Concrete Analysis | Mobility is rewriting the future of offices

Advancements in technology continue to impact every facet of our lives. But are companies responding fast enough to incorporate these innovations in the workplace?

According to a survey by CBRE, while 75 per cent of respondents believe that technology is driving significant change in business, only 60 per cent feel confident in responding to these changes.

Technology has made work more mobile and flexible, prompting employers to continually reassess the agility of their work environment. According to the CBRE survey, 85 per cent of occupiers in the Asia-Pacific region anticipate an increase in mobility in their future workforce.

A more mobile workforce has enabled many companies to adopt workplace strategies that improve space usage and offer technologies that foster collaboration. The user experience continues to play a more significant role in determining where and how the workplace should be established.

The increasing emphasis on mobility in the workplace has strengthened demand for activity-based working (ABW) strategies. ABW puts people at the centre of the workplace and enables companies to adopt technologies and create a space tailored to employee needs.

ABW relies on technology for its success. Collaboration tools such as video conferencing and cloud computing enable employees to work off-site, while apps enable staff to book meeting facilities, and smart sensors can help manage energy use of the space.

CBRE began adopting an ABW workplace 360 in 2014. 360 is a global business initiative that is transforming work and culture at CBRE. It seeks to create the workplace of the future in a number of steps.