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What is Smart Working, the new method of flexible working

What is Smart Working, the new method of flexible working

MAY 2024 | 4 minutes

The new global challenges are forcing companies to transform themselves. To modify their structure, their processes, their teams and their own spaces to achieve a more agile and flexible work system. Able to respond to the new times, taking advantage of the opportunities opened up by technology and boosting the creativity and well-being of the team, a new way of working known as Smart Workingis emerging .

presentation at the smart working office

What is Smart Working?

To understand what "Smart Working" means, we could say that it is a new way of approaching work that abandons rigidities and predetermined patterns to focus on what is relevant: ideas, projects and people.

New methodologies that favour flexibility for the sake of creativity and wellbeing are emerging. It seeks to create value and innovation through intelligent collaboration between people and technologies. Cooperation that helps to reduce operating costs and reduce the impact on the environment.

It also involves a change in the work culture and seeks to provide the necessary framework to generate intelligent and agile processes that favour the effectiveness of the organisation and its capacity to adapt to change.

Basic concepts in Smart Working

Smartworking focuses on four concepts that take on a new dimension: space, time, technology and people.

Space

Work is no longer confined to the physical boundaries of the company, to a desk and achair. Different tasks may require different spaces and different colleagues, even in remote locations. It is the task that is important, not the place where it is performed. Thus, the

employees in flexible smart working

Time

Reorganising and automating work processes allows the focus to be placed on the project, the objectives and each of the tasks performed, regardless of where and when they are undertaken. Individual tasks become more flexible and the time spent on teamwork can be oriented towards creativity and innovation.

woman in office smart working

Technology

Technology has revolutionised the workspace, creating more efficient ways of collaborating, optimising processes and streamlining projects. It is technology that allows flexibility in terms of work space and time, but it must always be aligned with the structure and functioning of the business to be effective.

employees in flexible smart working

People

The new work methodologies put the focus on people. They place trust and responsibility for tasks in the team. Where and when tasks are carried out becomes less important in favour of creativity and results. Being able to decide the work formulas that best suit each individual also promotes the freedom and well-being of the employee, improving their commitment and satisfaction. A crucial factor at a time when attracting and retaining talent is more important than ever.

employees in flexible smart working

The configuration of each of these concepts depends on each company and each team. In fact, the Smartworking philosophy is articulated around four models: Agile Working, Activity Based Working, Knowledge-Based Working and Experience-Based Working.

Agile Working

It is based on the trust and responsibility of each team member. It translates into a journey of cultural transformation that involves prioritising projects and results, providing autonomy, freedom and flexibility. It allows everyone to work when, where and how they want, focusing on the client and user and working in a transversal way.

employees in flexible smart working

Activity-Based Working

It is an evolution of Agile Working but focuses on the activity being performed. It promotes team collaboration and encourages employees to discover and implement the best way of working through the design of the space. It is no longer the individual but the team that occupies a certain area of the office.

presentation at the smart working office

Knowledge-Based Working

This concept incorporates knowledge about people's behaviour by collecting data through intelligent systems. This information makes it possible to detect behavioural patterns and to adapt the company's work to the changing needs of employees and customers.

employees in flexible smart working

Experience-Based Working

The best workplaces focus on the experiences they create within the space. They offer employees choices about where to work, how to work and when to work, as well as mobility and flexibility. Younger generations prefer experience over ownership. They seek to connect with each other, create community and share experiences. And companies prioritise the well-being of their workers.

smart working office workers

Smart workspaces provide solutions

In this sense, the workspace has a lot to contribute to the transformation of companies. The design and layout of the space itself, as well as the choice of furniture, must respond to this need for flexibility and to the specific requirements of each company and each team. The versatility of the furniture makes it possible to create spaces for concentration, socialising, communication or dispersion. There are various furniture solutions that make it possible to create Smart Working spaces and give employees the power to move their workstation according to their daily needs.

These "Smart working" spaces represent the avant-garde in the conceptualisation and design of working environments. In this paradigm, "Smart offices" are at the core, offering innovative solutions that transcend mere spatial functionality to embrace efficiency, sustainability and user wellbeing.

Smart offices are designed to dynamically adapt to the needs of workers, incorporating state-of-the-art technologies to optimise resource management, facilitate remote collaboration and promote a healthy working environment. Flexible spaces generate flexible business models and agile processes and allow the incorporation of a wide range of people, ensuring their comfort and well-being. They enhance communication and innovation and, in this sense, furniture becomes an ally of productivity and talent.

For architects, interior designers and industry experts, this represents an exciting challenge: that of redefining the traditional concept of workspace, integrating innovative architectural elements with advanced technological solutions. Thus, "Smart working" coupled with "Smart offices" not only improves productivity and well-being, but also positions itself as a fundamental pillar in the construction of future sustainable and human-centred work environments.