5 Modern Workplace Trends Supported by Smart Lockers
We are all for safe spaces. Especially at work.
Digital technology is transforming so many areas of our existence — from home life to healthcare to education, banking and beyond. Connected businesses are modernizing to not only drive efficiencies across their company but also to elevate the employee experience.
One of the key enablers in the “new normal’ workplace is smart storage — specifically smart lockers systems. These essential tools support and enhance various workplace trends, five of which we spotlight below.
- Hybrid Work and the Rise in eCommerce: Okay, technically that’s two — but we’re combining them as they intertwine. The onslaught of post-COVID hybrid work necessitates a flexible, secure and efficient system for managing personal belongings, work supplies and even deliveries. More than 1 in 3 millennials prefer to receive their packages at work — and with the exponential growth of eCommerce, this super surge in parcel deliveries requires convenient and safe pickup options for people working and flexing all hours of the day. Smart lockers address both needs seamlessly by providing employees with a safe space for their belonging while serving as a reliable point of delivery and receipt for ongoing, everyday online orders.
- An Enhanced Employee Experience: The support for at-work delivery fits into this next trend. As organizations recognize the importance of employee satisfaction and retention, the work “experience” has gained in value. Smart lockers contribute to a rewarding employee experience by offering a convenient and personalized storage solution. Easy-to-use compartments securely contain items — with the ability to track, audit and adjust access — ensuring people have everything they need for a productive work shift or to grab and take along with them once they call it a day. This assurance that one’s “stuff” is always nearby and protected factors into an overall positive company experience.
- Open Office Concepts (Hot Desking and Hoteling): The shift to new open office concepts creates a need for onsite, flexible storage offerings. Many employees no longer have designated desks, and instead require a secure space to store things when not in use. Smart lockers offer individualized units that are easily assigned, accessed and shared for better efficiency — supporting the proliferation of open office practices paired with satisfied employee interactions.
- Redesigned Office Spaces and Savings: Many organizations are reimagining the physical layout of their offices to accommodate the prevalence of hybrid work arrangements. This trend has the potential for tremendous cost savings by optimizing space, yet also introduces the challenge of providing secure storage for employees who are onsite intermittently. Smart lockers maximize space utilization while ensuring everyone has a secure and convenient place to put their belongings. This enables companies to achieve efficiency and employee satisfaction.
- Demand for Smart Lockable Storage: The need for secure and contactless solutions has surged in the wake of the pandemic. Digital lockers fueled by the power of RFID technology offer a touch-free and secure method for holding personal items, work materials and deliveries — aligning with the heightened focus on health and safety, while also supporting efforts to keep costs in check in today’s modern workplace.
Our related infographic, 5 Trends Smart Lockers Support in the Modern Workplace, also focuses on these pressing points about how intelligent storage systems have a lot in store to help shape the future of life’s everyday spaces.
Marc Butler is a Product Manager with global responsibility for the RFID Desktop and Embedded portfolio within the Extended Access Technologies Business Area. Marc brings extensive commercial and technical expertise in both domestic and export markets, a background in technical support and account management, along with 30 years’ experience in the security industry. An effective communicator at all levels within the organization, his proven abilities in producing market requirement specifications provide business case justification for new product development.