Cultivating a Better Workplace Through Data-Driven Insights

Increasingly, various business disciplines rely on data. Beyond accounting and finance, it permeates every aspect of business operations. Success hinges on leveraging analytics and insights into organizational culture to shape the ideal working environment – a robust blend of employee satisfaction and meticulous work processes. In this article, we will unveil the power of data.

Exploring the importance of data

Data gives you great insight into every aspect of the business. Combining data with first-hand experience and know-how is truly efficient when optimizing workflows and spaces.

Each department usually have a manager who is an expert on a certain topic. A CFO knows about the finances, and a CTO is aware of what security measures to take to avoid data breach. They are valuable when making business decisions.

Other sources with the most valuable insights are of course the employees. They are the ones using different software and are in contact with clients and stakeholders. After facing numerous issues and overcoming obstacles, they are familiar with different norms and protocols.

Engaging employees in the data collection process

Managers who treat employees as an important asset will include them in surveys to ensure that employee satisfaction and work processes are top-notch. They usually go hand in hand. When employees are happy, productivity and motivation will increase. And when goals are met, people will feel proud and become true ambassadors of the company.

Data is equally important when planning everything from office layout to hiring processes accurately.

The role of data in reaching success

Data gives the possibility to compare statistics over time to see if you are getting the right results. It also becomes easier to predict the future. In the fast-paced business world, people are switching jobs more freely and companies need to prepare for workforce fluctuation. It is also useful for start-ups that aim to scale up in the near future.

Data can be easily integrated into other software, which creates great synergies. One example is to create visual graphs to showcase during a meeting. Space managers sometimes struggle to motivate why they would like to plan x or y for the office. With images and facts, they will get more people onboard.

As an example, designing the ultimate office layout, relies on being able to calculate occupancy rates to find out:

When people are present
How they are moving through the building
Identifying unused spaces
Repurposing office space

Space managers can make sure to right-size the office and make every square meter count. When the cost of real estate is high and remote work is on the rise, it has become more important than ever to maximize office space.

Can data improve engagement and productivity?

There are several ways in which data can improve the workplace. Especially when it comes to productivity. Let’s take a look.

Due to the hybrid work model, fewer people come into the office and work independently at home. It has created a divide among managers. Some of them embrace the new work model, which is based on trust and autonomy. Others find it harder to motivate and train their employees when they do not meet in person.

Even the most talented and ambitious employee sometimes lack motivation. The answer is keeping them engaged, and one way this can be achieved is trough data-driven tools.

From micromanagement to trust management

Rather than tracking and monitoring every activity on their screen, an employee engagement software encourages employees to interact in micro-steps and share data about their workday. A step away from micromanagement towards trust management.

Some features allow team members to set up weekly plans and register achievements and project updates. Besides achievements, people are also able to share the amount of happiness and satisfaction for the week with just a few clicks. Many find these interactive interfaces quite entertaining and user-friendly.

When people feel seen and heard, and receive proper feedback, they take their tasks more seriously and become highly productive. This type of spontaneous feedback is also solid intel to base the next meeting on and a prerequisite to explore other topics deeper. Not everyone is comfortable in voicing their opinions in a meeting. With the help of a digital tool, everyone gets seen and heard.

Data to avoid decision-fatigue

Every day we make a thousand of decisions, large or small. No wonder we sometimes get decision-fatigue. Automation is a great solution to reduce mind-numbing activities and increases mental bandwidth.

One example could be sensors that switch on lights in the room when you are the first one to enter. Instead of walking across a large room, you can get to work straight away. During the darker months, it also feels safer when lights go on instantly.

Reducing the human error factor

Automatized software also reduces human error. No one's perfect, and making a tiny mistake can have a huge impact. With the help of data management software, a fraction of a mistake can be corrected. An AI-tool double checks data entries, and spell check programs integrated into business emails warns the person before hitting send.

Switching focus to what matters

As a bonus, people will have more time to spend on other tasks, and focus more on creativity and collaboration.

Another aspect of automation is enabling hybrid workers to switch between workspaces easily. With booking software, they are able to see what desks are available in the office and book their preferred seat for the day. It also brings teams closer since teammates are able to see who is present on a given day and localize them.

The booking software receives data from sensors that are mounted under the desks and in the ceiling. Vacant desks pop up in the system, ready to be booked in an instant. The software data is also useful for space managers that wish to analyze space occupancy and plan the office layout accordingly.

Offer learning opportunities

New technology is not always welcomed with open arms. It is much easier for a newly founded company to bring in employees that embrace the latest software. It can even be an advantage to use the latest groundbreaking solutions to attract talented individuals.

In other companies, people have seen different solutions come and go and might be hesitant to try data-driven decision-making.

The answer is to provide valuable training and always make sure that people can contact help desk if they have any issues. By showing the practical benefits with data, more employees will support the solution.

Creating a data driven workplace

With data, there are usually several steps involved. The first one is of course acquiring the data. Then ones analyzing and turning it into compelling visuals in order to communicate the results to others. The last step in the process is important when presenting the results to different stakeholders.

Data analysis can improve:

Customer management and sales
Budgeting
Work processes
Productivity
Office maintenance and layout

Workplace data: a summary

It is safe to say that data is the foundation for razor sharp decision-making for every space manager and CEO that wish to improve the business. It is not only useful for one aspect of the company, but many, and can be used interdisciplinary between different departments. Together with the know-how of the employees and insights into well-executed strategies, data is a flare of light which brightens the path.

Seeking guidance on how to set up your hybrid office for success?

Don't hesitate to schedule a meeting with one of our product experts. They can provide valuable insights into our solutions and how technology can help streamline your office processes without disrupting employees' daily work.