Creating a cost-efficient workspace can help streamline workflows and ensure productivity without breaking the bank. A great deal of planning goes into designing a productive and engaging workspace that is also cost-efficient.
When done correctly, it can be an investment that produces a substantial return. It can also help attract and retain quality employees that add value to the company. When designing a great office, here are the costs that you need to keep in mind:
Construction and designer costs
Construction and design, or redesign, are among the first costs considered in the workplace environment. The need for flexibility has grown over the years as workplaces tend to employ multigenerational people from all walks of life.
Activity Based Working has grown in popularity recently and seems to offer quite a return. Activity Based Working design, or ABW, is a combination of multiple features in the workplace, including a combination of open and private places. These design features include things like clustered workstations with screens rather than cubicles and rows of tables.
The “internet of things” (IoT) and artificial intelligence continues to seep into the workplace, increasing the need for technology-based structure. Digital data sources continue to be a source of flexibility and efficiency over traditional methods.
The cost per employee depends greatly on the market niche. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allows for a full and immediate deduction of certain qualified expenses over the extended amortization method that doesn’t capture the full cost due to inflation.
Furniture
Furniture is a huge part of any office design or recreation. Again, the industry does tend to weigh in heavily. While furniture is one of the most important elements, it also tends to be the least expensive. Employers should focus heavily on productivity over penny-pinching to realize the maximum return.
Strategically placed sensor data has shown that up to 40 percent of an office space routinely goes unoccupied due to employee preference. Furniture should encourage collaborative work and support individual concentration, hence the popularity of ABW.
Furniture should be comfortable and support multiple group sizes. Things like lighting, color, sound and smell should also be used cohesively to create an efficient and engaging work environment. Some systems may include the use of lockers as opposed to assigning desks and encouraging plenty of natural light.
Even wall colors and essential oils can be used to heighten and guide the sense while increasing productivity. The most important aspect of an efficient workplace design is ensuring that the furniture is comfortable and supports effective workflows.
Larger spaces
You can use larger spaces for multigroup meetings and should support multiple configurations. The space should be flexible to support collaborative work efforts and could even include visual display technologies. Encouraging interaction among employees beyond project collaboration is important.
In fact, recent studies by Gensler indicate that two-thirds of participant employees feel they are more efficient when they can interact with their peers.
Additionally, employees often need areas to de-stress and regroup when pressure mounts.
Using part of a larger space for relaxation in the workplace is said to make employees more productive. Again, clustering areas for multiple purposes seem to provide a larger return than traditional design methods.
This could include things like multipurpose furniture that is easily reconfigured and half-screened collaborative areas over cubicles. Furniture and workspaces that are easily reconfigured serve multiple needs with less wasted space.
Equipment
The equipment you purchase may include machinery, hardware, technology and HVAC. Energy Management Systems and Building Automated Systems can help control costs and encourage communication between systems. Security, fire alarms and power can also be incorporated with IoT and a variety of compatible components.
This amounts to more user control and cost savings in a comfortable environment that encourages productivity. Some packaged building components are now available to meet various goals and budgets. Aside from building systems, upgraded machinery can also increase efficiency in the workplace.
Automating mundane and time-consuming tasks allows employees to better allocate their time toward revenue-producing purposes. Investments in equipment that make this possible are sustainable investments that generate measurable returns over time.
Creating a cost-efficient workplace can take a toll on your finances. Reliant Funding can help you build the office that you envision. You can contact us here.