HAMILTON

MODERN OFFICE
Commercial Furniture Specialists
What is Activity Based Working?
“Activity Based Working is all about sustainability. The
way we work is changing. Work is becoming a process,
not a place,” says Trish Stockman from Modern Office
Hamilton.
Studies find that most commercial office buildings have
occupancy levels below 50%, as people increasingly
adopt flexible working. Reducing the cost of real estate,
demographics, globalisation and management culture
add to the mix, but it is technology innovation that is
really triggering the change.
As we begin to understand the impact of new trends
such as cloud computing, unified communications, and new devices that will always be
on and always connected to the internet, the approach of Activity Based Working has
emerged and has already been adopted by businesses all over the world.
“Giving everyone a desk or office that lies empty for the majority of the working day
is no longer sustainable. We are seeing the fast disappearance the desk phone and the
slower but evidential disappearance of the individual desk. The notion that people need
a piece of ‘wood’ to call their own in an era of fast communications is becoming fiction
for most companies”, says Trish.
Activity Based Working (ABW) is an approach to work that does not require a traditional
office, but a hybrid environment that provides a place for people with shared amenities
and spaces. ABW space will be used on a need basis, acting as a home for a population,
providing resources and specialised facilities, as and when they are demanded.
ABW gives employees a choice about how, when and where they work. In the office,
that means a choice of work settings, each designed for different types of tasks. Outside
the office it enables staff to work anywhere, from home to an airport lounge. Reducing
the number of fixed workstations can have a real impact on a company’s bottom line.
- Smaller property footprint
- Lower energy bills
- Reduced churn costs
- Reduced business rates
- Reduced maintenance costs
- Lower travel costs for staff
- Less internal cabling, wired IT provisioning
- Fewer printers and a reduction in paper
“And for employees, more flexibility means a better work / life balance, job satisfaction
and reduced sick time. You create a working environment that’s flexible and efficient and
where staff can flourish. It builds spaces around collaboration, socialising and learning.
It has been proven to increase productivity,” says Trish.
There’s never a bad time to implement ABW, but sometimes an upcoming event or
change can present a great opportunity. Which catalyst applies to your business?
- A lease event, such as a break or end of term
- A strategy change
- Merger or acquisition
- Divestiture
- Change in leadership
- New product launches / teams
- Culture change
- Portfolio rationalisation
Trish Stockman from Modern Office has over 25 years’ experience in commercial
furniture sales and is an expert in ABW. Offering free consultations, an extensive
collection of ergonomic products, height adjustable desks, and office equipment to suit
any budget, Trish can offer you the best possible solution for your office space. Contact
Trish today on 07 838 308 or email trish@modernoffice.co.nz.
Waikato Showroom 103 Tristram Street, Phone 07 838 3081, www.modernoffice.co.nz