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Strategic planning in the workplace: maximising resources and  bracing ourselves for AI
Hybrid workplace

Strategic planning in the workplace: maximising resources and bracing ourselves for AI

As the workplace evolves, so too do our strategic planning methods. With a new raft of tools and technological capabilities now at our fingertips - including AI - it becomes a matter of how we harness technology and leverage data to be primed and ready for the future of work.

July 11, 2023

The dynamic and ever-evolving workplace of today presents a whole new raft of considerations and methods to ensure successful strategic planning and execution in a business. One thing that hasn’t changed is that our success remains hinged on being able to attract and retain the right people, optimise resources and embrace digital advancements. What has changed is who those people are, how we manage our resources and what those digital advancements look like.

Generational shift

The last of the baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are heading into retirement, taking with them their more traditional ways of working. While their younger counterparts, Gen X (born between 1965 and 1980), are moving into senior management positions, trying to stay in tune with Millennials (born between 1981-1996) who are now occupying more middle management positions. Not to mention the up and coming Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012), an uber progressive force to be reckoned with.

Millennials and Gen Z have enormous potential and different expectations of the workplace. Like all generations, they seek purpose and meaningful work. They also thrive in inclusive environments built on flexibility and trust. And having grown up in the digital age, these younger cohorts embrace technology to streamline processes and help them be more effective in their jobs.

Learn more about engaging Millennials and preparing for the rise of Gen Z in the workplace.

Flexible hybrid working

In response to changing worker expectations, companies are responding by offering permanent hybrid working arrangements. Australia is the global leader in this arena, with an average of 50% of workplaces being hybrid. That’s over and above the international average of 44% according to Smart Company.

Being a relatively new concept, hybrid working brings a raft of challenges that need to be navigated and planned for. The most common themes of the companies we talk to are resource and space planning, team collaboration and connectedness and managing office attendance. Learn more about the pros and cons of flexible working.

Digitisation and the role of AI

As digitisation continues to reshape industries, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer. With AI becoming more mainstream, businesses are grappling with questions about the potential impact on jobs and the competitive advantages it can bring to them or their competitors. While there may be some uncertainty, it pays to recognise that AI is not intent on replacing humans but rather enhancing human capabilities and driving innovation.

AI has the potential to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more strategic and creative efforts. By harnessing the power of AI, businesses can enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity across various functions. Harnessing intuitive technology with the ability to analyse data and identify patterns, allows businesses to generate valuable insights that humans might miss. This improves their ability  to make more informed decisions, optimise resources and boost profitability.

Planning for success in the evolving workplace - where does Nura Space fit in?

In the modern workplace where hybrid working is commonplace, technology becomes more than another resource but more of an intelligent tool embedded into the strategic planning of a business.

Here’s how an intuitive workplace management tool with comprehensive booking capabilities and predictive analytics helps businesses be more strategic in their resource planning and other success factors:

1. Strategic planning of resource allocation:

Effective planning underpins strategic decision-making in hybrid workplace management. By using Nura Space to evaluate booking patterns, utilisation levels, and resources in demand, businesses can make data-driven decisions to optimise their usage. This level of planning allows organisations to identify and relocate underutilised resources to avoid unnecessary expenses.

2. Space optimisation based on office attendance:

Organisations invest a significant amount of money in in the physical space, a space which is a reflection of their organisation and its culture. So it’s only natural that they would want to ensure employees are coming in to enjoy their space, collaborate and be inspired. The Nura Space booking tool encourages just that by allowing employees to effortlessly plan their work weeks in line with co-worker bookings. And as more data comes to light of office attendence overtime, companies are capitalising on the booking capabililties of Nura Space to reduce the desk to employee ratio, thereby minimising unnecessary overheads attributed to empty space.

3. Risk mitigation and scalability:

Planning is cricial for risk mitigation and scalability in workplace management. Proper planning can help organisations identify potential risks and challenges associated with resource availability, business disruption, or sudden increases in demand. Developing contingency plans and scalable strategies can help organisations proactively address these challenges. Strategic planning also takes into account the scalability of workplace management processes. This enables organisations to adapt to growth, adapt to changing needs, and ensure resource availability to meet changing demands. 

4. AI enabled workplace management:

As AI continues to evolve, planning for its impact will be essential for workplace management. In your strategic plan, consider integrating AI enabled technologies or getting your organisation in the mindset with data-driven insights and automation. Nura Space delivers intelligent resource scheduling, trends for predictive analytics, but most importantly trigger-based automation with less need for human input. The result? More accurate and efficient resource allocation, less friction, and a seamless booking experience for employees. As advances in machine learning continue to evolve, so too will AI-driven insights and automation, allowing businesses to further optimise resources and the booking experience.

Strategic planning is the foundation for effective resource utilisation and better workplace management. By leveraging technology in the planning process, organisations can optimise space and resources, reduce risk, and harness the power of AI. Nura Space is dedicated to providing employee-centric workplace management tools that enable organisations to streamline operations, make informed decisions, and adapt to the changing demands of the modern workplace.  

Reach out for a chat or a demonstration of how Nura Space slots into the strategic planning process.

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