As well as transforming workplace productivity and making it easier for employees to collaborate and connect, WiFi is having a massive influence on smart workplace design and workplace building function. The increasing rollout of 5GHz WiFi will help create buildings that are smart, dynamic and future proof. To meet business challenges as well as create building design with longevity, impact of WiFi on workplace function must be considered. In this article, we’ll take a look at some key ways WiFi is transforming workplace design.

Virtual reality will reduce the need for physical workplace space


As 5g WiFI becomes more commonplace in work buildings, the capacity of workplaces to integrate virtual reality and augmented reality will also increase. This will transform workplace design, reducing the demand for both physical meeting rooms and the size of commercial real estate needed by a company. VR and augmented reality also have the potential to connect work teams globally, helping companies expand their reach without the need for physical premises. Smart building design will create areas where VR and augmented reality uses can be maximised, making it much easier to encourage collaborative working amongst geographically dispersed teams.

WiFi will ensure future building operations are smart and dynamic

As sustainability becomes an increasing concern in future construction, WiFi will allow smart buildings to be created with sustainability at the centre of their design. Smart buildings will give companies and employees the ability to automatically monitor light, heat and water usage; making sure that resource usage and workplace costs are as efficient as possible. This monitoring will provide useful data on how employees interact with the workplace space, helping companies to meet future usage demands. Designing future workspaces with this dynamic capability to react to these changes will be important.

Building maintenance will become centralised and automatic

WiFi will allow smart technology to analyse data that makes building maintenance and administration much easier; prolonging the life of a building and reducing the need for emergency maintenance that is often costly for workplaces. Being able to centralise building maintenance will also impact on building space needed for administrative teams, reducing and streamlining the real estate footprint needed by organisations. In addition, using data to feedback on materials needed for building maintenance will ensure that only optimum resources and replacement items are stored; maximising storage space.

WiFi will enable sensors to take a key planning role

WiFi will allow sensors to plan and optimise work spaces. Employers will be able to cross-reference productivity data with location data, providing an accurate picture on whether certain spaces provide more efficient working environments. For example, in individual offices, open-plan designs or cubicles. This is important data to create the most efficient workspace design. Sensors can also be used to optimise waste sorting, parking space planning and how employees move around and interact within a specific space in the workplace, optimising design and resource usage.

Automated tasks will change building use

Due to WiFi and the capabilities of smart technology, basic office tasks are likely to become automated. This can include the automated administration of office resources, the management of employee diaries or the allocation of work tasks. This will inevitably reduce the need for receptionists or office manager roles, resulting in new designs for lobby or reception areas. This will include access to smart points and WiFi hubs, as well as digital displays which help visitors with interactive and entertaining content.

WiFi is shaping future workspaces

WiFi is set to absolutely transform workspaces. WiFi capabilities will ensure that workspaces will benefit from accurate feedback on productivity and space usage, as well as change the physical space needed by employees thanks to virtual and augmented reality applications. But it’s not only about reducing footprint space and reducing staff needed; WiFi will maximise function, useability and resource use of a space. This will create a better working environment for staff, increasing flexibility; while also maximising resources and business bottom line.