Driven by revolutions in technology, ways of working, and an increasingly global workforce, the traditional office – from the way it looks to how it’s used – has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. New technologies to facilitate remote and hybrid workforces have changed how employees connect and share information, and physical office spaces themselves have taken drastic steps away from the cubicle-based layouts of the 20th century. Today, offices are designed to facilitate collaboration and communication. And modern offices often include much more than space to work: the rise of employee wellness initiatives means that many offices now include space for rest, relaxation, and entertainment. 

As technology and ways of working continue to evolve and change, offices must adapt to meet the needs and expectations of employees. In this article, we’ve identified three key elements that will shape the workspaces of tomorrow, and influence how we use offices in the future.

1. In 2030, offices won’t just be digital-forward, they will be digitally native

Most employees are used to interacting with digital technology at work. From wayfinding screens in lobbies, to card-controlled access to floors and rooms, to online apps for task management, offices around the world are increasingly reliant upon digital systems and tools for any number of tasks and processes. Over the next several years, these digital technologies will become the very foundation of the modern professional workspace, meaningfully impacting nearly every area and facet of professional life. 

From employee onboarding and performance tracking, to task management, collaboration, communication, wellness, and even safety, the pace and scale of digitalization at work will continue to increase as time goes on. As for what that means for offices themselves, you can expect to see spaces which have been purpose-built or retrofitted to fully embrace digital technology and the employees who use it. By 2030, Millennials and GenZ will be well on their way to making up the majority of the workforce (by 2035, these groups will account for nearly 60% of employed people), which means that office spaces must begin to well and truly reflect the unique ways in which these digitally-native employees expect to engage with one another (quickly, and in real-time), and how they prefer to consume and share information (digitally, supported by an effortless User Experience). 

By 2030, truly modern offices will be powered by digital technologies that create frictionless, streamlined experiences for a workforce that’s been online for most of their lives and careers. From apps that help monitor and manage nearly every aspect of the employee experience, to video-first methods of collaboration and increasingly social workplaces, the truly modern offices of the future will be those where new and emerging technologies aren’t just tolerated, but easily accessible and fully embraced.

2. In 2030, offices will be hubs for communication and connection (not just work spaces)

With the rise of remote and hybrid working models, there has been a distinct change in how employees use their time in physical offices. Long-gone are the days where employees would come into the office, sit down at a cubicle, and work – for the most part – on their own, with only a formal break for a meal. Today, it’s much more common for an office to be designed with collaboration in mind. Open floor plans, comfortable seating areas, hot desking – modern office spaces are designed to enable easier communication, and they’re built to facilitate a sense of community among colleagues. 

Over the next few years, this trend will only continue to grow and take hold. By 2030, workspaces and offices will go from places where work is the only objective, to functioning as spaces where people come together to connect, build relationships, and share ideas. To facilitate this transformation, offices will be designed to maximise comfort and accessibility, and to ensure that communication is frictionless. In the offices of 2030, desks and conference tables will be replaced with flexible seating areas, physical and mental wellness will be prioritized with dedicated spaces for exercise or private conversations, outside space will be integrated into office design, technology to support video conferencing will be pre-installed across workspaces, and access to important content and information won’t be dependent upon the physical presence of any one person or team in the office. 

The workspaces of the future will be far more than a place to hold a meeting or take a call. They will be thoughtfully-designed spaces where people can come together to communicate, collaborate, and connect.

3. In 2030, offices will be designed for adaptability

As offices change and become places for people to come together for more than just mandatory in-office days, the need for increasingly adaptable spaces will become clear. In order to create spaces for better idea sharing and communication, organizations will create workspaces where adaptability is baked into the design of just about everything. From multi-purpose rooms and spaces to furniture and technology that can be easily changed, moved, and repurposed, the office of 2030 will be dynamic, accommodating, and convenient in genuinely game-changing ways.

Already, there are companies dedicated to building the next generation of modular office furniture including tables, chairs, and more that are all specifically designed to cater to various work styles and activities. Coupled with office spaces that are built to be flexibly used and styled, this innovation will push the offices of the future into a new territory: one where customization of physical spaces is key to supporting collaboration and productivity. 

Start building tomorrow’s office, today

2030 might only be a few years away, but there’s no reason to hold off on your plans to create a truly modern workplace. 

With the right combination of technology, and an approach to collaborative working that prioritizes connection, wellness, and flexibility, your organization can begin to create a working environment that’s more future proof, and more attractive to current and potential employees. 

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Yodeck is the first and only intelligent digital signage platform. With templates, apps, and features designed to change how you communicate with your most important audiences, Yodeck is digital signage software for organizations who are future-focused (whether that’s looking to tomorrow, or several years down the line). To learn more about how Yodeck works, you can visit this page. To start your free trial, just sign up here.

*Katie Rose Hester is a senior content strategist and writer working with product-led businesses bringing interesting, helpful innovations to market.