According to a recent survey conducted by recruitment firm Morgan McKinley, over 90% of firms in Hong Kong are urging their workers to increase their office presence. This figure surpasses the global average of 56% for employers implementing a similar policy.

In response to this trend, implementing a smart office system becomes crucial for streamlining office management and facilitating a seamless transition back to the physical workplace.

The Hong Kong Scenario

Hong Kong, a bustling financial hub, has traditionally placed great emphasis on in-person work culture. The survey’s findings reflect the strong push by employers to restore the pre-pandemic office environment.

Factors such as the desire for increased collaboration, efficient communication, and the need to maintain corporate culture contribute to this trend. Hong Kong’s unique business landscape, characterized by high competition and the importance of face-to-face interactions, further amplifies the pressure on firms to enforce the return to office.

Challenges and Benefits of back-to-office

The enforcement of back-to-office policies poses challenges for both employers and employees. Concerns over transportation, health and safety, and work-life balance are among the key considerations.

However, implementing a smart office system can help address these challenges and enhance the overall work experience.

Here are some benefits a smart office system can offer:

1. Efficient Space Management: A smart office system enables employers to optimize office space utilization by facilitating conference room and desk booking. With real-time data on occupancy rates, companies can ensure the effective allocation of resources and minimize unnecessary costs.
2. Seamless Collaboration: A smart office system fosters efficient teamwork regardless of employees’ physical locations by providing a digital platform for communication and collaboration. Features such as instant messaging, virtual meetings, and document sharing enhance productivity and streamline workflows.
3. Enhanced Health and Safety: With the ongoing concerns related to public health, a smart office system can incorporate features such as touchless access control, automated visitor management, and real-time monitoring of air quality. These measures prioritize employee well-being and provide a safe working environment.
4. Data-Driven Decision Making: The AI-driven analytics of a smart office system provides employers with valuable insights into employee behavior, workspace usage, and productivity trends. This data can inform strategic decision-making, allowing companies to adapt their office policies to maximize efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Offision: The Solution for Smart Office Management

Offision, an AI-driven smart office platform, offers a comprehensive solution to manage the transition back to the office effectively. Its features include conference room and desk booking, visitor management, and AI office data analytics.

Offision’s user-friendly interface and integration capabilities with various platforms make it a valuable tool for streamlining office operations and saving costs.

As Hong Kong firms lead the way in enforcing back-to-office policies compared to other regions in 2024, the need for a smart office system becomes evident.

By leveraging technology and automation, companies can address the challenges associated with returning to the physical workplace and create a more efficient, collaborative, and safe work environment.

Offision’s AI-driven platform exemplifies the benefits of a smart office system, enabling businesses to navigate this transition successfully and optimize their office management strategies.

30 days free trial for your new office system: Start today

The post Hong Kong Firms Lead in Enforcing Back-to-Office Policy Compared to Other Regions in 2024 first appeared on ONEs Blog.

Based on Nikkei Asia reports, they are making these moves despite an oversupply of office space caused by new buildings entering the market and businesses consolidating or departing Hong Kong due to the weak economy and stringent COVID regulations.

Singapore-based premium co-working space debuts in Hong Kong

The Great Room, a premium coworking space operator with offices in Singapore, has infused One Taikoo Place in Hong Kong with its distinct brand of hospitality-inspired culture.

Renters may work in the 24,000 sqft space, which is painted in neutral earth tones and draws influence from upscale hotels and business clubs. This setting is meant to assist tenants to find the ideal balance between efficiency and creativity.

Jaelle Ang, CEO of The Great Room, mentioned that in an expensive city such as Hong Kong, it becomes even more important to make every dollar count. Flexible spaces such as The Great room can allow companies to fully use their operational cost on delivering impact for business interactions, employee engagement, and productivity.

The pandemic forces companies “to really cater to that hybrid working plus the wellness element,” Ang told Nikkei Asia.

The facility should reach 90% occupancy within a year due to the great demand, according to Ang, who declined to say how many tenant agreements had been inked.

The role of the office is no longer simply a place to work, but a communal space enabling collaboration, fostering innovation and supporting high-performing teams

Alex Barnes, managing director at JLL in Hong Kong

A flexible workplace makes property and assets more attractive to tenants

The brokerage of commercial real estate According to Colliers, a surge in Grade A office space caused vacancy rates to increase to 12.6% in the third quarter of this year. According to statistics from Cushman & Wakefield, total office rentals for the quarter were down 29% from their peak in April 2019.

In the two years leading up to 2024, Hong Kong will add 8.2 million square feet of Grade A office space, according to statistics from commercial real estate firm CBRE.

Based on Fiona Ngan, head of office services at Colliers comments, Central is still the primary CBD in Hong Kong, but they see that occupiers changing their approach as their business needs change. Flexible working has provided the tipping point of these processes.

With the vacancy rates in premium office spaces keep rising up despite the Hong Kong government’s effort to revive the city’s status as an international hub, landlords are more receptive to working with flexible working spaces to create an inviting workplace.

In the face of global economic uncertainties and hybrid work becoming more popular, some tenants are turning to spaces that offer more flexibility. This has supported the expansion of flexible offices in the city,

Alex Barnes, managing director at JLL in Hong Kong

According to a CBRE poll conducted in May, as COVID-19 rules are relaxed around the region, roughly 60% of Asia-Pacific enterprises anticipate a hybrid of working from home and office hours.

Prepare your office for 2023

There are practically no restrictions on how the trends in offices may help you now and in the future as long as smart technology solutions continue to advance.

Smart office systems have the potential to enhance every aspect of the workplace, including productivity, health and safety, host desking, and employee well-being.

Employing a skilled installer who can create and deploy a unique smart office system tailored to your company’s needs is essential if you want to take full advantage of what smart technology has to offer.

Contact us: hello@ones.software, or visit ONES Software official website for more information: https://ones.software/. 

The post Flexible hybrid workspaces in Hong Kong keep expanding, even though office needs go down first appeared on ONEs Blog.