You know how important it is to keep office spaces rented and revenue flowing. However, office culture has changed dramatically since 2020 when remote and hybrid work became the new normal.
As the future of work changes, it’s time to consider ways to modernize office buildings. And converting them into smart offices is one of the best ways to do so. In this guide, we explain what smart office technology is and the benefits it offers. Above all, we’ll list some of the most effective ways to upgrade your workspace with smart office technology.
This guide to smart office technology will cover:
- What is smart office technology?
- Benefits of smart office technology
- Examples of smart office technology
- The most effective smart office technology
What is smart office technology?
Smart office technology is a modern solution to improve the productivity and efficiency of employees, both in the office and remotely.
Now more than ever, employees expect modern office technology in the workplace so they can seamlessly collaborate with teammates all over the world.
Smart office technology also includes devices that improve the office building itself, such as:
- A remote doorman
- Smart thermostats
- Smart lighting systems
What is smart office IoT?
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes devices that exchange information with other devices using the internet. This is what makes technology “smart.”
The IoT improves efficiency and also makes day-to-day tasks easier for many people.
Smart office IoT includes technologies like:
- Automated door locks
- Occupancy sensors
- Conference room scheduling systems
- Automated climate and lighting control
- Touchless access control systems
What is a smart office?
A smart office is an office space that consists of a group of interconnected technologies. These include smart sensors, smart communication and collaboration tools, and smart access control systems.
See how ButterflyMX touchless entry works:
Benefits of smart office technology
Upgrading your building to support smart office solutions is a big investment. So, you want to make sure creating futuristic office space is worthwhile. Incorporating more advanced technology into your office building has several for your property.
Some of the greatest benefits of smart office design include:
Lower utility costs
Smart lights, thermostats, heating, and more contribute to lowering operating costs at your building.
With office automation, lights are only on when in use, and temperatures adjust on their own to maximize efficiency.
Increased property value
Making improvements to your building will increase its value both to investors and tenants. Also, you can increase rent accordingly because the office spaces are worth more.
Saving on labor costs
IoT sensors make repairs less frequent and more accurate, so your building maintenance costs are cheaper.
With smart security devices, there’s also no need for overnight shifts, which saves you money and improves the work-life balance of your employees.
Examples of smart office technology
You can group modern office technology equipment into three categories:
Infrastructure
Office building infrastructure is not inherently “smart.” Traditional plumbing and security systems have been around for a long time.
Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, the most successful offices incorporate smart technology into their infrastructure to save money and appeal to tenants.
Examples of smart office infrastructure include:
- Upgraded security systems. With the help of smart sensors and alarms, you can guard against everything from intruders to natural hazards like floods or carbon monoxide.
- Automated heating and cooling. Save money on your utility bills by using motion sensors to determine whether people are in the office. Adjust temperatures and heat or cool your building more efficiently by taking the number of people in the building into account.
- Cloud-based property management. Compared to on-site property management systems, a cloud-based system will let your staff make changes and edit permissions, even when they’re offsite. Cloud-based systems also handle cybersecurity and redundancy to further safeguard your employees’ data.
- 5G internet. 5G signals are more powerful than their predecessors. With a 5G network, you’ll have an easier time handling the needs of a smart office and your employees’ internet requirements alike.
Smart devices
Many of the smart office devices we see today are repurposed from devices designed for homes. Modern workplaces have everything from lighting to thermostats that you can control from a mobile app.
A smart office space might include:
- IoT sensors. An IoT smart office sensor can detect anything from the number of people in a room to the water pressure in a certain type. Their usefulness comes from the fact that they can exchange data with other sensors and issue instructions to other hardware.
- Smartphone-based lighting. You can control a smart lighting system from your phone and set up different lighting configurations. Additionally, you can set the lights to dim automatically — or even dim when there’s enough natural sunlight in the room — to save money on your utility bill.
- WiFi coffee machines. Fun fact: One of the world’s very first IoT devices was a coffee machine. Back in 1993, programmers at Cambridge set up a live video feed of their coffee pot that they could check on their desktops. That way, they could see if they needed to refill it without having to walk all the way to the break room.
- Smart locks. A smart lock increases security and convenience. By choosing smart locks, you can enable features like remote unlocking through an app and temporary credentials for visitors.
- Video intercom system. Video intercoms like ButterflyMX’s flagship model will ensure that employees, building staff, and visitors alike all have a seamless access experience. Look for a video intercom with features like two-way video calling, audit trails that increase security, and multiple ways to open the door — whether that’s with a PIN or QR code or through a mobile app.
Watch our guide to office automation:
Business-specific technology
Some technologies, like those used to manage hot-desking or conference rooms, apply to most offices. However, every business is different — and one of the best things about smart technology is that it’s customizable.
Smart office technologies that your tenants may appreciate for their business:
- Smart TVs for video conferencing. As remote work becomes the norm, you can invest in video conferencing technology to make communicating with employees from across the country easier.
- Adjustable desks with mobile app. An adjustable desk represents the height of convenience and comfort for your employees. And app-based desks allow employees to adjust height remotely and be healthier by sending sitting and standing reminders.
- Conference room and desk reservation systems. If you’ve instituted a flexible work system where employees can come in at will, a desk reservation system will help to prevent overcrowding and ensure that everybody has a place to sit.
The most effective smart office technology
The ButterflyMX Access Control System is the best solution for smart offices.
Managing who can access your building and each office space is essential for keeping your property secure and improving the tenant experience. For that reason, smart office access control technology like ButterflyMX is valuable to all office buildings.
With ButterflyMX, your staff and tenants can access the building easily using their smartphones — and visitors and delivery couriers can also request access. Thanks to the video features, tenants and building staff can visually confirm the identities of visitors before granting them access to the building. In addition, tenants can even open the door for themselves and their guests from a mobile app. This means there’s no need to hand out keys, cards, or fobs to tenants.
Ways to incorporate ButterflyMX smart office technology into your building:
- Video Intercom. Our Video Intercom is wireless and smartphone-based. So, you don’t need in-unit hardware — saving money on hardware and installation costs.
- Access Control System. ButterflyMX Keypads and Readers are ideal for managing access to areas like amenities, closets, and executive offices. And since both readers are compatible with the ButterflyMX mobile app, your tenants will have a more convenient access experience.
- Front Desk Station. ButterflyMX’s Front Desk Station simplifies the work of front desk staff and allows them to focus on service with a human touch instead of busywork. Use the Front Desk Station to view real-time feeds from across your property, automatically authenticate guests, and more.
- Package Room. Improve the tenant experience with a specialized package room to manage deliveries. Tenants get a lot of mail, which can mean extra work for your staff. With the ButterflyMX Package Room, delivery couriers can check themselves into the building and leave packages in a secure, organized space.
- Elevator Controls. You don’t want tenants and visitors wandering around the building where they aren’t supposed to. Protect the privacy of your tenants with ButterflyMX Elevator Controls. Using the system, you can manage which floors each individual can access.
