4 Futuristic Space Management Software Trends for the New Year

by Elizabeth Dukes on January 16, 2018
dots-pattern
inner-blogshape

Everyone knows the New Year is the perfect time to make some big changes.

While we certainly can’t tell you how best to improve your personal life, we can tell you it’s time to take a look at your space management software.

As with most workplace management solutions, space management software is evolving at a rapid rate. Here are four of the biggest trends to watch for in 2018.

Workplace leaders need real-time data delivered in dashboards to properly forecast their space requirements.

Improved Space Visualization and Occupancy Management

Today’s leading space management software gives workplace leaders insight into an abundance of up-to-date information, such as:

  • Total square footage
  • Actual space utilization
  • Location, size and type of available space
  • Total building capacity

More advanced solutions also offer the ability to forecast future space requirements. Workplace leaders can create hypothetical scenarios based on current and projected employee population changes. They can more easily visualize the space that’s available now and use accurate, objective data to determine where additional workspaces need to be added and where the number of workspaces can be reduced. When used along with move management software, it also makes it easier to identify ways to improve efficiency without the hassle of having to actually relocate any equipment or employees.

Space Management Software With Dashboards and Data Analytics

Space management software is quickly becoming a workplace leader’s crystal ball. Not only does it enable descriptive data analytics, but more advanced solutions also give workplace leaders the ability to use predictive analytics to forecast and prescriptive analytics to hypothesize.

This crystal ball takes the form of powerful dashboards. In iOFFICE’s space management software, dashboards are composed of an array of individual reports that are combined into a single display. These dashboards enable workplace leaders to identify trends by making it easier to compare multiple data points at once. They also help workplace leaders get down into the nitty-gritty details of the workplace. For example, they can:

  • Allocate space by department
  • Easily see square footage by building and floor
  • See the price per square foot per person

Dashboards give workplace leaders the data they need to confidently make the best decisions that increase workplace efficiency and improve the employee experience.

Saying Sayonara to Silos With Space Management Software

Traditionally, the only employees who used space management software were members of the facility management team. As a result, there was a disconnect between the employees who managed the space and those who occupied it. However, businesses can expect to see the introduction of more employee-centric solutions such as iOFFICE Hummingbird, a solution that connects facility management software to employee-facing apps where they can find people, find places and find and reserve space.

This kind of workplace technology connects HR systems, integrated workplace management systems (IWMS), employee directory and room reservation solutions and creates a platform that empowers every member of the workforce – not just the facilities management team. Employees can more easily collaborate and communicate with colleagues across the organization. Plus, your workforce will have access to the critical data they need no matter where they are in the world.

Space management software will no longer ignore aesthetics in favor of function. The solutions will have a happy balance of user-friendliness and utility.

Today's workplace leaders are on the go and need access to their dashboards from their mobile devices.

Making Space Management Software Mobile

Rarely is a workplace leader at his or her desk. There are simply too many tasks that can’t be accomplished by staying in one place.

Just as many aspects of the workforce are moving towards a focus on mobility and flexibility, more space management software providers are beginning to understand the need for workplace leaders to have access to tools and data on the go.

And in reality, this need isn’t limited to only workplace leaders. Thanks to activity-based working environments and office hoteling, you’ll be hard-pressed to find an employee staying in one workspace for very long. To align the workforce and the workplace, all users need on-demand access to this workplace technology.

So how can workplace leaders know they’ve invested in the right space management software? If you want to be 100 percent confident you’ve made the right call, choose the iOFFICE solution. We’re not the top-rated space management software on Capterra for nothing.

Take the iOFFICE Space Management software for a test drive today! 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Dukes

Elizabeth Dukes' pieces highlight the valuable role of the real estate and facility managers play in their organizations. Prior to iOFFICE, Elizabeth was in sales for large facility and office service outsourcing firm.

Capterra Ratings: ★★★★★ 4.5/5