It can be argued that business leaders and organisations face major shifts in the workplace, not the least of which are inflationary pressure on both employer and employee budgets, increased tension over return-to-office mandates, shifting legal and societal landscape concerning DEI initiatives, as well as the impact of client change.
On the topic of sustainability, Gartner says in 2024 organizations will begin to highlight and promote direct climate change protections as a key part of their benefit offerings. Just how will organisations address the concerns of employees while complying with shifting regulations around sustainable business practices, as well as execute and sustain their net-zero strategies?
Can we finally harness the data we are collecting about employees, customers, business partners, and government regulations to create an environment that is supportive of everyone’s interests?
iviva CEO Haran Shivanan, says: “Today's workplace is heavily focused on hybrid work, with people returning to offices while many continue to work remotely. The challenge lies in balancing the needs of both groups regarding space and availability, while also considering sustainability goals.”
While the idea of a more efficient and user-friendly work environment isn't new, the current situation presents unique challenges for employers and employees. Asked how the current return to the office is from previous situations, Shivana pointed out that following several years of working from home, people have become used to remote working over the years, and changes are slow to happen.
“These are the challenges companies are looking to address while bringing everyone back to work - with the reliance on video calls, and transport commuting methods the employees are using,” he added.
At Davos AM24, LinkedIn co-founder, Allen Blue commented that the office is going to compete with working from home. He believed the situation to be a good thing for the office, explaining that management would need to innovate and create a workplace environment that "emphasizes dynamic human interaction".
Circling back to sustainability and commitment to net-zero impact, Shivanan observes that companies have a lot of data, and the technology to provide the data, the challenge lies in presenting this data in a coherent manner that is easy to understand.
“We can analyse how remote work impacts a company's sustainability goals compared to employees working in the office through hotdesking or booking meeting rooms,” he elaborated. “Accessing and integrating data for analysis and measurement is proving to be a significant challenge for many.”
Supporting sustainability goals in the workplace
The International Energy Agency says the operations of buildings account for 30% of global final energy consumption and 26% of global energy-related emissions. Direct emissions from the buildings sector decreased in 2022 compared to the year before, despite extreme temperatures driving up heating-related emissions in certain regions. In 2022, building sector energy use increased by around 1%.
The data challenge
The starting point of any sustainability initiative is data. It is data on energy consumption, water use, waste generation, indoor air quality, occupant comfort and building materials, to name a few. It can be argued that the variety, volume and sources of data present challenges to all concerned.
Shivanan is confident that despite the challenges, collecting data can be easily accomplished. He posits that even in existing buildings, collection can be done through IoT devices rather than relying solely on building management systems.
“The (real) challenge lies in segregating, analysing, quantifying, and delivering this data to individual tenants. Traditional systems often lead to data silos, necessitating the integration of disparate data into a cohesive single platform for a comprehensive snapshot,” he continued.
Advise moving forward
Asked for any advice for building landlords and operators looking to optimise their offerings to suit the evolving preferences of their customers, Shivanan suggested: “Invest in AI and machine learning to optimize operations.
He suggested organisations implement predictive models to anticipate and prevent failures, leading to increased efficiency, reduced operating costs, and proactive maintenance. He believed this approach saves on energy and manpower expenses, providing significant benefits.
“The savings are virtually guaranteed as our group is partnering with TÜV SÜD, a global certification body – to ensure our solutions deliver the efficiency gains that we promise,” he continued.
He also suggested organisations invest in open technology solutions that provide documented protocols and information.
“This ensures flexibility, allowing you to replace components as needed without being tied to a specific system. With a robust integration platform, you can effectively collaborate and achieve desired outcomes by bringing various components together,” he concluded.
Click on the PodChat player and listen to Shivanan elaborate on transforming the future workplace with integrated insights.
- Describe the modern workplace in the digital present (post-pandemic).
- The concept of a more efficient, more user-friendly work environment has been around for years. What is different about the situation facing employers and employees today?
- How do you see sustainability and commitments to net zero impact how businesses plan and operate their work environments?
- How can landlords and building operators support tenants’ sustainability objectives?
- Property consultant Knight Frank says 2024 will continue to favour tenants as companies prioritise optimising space. What is your advice for landlords and building operators?
- What questions to ask when evaluating the technology/solutions towards achieving?
