Improving Your Workspace with Data and Analytics

Technology 29th October, 2021

For several years, data and analytics have been reshaping industry competition and the core businesses of many organisations. While many companies remain somewhat behind the curve when it comes to the holistic integration of data into the heart of corporate strategy, the organisations that do make this shift stand to reap massive rewards.

McKinsey reports that companies with the greatest overall revenue and earnings growth receive a significant proportion of that boost from data and analytics. Respondents from these organisations are up to three times more likely to claim that their data and analytics integration has contributed at least 20% to earnings before interest and taxes over the past three years.

However, there’s an inherent set of cultural and organisational hurdles to be overcome when implementing significant core practices associated with data and analytics. The lack of these practices, such as agile delivery methods and strong data frameworks, means that the technology in many companies cannot be scaled successfully. A data-driven culture is fundamental to building a successful data strategy, and a large percentage of the working world is still some way behind.

In the post-pandemic workspace, data-based analytical frameworks are all the more important as companies seek to forge a path towards revival. Simply put, businesses must incorporate data more holistically into their cultures, as the potential benefits in such a volatile and unpredictable time are compelling. 

The collaborative workspace and teapoint at DXC Technology feature a long island, highchairs, and individual meeting areas with teal accents and warm wood finishes.

Workspace Analytics

One area that data and analytics can dramatically improve is spatial optimisation within the workplace. In the current moment, the rise of mobile technology and the flexibility demanded by pandemic-induced lockdowns have dramatically altered traditional working habits. Gone are the days of bleak, monotonous rows of office cubicles; modern employees rightfully expect workspaces that fulfil many needs and offer multi-faceted modes of working.

Because of this emphasis on flexibility, it is all too easy for large portions of the office to go unused. According to a EOCOM Time Utilisation Survey, workspaces of all kinds are occupied just 42% of the day. In the current climate, where both real estate and utilities costs are high, companies simply can’t afford to let space go to waste – particularly when it can be utilised in other ways that could positively impact the office environment.

Data and analytics are instrumental in giving managers an adequate picture of exactly how their office space is used, and how the workspace can be optimised. Crunching the data can give answers to some important questions: what spaces within the office are being underutilised? Why are employees avoiding the underutilised spaces within the office? Do meeting types match the spaces employees are booking? The list goes on and on.

Once this data has been gathered, the next steps are to analyse and then optimise your space accordingly. Previously it would have been necessary to hire an expensive workplace consultant for their expertise in order to gain actionable outcomes from this data. However, using recent advancements in technology, we have created a free Office Space Calculator tool which builds on our decades-worth of industry expertise, allowing you to discover these answers yourself.

A laptop displaying the office space calculator tool, designed to provide data-driven insights for optimising workspace layout and improving spatial efficiency through advanced analytics.

An Employee-Facing Space

Employee recruitment and retention depend on the flexibility and quality of the working environment offered by an organisation. Space types within the office must be varied, and must cater towards the diverse needs of the workforce.

One need that is often cited by employees as important is privacy and quiet. An Interface.com workplace acoustic study revealed that 62% of employees suggested minimising distractions is key to being productive in the workplace.

Data and analytics can offer digestible data on noise levels and occupation statistics within the office, allowing a clear picture of the acoustic success of the office, as well as allowing employees the ability to understand and choose spaces suited for their work based on noise levels.

An intimate booth seating area with a stylish arch design and bookshelf at Publicis Sapient’s London office.

Data for the Future

Businesses that perform highly as data-drivers generally indicate that their managers are creating data and analytics strategies with a long-term view towards the future. By making data a core part of employees’ workflows, and by revolving the business culture around data and analytics, employees are inducted into an ever-strengthening, data-driven culture.

The benefits of this are myriad and tangible. Never has it been more important to embed data and analytics into your business; ultimately, the understanding of this information can be vital to ensuring the health and success of your business.

Explore how to implement data-driven design in the workplace through our article on smart technology, or use the Office Space Calculator tool to see data-driven design and analytics in action.