ArchDaily studies the shifts in technology trends within our workplaces and daily space generated by the pandemic, and what can happen once the crisis is over.<\/p>\n
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The impact of\u00a0COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0has disrupted daily life as we know it and caused a shift in technology trends within the workplace. Over recent weeks, businesses have found themselves hastily searching for and implementing temporary solutions to help them deliver an uninterrupted service. These solutions are highlighting the significant role technology plays in helping companies adapt to the situation and maintain daily operations. But what happens\u00a0once the crisis is over<\/a>?<\/p>\n Following the advice of health experts, many AEC businesses have had to close their offices and switch to remote work in order to prevent the further spread of the virus. Companies who had never even entertained the idea of remote work are now seeing their entire workforce\u00a0working from home<\/a>.<\/p>\n The switch to remote working is forcing the industry to evaluate their position when it comes to digitalization as companies\u00a0need to think of alternative ways to conduct business. This likely includes\u00a0implementing new technology to set up processes and enable remote collaboration. The sooner companies become familiar with this new technology, the quicker it will be for teams to adapt to their new situation. This can once again provide routine and structure and enable as close an approximation to workplace normality as possible.<\/p>\n While no one can truly predict what\u2019s in store post-COVID-19, it would be difficult for working life to go back to exactly the way it was. Based on the things that are happening now, some workplace changes that may stick around post-pandemic include:<\/p>\n Before the pandemic, remote work\u00a0wasn\u2019t really embraced<\/a>\u00a0by the architecture industry, compared to other professions. However, now that employees are proving it to be a feasible option, that may mean that it could be offered in more workplaces in the future.<\/p>\n Someone who has always believed in remote work as a viable way of conducting business is Diana Nicklaus, Principal and Co-Founder of Boston-based architecture company, Saam Architecture. As Nicklaus wrote in a\u00a0Business News Daily<\/em>\u00a0piece<\/a>, her company equips their employees with the necessary tools to work from anywhere,<\/p>\n \u201cOur clients can reach all of us any time of the day, as our personal cell phone numbers are available to them. Our team provides a high level of responsiveness, as we are all equipped with the tools to work remotely, whether we are designing or responding to emails.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n A Rise in Click & Mortar Businesses<\/em><\/p>\n With the quarantine measures ordered by governments around the world, many brick and mortar businesses are suffering. Those that can have adopted a \u201cclick and mortar\u201d model as an alternative. Click and mortar refers to a business model that incorporates online operations alongside its offline. This strategy emphasizes the need to adapt to changing times and could be something that remains for many businesses even once the pandemic is over.<\/p>\n More Touchless Technology<\/em><\/p>\n COVID-19 has many people washing their hands like they\u2019ve never washed them before. This health crisis has made people more conscious of better hygiene practices and has influenced how cautiously they navigate the\u00a0world outside of their homes. A post-pandemic future within the workplace could see more touchless technology implemented in studios, office buildings, and showrooms. Lights, elevator buttons, and washroom taps are just some examples of where sensor technology could be put in place to help curb the spread of bacteria.<\/p>\n Technology trends within the workplace evolve to reflect what\u2019s happening in the world around them. The effects of\u00a0COVID-19<\/a>\u00a0are already somewhat apparent within the AEC industry. In the absence of site visits and meetings with suppliers, as told to\u00a0ArchDaily<\/a>, architects are utilizing online catalogues to locate architectural products and materials, and solutions such as BIM (Business Information Modeling) have become ever more vital in the decision-making process.<\/p>\n Solutions like\u00a0Enscape<\/a>, a real-time rendering program, are also helping architects to streamline their design workflows and make project visualizations accessible to anyone, regardless of their location. The recent surge in sign-ups for video conferencing tools such as\u00a0Zoom<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Microsoft Teams<\/a>\u00a0highlights how technology is needed to not only collaborate on projects, but also to stay connected. Human interaction is an imperative part of daily workplace life that may have, pre-pandemic, been overlooked.<\/p>\n These are just a few examples of how technology can assist businesses and organizations to not only stay afloat, but\u00a0even to thrive during these difficult times and thereafter.<\/p>\nThe importance of adopting\u00a0tech<\/a>\u00a0now<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How\u00a0the workplace of the future could look<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Technology\u2019s role in helping organizations adapt and thrive<\/strong><\/h2>\n