by Luke Fitzpatrick
Technology is hugely beneficial for startups, and the hybrid work model can create a fulfilling work environment for employees. But, you will need to find solutions to some of the problems posed by a hybrid work model, like security issues and wasted office space.
Is your startup making the most of technologies designed for hybrid work models?
How can technology facilitate hybrid work models?
Following the global pandemic, where employees enjoyed the comfort of working from home, there has been an increased desire for companies to implement a hybrid work model.
Hybrid working allows your employees to work from home and come into the office where necessary for meetings and other in-office tasks. Interestingly, 82% of employees weighed in to say that the pros of a hybrid work model outweigh the cons.
Idyllic as it sounds, the hybrid work model can come with a few pitfalls, such as wasted office space and security concerns. So, how do you get all the benefits of a hybrid work mode without the negatives? That said, here are some of the technologies you can use to optimize your hybrid work model in your startup.
How to optimize technology for a hybrid work mode?
To get the most out of the hybrid work model for your startup, you’re going to have to start looking into the innovative technology solutions explicitly created to assist the hybrid work model.
1. Occupancy management.
Occupancy management is a great solution to help you trim the fat to identify any need for downsizing in your offices.
Occupancy management allows you to identify occupancy levels in your building using entry and exit readers. Your occupancy management system can also deny access to areas if they are already at a peak occupancy level to reduce overcrowding.
Suppose you split your employees into alternating groups, giving one group morning access and one evening access. In that case, you can reduce the amount of office space necessary for your employees.
2. Smart desk management.
Innovative desk management solutions can help manage these resources for all employees to ensure no shortage or excessive surplus.
An intelligent desk management solution allows employees to book a desk for the day using a graphical interface that shows the floorplan of the office. The graphical interface shows which desks have been booked in advance, indicating where employees can sit together.
3. Access control.
Technology is a great way to tackle office security concerns. For example, a touchless and keyless access control system will provide you with an accurate log of which employees have visited the building on a particular day.
These touchless and keyless access control systems allow employees to enter the building using a virtual keycard on their mobile devices. Employees can even open doors with a wave of their hand, triggering the access control system to use Bluetooth to contact their mobile device and verify their identity.
Remote unlocking allows you to provide access to your building or areas of your building without having to travel to the door.
Access control is a great way to enhance your building physical security technology. Many commercial door lock system types are available to help you set up your keyless access control.
4. Visitor management.
Your access control system will need to account for visitor management. Visitor management allows you to track who is coming into your building through guest registration.
Visitor management provides added security to your building by enforcing the need for visitors to register themselves digitally before they can access your building.
There are other security concerns when handling a hybrid business model concerning data, and you must mitigate these risks when supporting a hybrid work model.
5. Automated wellness verification.
Automated wellness verification is a great way to reassure your employees of their safety in the workplace with the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, daily wellness verifications will ensure that employees do not access your buildings should they be showing symptoms.
Automated wellness verification can also provide your employees with surveys on their emotional and mental well-being, identifying the need to plan any group activities or mental health seminars to promote a culture of emotional well-being within your startup.
Summing up.
Technology provides the means to make hybrid working an effective way to run your startup. The technology discussed in this article can simultaneously mitigate security concerns and the risk of wasting office space while promoting your employee’s emotional and physical well-being.
If you plan on using the hybrid work model in your business, these technologies can facilitate the smooth management of a hybrid startup company.
Luke Fitzpatrick has been published in Forbes, Tech In Asia, and The Next Web. He is also a guest lecturer at the University of Sydney, lecturing in Cross-Cultural Management and the Pre-MBA Program. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
