Today, employers expect their office space to provide a positive employee experience that is flexible and technology-enabled. These changing expectations speak to a simple truth: a company’s work environment greatly affects the quality of talent they are able to attract.
In the search for top talent, human resources teams are eager to provide an office environment that not only reflects company values, but also drives employee satisfaction and a strong company culture.
In fall of 2021, 95% of employed people were thinking about changing jobs. To keep employees happy in their current roles, employers must do all they can to provide an engaging and accessible workplace experience.
In short, the office experience matters. But how can employers begin improving the employee experience so that employees feel empowered and engaged at their workplace?
The Rise of Smart Offices
For 30% of companies worldwide, establishing a competitive advantage stems from their ability to implement new technologies and digital workplace trends creatively. In order to be successful in the competitive talent market, it is crucial for business leaders to incorporate technological advances into their office strategy.
Creating smarter offices does not come without challenges. Sensors, software, and other smart building tools are often invisible to employees themselves. However, studies show that employees want to utilize technology on a daily basis. We use technology in most aspects of our daily lives, so why not at work?
Enter: employee experience apps. These tools, such as the HqO Workplace Experience App, bring smart building data to the forefront of employees’ workplace experience. By making elements of the workplace such as real-time temperature control and occupancy levels accessible, employers can empower their employees with greater choice in their work environment. How’s that for smart?
How Employee Experience Software Retains Employees
Optionality in the workplace and employee experience is important to employers. In a recent Workforce article, office employees have a desire for more control over their working environment.
For example, when a building maintenance issue arises, office experience teams must ensure that employees are able to report the problem, and that it is fixed in a timely manner. A critical issue that goes unresolved for too long can cause employees to feel neglected and powerless.
An employee experience app counters this issue by providing an instantaneous communication channel between employees and their employers. Thus, office processes are streamlined and employees can readily access key information such as safety policies and important news.
Know Your Data
Data and analytics plays a key role in employee attraction and retention. This data, from a variety of sources, offers critical insights into how offices are actually being used and allows companies to identify where improvements should be made.
In addition, layering data sources will magnify the improvement possibilities for experience managers. For instance, pairing less frequently booked meeting rooms with temperature data can reveal why these rooms are used less. Too hot? Too cold? Usage trends are easily explained with office data.
Ultimately, those innovative companies that utilize a workplace experience platform will empower employees with information and control over their own workplace experience. To establish a competitive advantage in the CRE space, landlords must provide their tenants with the data and optionality that will drive employee engagement.
Want more information on how to improve your office experience? Speak to one of our workplace experience experts today.
