How the smart office acts as a team player in crisis management

In terms of work, many of us have had to make significant changes. Working at home has become the norm for millions of people as workspaces have shut down to help prevent the spread of the virus. So what does that mean for office buildings, and how can they become an active contributor in times of crisis rather than simply a passive casualty? While workplace digitalisation has many benefits, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into sharp focus its often-ignored role in crisis management. At the start of 2020, nobody envisaged that the world would witness a global crisis. The effects of Covid-19 on the way we live and work continue to play out – and will for some time. Never before have we experienced such a global impact on our everyday lives, and the repercussions will be felt long after the pandemic is a distant memory. This whitepaper outlines the role of the smart office in contributing to a crisis management response, identifying some of the digital technologies available and how they support the operation of office buildings while keeping the occupants healthy and safe. With the use of workplace applications it is possible to deliver timely and local communication, showing how density management can be facilitated through sensors and booking software and how risk mitigation can be achieved with data and access control. The current situation has shown that the need for flexible, responsive and adaptable office spaces is greater than ever – and therefore it is of highest importance that the infrastructure is able to connect to the building users as well adapt to the situation around.