses could look at the term “connected workplace” and take the surface-level approach.

In its most basic form, a connected workplace is a workplace that uses technology to overcome the daily challenges that come with remote and hybrid working. It uses a robust system of tools and resources to help employees keep in touch and stay productive, no matter where they may be working. Meanwhile, office managers have another set of tools to help them understand how the office is being used and find ways to better utilize space.

This is what we’re seeing with most businesses right now that are using some form of hybrid work model and a “connected workplace.” Yet there’s more to running a connected office than meets the eye.

The connected workplace: below the surface

While businesses can use the obvious definition of a connected workplace and function just fine, the true benefits of connected workplaces lie under the surface. A connected workplace is much more than a workplace using tech tools to support its daily operations. It’s about creating real connections between the people that work together.

Connected workplaces need to foster real connections and human interactions in person and online. We’re talking about relationships, friendships, and human emotions, not just an internet connection. Employers need to focus on the wants and needs of their employees so that they don’t just feel comfortable — they feel engaged, excited, and genuinely happy with their working relationships.

It starts with culture

The entire point of a connected workplace is to make every employee feel like they belong. This is a difficult task for any business, but those running hybrid work models have a much harder time making employees feel equally involved in activities and conversations. 

For a connected workplace to be truly successful, businesses need to find a way to create a culture of collaboration in and out of the office. Employees need to feel like they can collaborate with anyone, anywhere. This requires strong personal relationships and a workplace that helps facilitate collaboration, even through remote means.

The best companies offer truly connected workplaces that break down the barriers between employees that are found in a traditional workspace. This includes opening a dialog between employees, management, and company leadership to build a culture of complete transparency and collaboration.

Employees need to feel comfortable

A connected workplace cannot be effective if some employees are uncomfortable with how it all works. The workplace should be a safe space for everyone, but with hybrid working comes the possibility of workers feeling isolated. This is why having an open and transparent company culture, based on trust, is so important.

An employee recognition program can show that every employee is appreciated. Even if they’re working remotely, their efforts are being noticed. Employers can also use the program to build employee relationships by allowing coworkers to nominate each other.

Connected workplaces need trust and flexibility

The whole idea of hybrid work models is that employees are afforded choice, trust, and flexibility over how and where they work. So, employees in connected workplaces need the ability to work wherever they please without running into any obstacles or friction.

This can be difficult for some businesses to manage. Many higher-ups would rather their employees work under one roof in a traditional setting, but as we have seen over the past couple of years, employees want flexibility.

Managers should regularly check in with their teams to ensure you’re offering employees the flexibility they want and need.

Technology is key

A business that utilizes technology in the right way can create a connected workplace that caters to every style of worker you could imagine, from the lone wolf to the tried and true.

There are many cloud-based platforms on the market for almost every sector. Communication, collaboration, project management — it can all be done remotely and accessed by anyone at any time. This makes working together simple even if colleagues are on opposite sides of the world.

Of course, tech plays as big a role in the brick and mortar part of a connected workplace as it does remotely. Workplace scheduling software can give you the insight you need to better utilize space and make the office a place where people can come together and build those meaningful working relationships.

Smartway2 helps businesses offer a truly connected workplace

When it comes to workplace scheduling software, there’s no better option than Smartway2! We also incorporate space utilization into our solutions to help businesses build connected workplaces by making hybrid working easy for everyone.

Employees are empowered to make choices that offer the best value to them. With a few clicks, an employee can judge how busy the office will be, find their optimal workspace, or simply decide to stay at home. No matter their choice, employees, and businesses can stay on top of the hybrid workplace with ease.

Request a demo today to learn more about how Smartway2 can help you build a truly connected workplace.