How Workplace management tools are helping organisations meet the challenges of today and tomorrow

Workplace management software tools have always been so much more than desk booking software and meeting room booking solutions. They have been at the heart of seamless visitor management, usage analytics and so much more for several years now.

However, as the entire economy adjusts to substantial changes in workplace behaviour, the tools are being developed to support new guidelines, to keep people safe, provide reassurance and maximise existing real-estate. With this in mind, last month our team held a virtual round table where more than 20 property professionals from 10 different UK&I public and private sector organisations came together to discuss the pressing issues they are facing resulting from Covid-19. Whilst our Meeting Room & Desk Booking solutions can and have been adapted to facilitate safe distancing when returning to work, it was evident that scheduling a coordinated, safe and self-directed flow into office buildings themselves was still a concern.

Having listened and understood the challenges, our team assembled their research and development group and emerged 10 days later with a Flow Management solution. With beta testing and client reviews complete the first instance went live on June 1st, less than a month after the issue first emerged. As a cloud based SaaS Matrix Booking functionality can be developed and released quickly and painlessly.

The Flow Management solution has been designed specifically to address an organisations ability to manage the flow of people to and through buildings, avoiding overcrowding and enabling physical distancing in communal areas. The solution enables users to manage their return to the office by utilising the same familiar, intuitive applications as experienced with meeting room and desk booking. Users can schedule their arrival time, desk and meeting rooms via a mobile app before they even leave the comfort of their home giving them control, comfort and confidence.

Using Matrix Booking technology, any workplace professional can keep their team safe by managing occupancy levels, workplace and social distancing and contact tracking in their buildings or campuses.

This is just one example of how workplace management organisations are responding positively and constructively in difficult times. Listening to and learning from those who run and work in physical office space will be absolutely key in the coming months. As the current situation evolves, and develops, new solutions will be required, some are already obvious but some are unforeseeable and it will be up to agile organisations to develop software and solve problems quickly and cost effectively.