As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic forcing millions of office workers to stay at home and work remotely, companies across the world have had to test working from home at its most extreme level. This has left employees and employers alike with no choice but to embrace remote working and the technology that supports it.
This enforced experiment has given businesses the unique opportunity to reflect on the success of their current workplace strategy, and to reconsider the way in which they work. Whilst there has undoubtedly been a steady increase in working from home in recent years, this shift is now set to accelerate at a far more rapid pace than previously expected. It seems inevitable that in the wake of COVID-19, flexible working will become an increasingly integral part of the future of work.
At Metrikus, we enable you to be at the forefront of this workplace revolution. Through the implementation of smart building technology we help to provide healthy, flexible and productive places to work.
By using existing systems, sensors, and IoT, occupancy and environmental data is collated and analysed in our platform. We then display the information that is most relevant to you, allowing you to make more informed decisions about your workplace.
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided companies with a clear understanding of the extent to which flexible working can function for them. For many, it will have become apparent that a great deal of work can in fact be carried out remotely. Upon returning to their offices, businesses may feel as though some of their space is no longer necessary.
Downsizing or re-allocating space is an extremely effective cost-saving measure, and this may become particularly important in the recession that will inevitably succeed COVID-19. However, without monitoring occupancy, it’s exceedingly difficult to quantify how much office space is actually required.
Metrikus can accurately measure the effective occupancy for any area of interest in real-time. Occupancy patterns that emerge over time can be used to ensure that office space is utilised effectively, providing a huge return on investment.
We allow you to set thresholds with associated alerts based on your limiting factor; whether that be ventilation or means of escape. Real-time alerts can also be used to manage the flow of staff, ensuring health and safety standards are met. It is clear that regulatory compliance is an essential part of returning to work, particularly whilst social-distancing regulations remain prevalent. Metrikus’ unique solution will provide you with the data you need to help you manage your office and ensure it is a safe and healthy environment in which to work.
Monitoring environmental parameters in your office also has an essential role to play in optimising the health and wellbeing of employees. Improving your Indoor Air Quality can prevent Sick Building Syndrome and increase productivity and cognitive function.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, finding ways to mitigate the transmission of future viruses is a key concern. Monitoring temperature and humidity is essential as these variables play a vital role in the survival rate of viruses. Low humidity can also cause mucous membranes to dry out, which compromises our body’s natural defence to viruses. Environmental monitoring in the workplace has long been overlooked, and perhaps this health crisis will encourage more companies to consider it as a necessity in their office.
The Metrikus Wellness Dashboard was designed by an in-house team of environmental scientists, and allows you to visualise data about the quality of your indoor environment in a meaningful way. We monitor real-time temperature, humidity, CO2 (carbon dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), O3 (ozone), TVOCs (chemicals) and PM2.5 (small particles such as dust). By assessing this data against optimal values, we can ascertain how they are impacting key metrics such as productivity and cognitive function.
Smart alerts can be set up to notify your Facility Team when environmental parameters deviate from their optimal zone, and remedial action can be taken via your Building Management System (BMS) where appropriate. For example, ventilation can be increased to improve your Indoor Air Quality, creating a healthier environment for employees.
Environmental monitoring can also help to uncover systemic inefficiencies and reduce your energy consumption. This not only leads to significant cost savings, but also brings about environmental benefits through a reduction in CO2 emissions.
By using Metrikus, you can ensure that your office is a healthy, productive and more efficient environment. The way we all work is undergoing a fundamental transformation, and Metrikus will enable you to be at the forefront of this change.
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