Of course, Bidvest Prestige – as leaders in the field of creating optimal environments for staff and clients – have some thoughts in this regard.
While our core services are largely focused on commercial cleaning and technology, along with supporting services across hospitality, automotive, medical, industrial and other key market sectors – it is important to look at the wider spectrum of what companies can expect in 2022 as everything, in many ways, is connected to help deliver a positive outcome.
IOL panel highlights six trends
From well-being at work, hybrid work environments and the ability to ‘pivot’ when needed – to collaborative digital ecosystems, a focus on domestic tourism / travel and, of course, a focus on ‘green’ technology and solutions – the IOL panel of experts rightly point to a world where flexibility, better use of space, smarter use of technology and healthy working environments will be the order of the day.
Here we are not only looking at re-arranging some desks and adding a pot plant or two but taking an honest look at the way people interact in the workplace.
What do collaborative spaces look like? The flow of air, the allowance for natural light, the use of colour in interior design and more are all aspects to consider when looking at creating spaces that “work”.
Moving people to and from work
Another aspect to consider – and something that, more and more, will become a topic of discussion – is the movement of people.
Getting teams safely to and from work will require companies to look beyond over-crowded public transport options at others who can deliver a service that is affordable and sustainable.
Right now there are several players in South Africa looking to fulfil that gap, such as LULA, DiDi and others.
With workers highlighting “transport issues” as one of the major obstacles to returning to more regular on-premise activities, companies can do well to explore options in this regard.
The future of the office according to ARUP
What is the “Future of offices in a post-pandemic world?” asks engineering firm, ARUP, in their 2021 research paper.
Where the paper, naturally, focuses on the USA – many of the discussed principles hold equal and, sometimes, more value for South African businesses. With key topics including:
- Hygiene Considerations
- Optimised office spaces
- Travel questions
They conclude their study, which we encourage you to download, with the following; “This current crisis has underscored the point that there are alternative ways of working to what went before and they could produce benefits for companies, employees and the wider community.
The commercial property firms (and companies) that identify the most significant trends stand to gain from this new world of work.”
Where we stand
Bidvest Prestige has long been a proponent of technologically-advanced and sustainable solutions – putting our people at the forefront of information gathering to allow better business decisions for our clients.
Trends in green cleaning, decontamination, certified training, deploying top talent and the use of SaaS, AI and Automation in delivering better services are all part and parcel of our every day – but does not blind us from overarching trends as touched on above.
For us, our role in society goes beyond core services to working with our clients to help optimise their operational environments – to make workplaces safe, comfortable and enticing to all who enter the premises.
Of course this, in turn, means our focus on training and upskilling our staff to their fullest potential (and in meeting the most stringent of industry standards) remains paramount.
In a post-pandemic world, it remains people who will help power and invent change.
Along with the latest technology and insights from our teams on the ground – we are confident that Bidvest Prestige is well-positioned to help clients future-proof their business environments.