If you want to glimpse the workplace of the future, visit Box's new smart headquarters in Redwood City, Calif. The cloud storage company has designed an office complex that combines ultra-fast Wi-Fi, mobile "anywhere" communications, and Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity. When you arrive at Box, a mobile app linked to building-wide sensors recognizes you and provides you with turn-by-turn navigation to the correct meeting or work space within the company's 334,000-square-foot, seven-floor facility. Employees and visitors can quickly and easily find conference rooms or work desks, freeing up time for innovation and collaboration.
This is just one of the many benefits of marrying workplace design with technology. We call this the world of intelligent spaces, where employees can be productive, seamlessly and securely, anywhere, anytime, whether in a quiet work space, a conference room, a boardroom, or even an outdoor space such as a rooftop café. This is a world in which every employee has fast and complete access to the applications and data they need and can use any mobile device to schedule space, operate electronic whiteboards or projectors, or set up video conference calls.
How is this achieved? By ensuring that every technology and facility design decision is laser-focused on a single objective: Creating a workplace that adapts to how people want to work. Getting this right will allow organizations, small or large, to orchestrate workflows for maximum efficiency and productivity. And if done right, it will unleash the kind of innovation, creativity, and productivity needed to compete in the new digital economy.