organisations are exploring and adopting several technology solutions to create safe and hygienic workplace.

The pandemic world has impacted human consciousness at a level never seen before. This change is visible in the changes we see across the board on how enterprises and employees are viewing the new workplace. There is a complete spectrum of possibilities that companies are exploring on what the “new workplace” would look like. At one end, there are enterprises who are intending to bring all their employees back to office and then there are others intending to bring back none. The answer will be somewhere along the spectrum, considering most of the businesses, like manufacturing, cannot just afford to work remotely. Wherever an enterprise is positioned along this spectrum, it is clear that a “change” is in the air and the ‘recalibrated’ workplace will not be the same as pre-COVID. The pandemic has opened up possibilities which have not crossed the human mind. With this “art of the possible”, the human mind will now explore varied options and will adopt and adapt practices that will work best for the enterprise in “maximising profits”. One of the key drivers will also be how employees and customers of organisations react to the situation. There are surveys showing that employees would prefer to have some kind of hybrid model of working but also at the same time, their expectation from their employers has also gone up to ensure there is a safe workplace.Recalibrated workplaces There is a new industry that is getting created arising out of the congruence of Smart Building, IoT and IT infrastructure. Enterprises are exploring and adopting several technology solutions to create safe and hygienic workplaces. Digital Checks Governments and enterprises are both exploring options of “immunity passports” to provide reassurance to allow people to enter establishments. While there are challenges in putting in a holistic solution, there are solutions being explored by different countries and at least 37 countries have launched contact tracing apps. India’s Arogya Setu app has so far seen 150 million downloads. China has implemented a color-coding system by embedding QR codes in applications like Alipay and Wechat for entry into apartment complexes or markets.Digital Checks Governments and enterprises are both exploring options of “immunity passports” to provide reassurance to allow people to enter establishments. While there are challenges in putting in a holistic solution, there are solutions being explored by different countries and at least 37 countries have launched contact tracing apps. India’s Arogya Setu app has so far seen 150 million downloads. China has implemented a color-coding system by embedding QR codes in applications like Alipay and Wechat for entry into apartment complexes or markets.Digital Entrances A WhatsApp video of a Thailand mall installing foot operated lifts went viral. This is becoming mainstream as many companies are innovating contactless facilities entry solutions. Otis elevators has launched an eCall app that one can use to call lifts using a smartphone. ThyssenKrupp has launched foot pedal operated lifts. There are companies exploring using ultrasound technologies for mid-air haptics instead of pressing on buttons. Fingerprint based access control may die out, giving way to smartphone-based access control using Bluetooth, WiFi and NFC. This would be further enhanced by facial, iris or handwave technologies to improve speed and security. This would be applicable for every possible entrance, starting with turnstiles to accessing internal doors.Digital Workspaces This is the crux of any working environment and the impact will be different depending on whether the space is a production floor or an office. There are standard changes every organisation is putting in place by trying to ensure seats are occupied by ensuring social distancing norms or by putting up partitions/ sneeze guards, equipping people with face shields, etc. Some companies have also asked their employees to ensure their desks do not have any personal items so that the cleaning can be made easier. There are certain functions in any enterprise that will necessitate for its employees to come to office for performing their functions while there are functions which could be executed remotely. And the implications of changes are different. There are a number of digital tracing and occupancy solutions in the marketplace like the ones from Microshare. There are wearables that are in the market like the necklace from Tharsus that sends out alerts to the employees when employees are in close proximity to others, violating social distancing norms. Samsung has introduced a social distancing application in its smartwatch. For office-based activity, there is a need to start looking at areas with “smartdesks”. There are several companies providing a smart desk reservation software to schedule, reserve and manage employees who need to come into offices just a few hours a week. Just one of many such software which will make the transition easy. Beyond smart desking the change required is the scheduling of the employees coming to the office and also how they follow “office lanes”. ServiceNow has come up with an application that enables employee scheduling, cleaning schedule post occupancy, etc.Digital Canteens One of the high touch places in any office facility is canteens. This will need change not only in infrastructure, but also in behaviours.Digital Washrooms Washrooms were already in the process of having technology infusion and some of them have to be redone. The hand dryer which found its position in many washrooms is now considered by health specialists as a potential distributor of bacteria and virus especially if the 20 second-hand washing rule is not followed.Digital Cleaning Most enterprises used to schedule cleaning early in the morning or late in the evening or in some cases at a pre-defined slot within a day. This may have to change, and in alignment with shift schedules, to ensure that every time a new shift of workers comes in, the place is cleaned and this means the need for a suitable cleaning scheduling system. Finally, the builders and architects will look at the HVAC system and adopt Far-UVC technology for air purification.