Before COVID-19, the traditional office was widely considered an essential element of working life. Going to work, for most people, actually meant leaving home and traveling to the workplace. A lot has changed, however, since the pandemic hit.
When working in-office suddenly became off-limits, employers expected to see a sharp nosedive in productivity. Instead, they found that the change generally resulted in an equally, if not more productive workforce. In what economist Nicholas Bloom calls the "working-from-home economy," remote work has since become considerably more commonplace.
Record numbers of employees are now trading in their commutes for conference calls, leaving offices emptier than ever before. Does this mean the old ways of office work are gone for good? Not quite — but lately, several companies have delayed their plans to return to the traditional office model, and businesses overall are beginning to reimagine the future of work.
After all, there's no telling exactly when the pandemic will end. When it does, many workers will want to keep the flexibility and comfort of working from home, while others already miss collaborating and socializing in person.
The challenge is to find a solution that works for everyone. Simply reverting to pre-pandemic practices won't do. Companies need to adapt to their employees' new expectations.
Redesigning the Office
Redesigning the office for a post-COVID world requires some significant changes. Here are some important factors to consider:
- Cleanliness: COVID-19 has made everyone more careful about spreading germs, so the office should be clean to help employees feel safe. That means regular cleaning, disinfecting, and social distancing where necessary.
- Comfort: Now that many have a taste of what it's like to work from the comfort of their home, companies need to make their offices more attractive. For example, you might try mimicking coffee houses with wood floors, booth seating, and pendant lamps to create a "cool club" vibe. Anything to make employees more comfortable at work.
- Productivity: Offices also need to inspire productivity. That means creating a clean space with the right equipment — think quiet rooms, standing desks, and ergonomic chairs.
Whichever workspace approach you take, it'll likely mean investing more in a home office or hybrid office solution. Let's go over what both have to offer:
The Home Office
Home offices allow employees to work in comfort while saving on commuting time and transportation costs. Additionally, they save companies on real estate costs by requiring less office space.
But to stay productive, remote workers need the right equipment. That's why online sales of standing desks, ergonomic chairs, and other home office supplies are booming right now.
As demand for home office equipment grows, companies will need prepackaged home workspaces that don't require a lot of setup or complicated DIY configurations.
Enter the SmartDesk Connect. It's the world's first motorized standing desk with three built-in monitors and speakers—all powered by your laptop. Employees can set up this out-of-the-box workspace and have it running in no time. It's hassle-free and gives you everything you need to start being productive at home.
The Hybrid Office
Hybrid work is a nice compromise between at-home and in-office work, but companies who opt for a hybrid solution need to provide their employees with a good work setup.
For example, hybrid employees might need fast laptops and mobile hotspot internet plans when they're on the go.
They'll also need a corporate office space where they can collaborate both in-person and with those working remotely. This means video conferencing monitors and speakers, virtual whiteboards, and other collaboration hardware.
Since hybrid workers don't come into the office daily, a rotating desk system can help optimize your space. This means having multiple employees share the same workstation at different times, also known as "hot desking."
Hot desking is cost-effective and helps smooth the transition from working at home to in the office. Rather than desks belonging to any particular worker, anyone can use any desk as needed.
Many companies expand on this by letting workers reserve desk space ahead of time. This arrangement, known as "hoteling," makes collaboration easier and lowers the risk of employees not finding a spot to work during the day.
The SmartDesk Connect was designed with shared workspaces in mind. Employees can easily dock their laptops whenever they want, and remove them once they're done. That way, they get all the benefits of a complete workspace while having the privacy of keeping all their work stored on their device. It's a win-win.
The All-In-One Solution: The SmartDesk Connect
Whether you need to step up your workspace at home or in the office, the SmartDesk Connect is for you. Its clean design and easy setup make it the perfect all-in-one solution for the post-COVID workplace.
One customer outfitted his whole team with the SmartDesk Connect and said it contributed to a "nice clean workspace" and a "team atmosphere." Another said it "definitely increased productivity."
On top of the benefits, the SmartDesk Connect offers a host of features:
- Dual motors that quietly lower or lift the desk to most sitting and standing heights
- A tabletop Qi wireless phone charger for easy charging while you work
- Three integrated 24" 4K UHD monitors
- Two high-end 10W stereo speakers
The SmartDesk Connect also has an ergonomic wrap-around design that allows you to fully immerse yourself in your work. Plus, its unique shape enables you to place multiple desks together to optimize office space. Its caster wheels make moving it easy.
Get rid of old clunky cubicles and replace them with a sleek SmartDesk Connect layout that makes employees want to come to work.
The SmartDesk Connect also comes in two laptop docking options:
- The SmartDesk Connect E uses an eGPU with the power to drive three UHD displays without expensive onboard graphics.
- The SmartDesk Connect D uses DisplayLink™ technology for wider compatibility with more powerful laptops, including the latest M1 Apple MacBook ecosystem.
If you're not sure about your laptop's compatibility, you can use our free compatibility tool on the SmartDesk Connect product page to find out.
In addition to compatible add-ons like a keyboard, mouse, and webcam, we offer free shipping on all orders and a 30-day return policy for US customers. Here at SmartDesk, we are always committed to helping you find the custom workspace solution you need.
Next Steps: Get in Touch!
Want to take your office to the next level with the SmartDesk Connect? We're here to help. We work creatively with businesses to provide the ideal configuration and solution for employee productivity. Our professionals understand the art of balancing both business and employee needs.
Modernize your whole office and purchase the SmartDesk Connect in bulk for special discount options. Contact our sales team today at sales@smartdesk.com for some unique packages you won't want to pass up!
