Smart cities to impact workplace trends

Cities around the world are set to be transformed through the use of technology, and these advancements will have an impact on the workplaces of the future.

An analysis into technological advances by the National League of Cities has found which jobs are likely to be automated by 2026, with management and supervisory roles being the most secure.

Less than 30 per cent of management roles will be automatable, while low-paying manual labour roles are most at risk with over 70 per cent being automatable.

This will have a big impact on how we structure workplaces, said John Williams, head of marketing at Instant Offices.

One of the biggest trends that workplaces will see is the growing workplace wellness trend as employers recognise the dangers of overworking, presenteeism and burnout.

“In the US, 70-80 per cent of companies believe that wellness programs reduce absenteeism and boost productivity, according to a Global Wellness Institute Survey,” Mr Williams said.

Technology like wearable devices will become more common as employees monitor their states from steps taken to calorie consumption, which may empower them to take control of their health.

“Smart offices can also make use of collected data from wearable devices by analysing it to identify potential health risks in their workplace,” said Mr Williams.

The other big trend will be an increasing reliance on users’ own devices, so employees can use their own personal tablets, smartphones and more to complete tasks and send work-related communications.

“By allowing workers to take their favourite at-home tech and integrate it into daily work life, they will be able to work remotely in more efficient ways,” Mr Williams said.

Perhaps the biggest sectors that will benefit from smart cities will be those in the IT and web development business, he added.

This is because a lot of offices will start to invest more in data protection and biometric security, particularly as wireless and bring your own tech continues to rise.

“Flexible offices with excellent network security, a choice of shared and private workspaces, and round-the-clock on-premises security offerings are helping companies to operate in a safer and more secure environment,” said Mr Williams.

But a lot of companies had space to utilise technology, including those who work in labs and even warehousing places like Amazon and Boeing.

“Beyond office life, those working in labs and research facilities can operate safely with excellent security and data protection. Even warehousing and manufacturing are transforming as companies like Amazon and Boeing harness the power of IoT technology,” he said.