Preparing your office for what’s next (whatever that may be)

Does your office feel like a time capsule?

Because many people weren’t physically in the office for a long time, it may be difficult for them to return to a space that feels like it was frozen in time. Once people moved to remote work, physical processes and workflows to manage records, files, and IT assets went by the wayside. And the same goes for non-digital areas, including things like desks, office kitchens, and large file cabinets. What will be waiting for people as they return to the office if they choose to do so?

Now that it’s been shown people can work from anywhere, businesses may not see 100% in-office attendance anytime soon. This is supported by the fact that employee well-being has risen to organizations’ top priority since the pandemic began. And they’re following up on that with 48.9% of leaders now investing in hybrid work technology platforms. To help adapt to this new workstyle, organizations should take inventory of both physical and digital assets, including associated work processes. This will help evaluate what the must-haves are and eliminate any inefficiencies, while also enhancing workflows and productivity. 

Here are a few questions to get the process started: 

• Have physical records been used in the past year? 
• Is postal mail piling up on desks of fully remote employees?
• Are unused laptops sitting around and turning into security risks? 
• Do piles of paper need to be organized or moved to offsite storage? 
• Are there paper files or retired IT assets that need to be securely destroyed and recycled?

Clarifying questions like these helps identify gaps in processes, access, and security. It also sets your team up for inventory success. 

As technology continues to evolve, so should the nature of how and where we work. By taking inventory of your physical and digital environments, you’re enabling future flexibility for whatever comes next.