Envoy, which offers an integrated workplace platform that connects people, spaces and data, published its new eBook: Tomorrow’s tech, yesterday’s tactics: Bridging the gap to
a future-ready workplace. This document is based on survey data collected in partnership with Hanover Research, and explores the current workplace landscape. In particular, Envoy surveyed more than 400 executives across key departments such as facilities, security, IT and HR.
The report noted that organizations are struggling to keep pace with evolving workplace demand, with Envoy discovering that 96 percent of organizations are encouraging or mandating onsite work with “some regularity.” This highlights a shift back to physical workplaces.
However, organizational leaders still face challenges in measuring success and managing workspaces, often lacking the data and technology needed to ensure physical security, optimize space use and make informed resource allocation decisions. This gap, Envoy noted, leaves organizations vulnerable to security breaches, inefficient workplaces and
wasted resources.
Key findings included:
- One-third of organizations managing most of their workplace operations manually.
- Workplace management challenges including maintaining security and compliance across locations (48 percent) and adapting to new technology (47 percent).
- 66 percent of organizations are looking to use workplace data to improve employee experience, establish data-driven work policies such as an onsite schedule (66 percent) and repurpose unused workspaces (42 percent).
- 51 percent believing advancements in AI will most shape the workplace over the next decade.
- Despite demand for data and new technology, 78 percent of companies are either actively consolidating tech stacks or are exploring consolidation options.
“Outdated workplace management hinders cost control, compliance adherence and crafting a stellar employee experience,” said Cormac Twomey, the CTO of Envoy. “Leaders dream of AI-powered offices, yet most grapple with manual processes, creating data gaps and security weaknesses. This necessitates immediate action – automating tasks and consolidating tools onto integrated platforms is no longer a luxury. It’s the only course to avoid ballooning costs and crippling compliance issues.”
With more people back in physical offices, facilities managers also find themselves under pressure to evolve their technology stack to accurately measure workplace operations. Looking ahead, 91% of survey respondents envision the future of their workplace as hybrid or fully onsite. However, managing distributed teams and flexible work schedules presents operational challenges. Without comprehensive occupancy data organizations lack the insights needed to optimize space and make informed real estate decisions. Envoy’s survey found that one-third of organizations manage the majority of their workplace operations manually.
Top occupancy data insights for workplace leaders include enhancing employee experience (66 percent), establishing data-driven work policies such as onsite schedules (66 percent) and maximizing space utilization by repurposing unused areas (42 percent).
The primary challenges facing workplaces are managing security and compliance across multiple locations (48 percent), promoting onsite collaboration (37 percent) with the proper resources for a distributed or hybrid workforce (35 percent) and adapting new technology to support the above (47 percent).
Envoy’s survey found that most respondents expressed interest in investing in new and
emerging workplace tech, including automation and AI, with 51 percent of organizations believing that technological advancements in AI will be the most influential factor in shaping the modern workplace. Survey respondents shared that 78 percent of organizations are exploring or actively consolidating their tech stacks to cut down on
costs. This highlights the challenge of balancing innovation with economic realities.
Envoy partnered with Hanover Research to survey 440+ executives and managers across facilities management, workplace security, IT and HR in the U.S.. Survey responses were collected from February 22-March 1, 2024.
Click here for the full report.
