ADVICE & OPINION
COMMENT
CORE CONNECTIONS
Conversations about the digital workplace
tend to focus on the smart building
management systems and intelligent sensors
that help to boost workplace e iciency, from
monitoring energy levels to optimising layouts
and use of space. These are exciting innovations
but they are only as good as the digital
infrastructure that underpins them.
All too o en this core connectivity and the
underlying infrastructure is being overlooked
as part of o• ice fit outs. Yet, digital networks,
including internet, are as essential to the modern
o• ice as running water. Leaving aside smart
building systems, these power practically every
facet of a company’s operations. How many
businesses could function without internet access?
Forward-thinking landlords factor connectivity
into their asset management plans, but usually it
is up to o• ice tenants to source their own internet
provider and infrastructure.
In the context of the pandemic, connectivity
matters more now than ever as we work through
the implications of flexible working for the o• ice.
Facilities management teams have a vital role
to play in helping businesses understand its
importance and making sure that asset owners and
occupiers invest in the right way and at the right
time to get the most out of their workplaces.
14 FEBRUARY 2021
DRIVING NEW WAYS OF WORKING
COVID-19 has focused attention on the value
of the o• ice. 2020 showed just how important
the physical workplace is for facilitating the
collaboration, ideas-sharing and social life that
drive organisations and their shared sense of
purpose. But it also proved that more agile working
is possible and can be a boon for work-life balance.
In fact, a survey of over 950 company directors
by the Institute of Directors found that nearly
three-quarters intended to maintain increased
homeworking a er Coronavirus.
While some may rethink their position as the
vaccine roll-out continues, many organisations are
likely to be reassessing their leasing commitments
and considering how much space they really need.
As they plan for the safe return of sta• , leadership
teams will need to demonstrate to CFOs that their
workplaces continue to o• er the best return on
investment. Meanwhile for some employees, the
o• ice has now become more of a destination
than a necessity – why go back to the commute,
especially if the set-up is better at home? They
will need to be convinced that it can live up to
expectations.
Connectivity must play a fundamental part in
that, powering the video calls, desktop research
and brainstorms that support creativity and team
building in the o• ice. Even if commuting five
days a week becomes less common, good digital
services will still be essential for more flexible
working practices. Teams can only embrace a ‘work
from anywhere’ culture if the technology is there
to allow them to seamlessly access their critical
applications and data.
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
Better digital infrastructure has to be part of
business planning this year, but many will be
unaware of the time it can take to install it. Getting
fibre into a building for high-speed internet
typically takes three months, largely due to the
complex negotiations required around navigating
wayleave agreements and securing access for
installation.
It’s therefore important to plan early. Whether an
FM team is overseeing an o• ice move or leading
a workplace refurbishment, they should counsel
businesses to ensure there are no hold ups and
that rent isn’t paid unnecessarily before an o• ice is
fit for purpose.
By factoring in connectivity at the earlier stages of
a fit-out plan, teams can ensure it is optimised for
the way businesses want to work. Configuring new
o• ice layouts isn’t as easy as just shu• ling around
desks. Wi-Fi access points, for example, will need
to move too. Clever use of Wi-Fi can also form part
of flexible contract arrangements – for example
by allowing di• erent employees to share desks on
di• erent days, with access restricted to nominated
users depending on the day of the week.
Cybersecurity is another critical factor and
systems must be robust. In the case of an o• ice
refurb, teams should assess what technology is
already in place and what devices are connected
to the web – any of these can be potential entry
points for cyber criminals if appropriate firewalls
aren’t in place or turned on. It’s also important
to think about what would happen to a business’
operations if their connection was interrupted, and
to establish appropriate back-up protocols. The
Google outage which occurred late last year shows
the disruption that can be caused even when
system failures aren’t the result of malicious intent.
Businesses were unable to access emails and intrao
• ice messaging for nearly an hour.
THE MISSING PART OF THE PUZZLE
The FM sector plays a fundamental role in
supporting the smooth running of workplaces.
Teams pride themselves on their ability to support
employees’ productivity and generally make it
easier for them to focus on what they do best –
their job. But there is a knowledge gap among
many businesses around digital connectivity. By
helping them to navigate this and working with
partners to put suitable systems in place, FM
providers can fulfil their aspiration to underline
business resilience and performance.
Building connectivity needs to be an essential part of
workplace planning in 2021, says John Archer, Solutions
Director at Backbone Connect