The Workplace Transformed

It is not a surprise that technology has forever changed the way people both live and the way they work. The workplace seems to have been altered by both the freedom technology provides, and the nature of how, when and where work is accomplished.

In some form or another, property managers everywhere are faced with accommodating these sweeping shifts as they evolve in the workplace. The long-term success of your commercial building depends on how well these shifting needs are recognized and addressed.

Perhaps the most significant change has occurred in the area of telework. According to The State of Telework in the U.S., (based on U.S. Census Bureau statistics):

Wireless capabilities and flexible scheduling now allow workers to easily make any environment a worksite. The importance of reliable and authenticated wireless connections, secure enterprise connections, and VPN support become essential services for this new model of working. And these demands continue to grow every year.

While at the actual worksite, workers also are spending less time at their desks and more time in team spaces, training rooms, and conference environments. Successful business locations must consider these types of collaborative work settings as older properties are renovated and new spaces are fitted for tenant move ins.

Other adjustments also are necessary now that technology has shattered the boundaries of the traditional workplace. Traditional brick and mortar workplaces were designed to accommodate the way that people worked 20 or 50 years ago. So what happens when our behaviors change, and a building designed for another time isn’t adapting to those changes? This is the big question that building owners are faced with today.

These trends are here to stay, because workers like teleworking. A study by Cisco Systems in 2009 reported that more than 91% of participants said telecommuting was somewhat or very important to their overall satisfaction, and 80% believed they enjoyed an improved quality of life.

For more information on how Lightpath can help building owners stay progressive with wireless services:
www.golightpath.com/managed-wifi

More information on telecommuting:
http://www.telework.gov/

White papers on telecommuting:
http://www.teleworkresearchnetwork.com/whitepapers

Also in This Issue

• Managed Backup: A Reliable and Inexpensive Way to Safeguard Critical Data
• Emerging Trends Dramatically Changing the Retail Space
• Leasing Strategies: Staying Ahead of the Curve
• Checklist for Successful Property Management
• Summer In The City