In the past it was typical to hold meetings with most people physically in the meeting room and one or two people joining remotely from home or other offices. A recent study conducted by Cisco indicated that 98% of meetings going forward will have at least one remote participant.

It’s more important than ever to create a comfortable workplace environment where hygiene and safety are consistently prioritised. High traffic areas will need to be monitored and the footfall will have to be staggered to allow for social distancing. Rooms sensors can be integrated into facilities management systems to allow organisations to collect data about incoming and outgoing traffic and alert individuals when an area has reached capacity.

As we gradually return to work and require a more flexible approach to using workspaces, it will be vital for the majority of businesses to implement effective room booking solutions. Employees are likely to adopt more variable working patterns and will meet when necessary and potentially less frequently. So there will be a growing demand for real time solutions that enable employees to view availability and book meeting room spaces that meet their needs, as and when required. New technology now allows users to select a room that meets their requirements, with any additional equipment or services they need, in advance. Facilities managers need to manage room occupancy and adjust this over time. Room booking systems can help do this and can be integrated with room control and sensors to create a fully automated and streamlined experience. These solutions also provide a means to centralise fault management.