You’ve probably heard buzzwords such as “digital workplace experience” and “smart buildings”. Curious? It’s really quite simple: it all comes down to how technology can best streamline business communications and activities, making employees’ lives easier.
Employee expectations are evolving; tech-savvy individuals prefer their employer engages them with interactive, omni-channel touchpoints, much like popular brands engage customers. That’s where digital workplace experience comes in. This concept refers to using the best technology, the solutions that add real value as opposed to just tech for its own sake (no matter how cool it is). Thinking about digital workplace experience means recognizing that people interact with each other, technology and their physical environment all at once. So, it makes sense that digital tech is now bringing physical venues to life.
Just consider this scenario:
Today is an exciting day. You pull up to a tech giant’s out-of-this-world campus, find a space to park, grab your phone from the center console and slide it into your pocket. As you do, it sounds a beep. Assuming it’s a friend or colleague, you glance at the screen only to be pleasantly surprised.
You’ve received a detailed notification from the company with check-in information. You tap the notification, unlock your device and you’re instantly viewing a property map with a real-time indicator highlighting exactly where you are on the campus. The message indicates you will be meeting with a representative in 20 minutes, and it will take you 5 minutes to get there.
You have plenty of time, so why not explore a little first? As you move about the campus, the app sends you informative notes about the most popular stops. Want a coffee? Here’s where the on-site cafeteria is located. Need to visit the restroom? There are bathrooms here, here, and here. Want to talk to someone in particular? Their desk is located on the third floor of the building directly to your left.
This entire scenario sounds like a pipe dream, almost too good to be true; except it’s not. This is how things can play out, provided the right technology and infrastructure are in place. In fact, this kind of experience is precisely what to aim for when creating a smart business campus.
Coming to a Venue Near You …
Large public venues (LPVs) such as a corporate campus, hospital, sports arena, university, shopping center or airport are more connected than ever; think WIFI, routing, Intranets, and other software. But below the surface, there’s a deeper disconnect in the sense that information and processes have become siloed.
Digital transformation has come full circle, from a process happening in cyberspace back to one rooted in physical spaces – like venues. The goal is to merge the power of digital experiences with human interaction in physical spaces. In today’s competitive business market, full venue control offers better on-site experiences for customers, partners, employees, and visitors.
Naturally, these types of interactive venues are going to be instrumental in wowing customers as well!
The Smart Corporate Campus
We’re going to take one example of an LPV, the corporate campus, to see how creating a central hub for on-site interactions with a mobile-first mindset will benefit operations. Keep in mind, this is applicable across all types of campuses and venues in different industries.
The average corporate campus, conference center, or other type of LPV boasts dozens of access points, and just as many points of interest — including conference rooms, cafeterias, lobbies, offices, fitness studios and much more.
Most properties are dynamic in the sense that things are constantly shifting. Rooms may have been repurposed, renamed, or reconstructed and certain areas of the property may be off-limits the next time you visit. It’s the natural state of a rapidly changing workplace.
Traditionally, it’s been challenging to help visitors keep up. But with new technologies it’s easier than ever.
Even though you already have many technology solutions in play at your venue, it’s what the ‘smart’ campus does with those systems that makes it so valuable. A comprehensive campus solution integrates disparate systems into a connected experience, providing incredible convenience. Much of that value is derived from streamlined operations and solutions, built on a layer of location-aware technology capable of personalized interactions, real-time tracking, and instant reporting.
Let’s dive into the different challenges underlying the need for a smart campus, the various features and benefits and the other industries currently being transformed.
Want to learn more? Download the full whitepaper here
