3 Predictions about How Offices Will Change in 2023

The business world is constantly changing and a lot can happen in 5 years. Emerging trends are influencing everything about the way we work, from the things we do to and the processes we use to the spaces we work in.

3 Predictions about How Offices Will Change in 2023 

1) Agile Work Becomes Even More Flexible. Coworking Spaces Are Becoming More Frequent

In recent years, flexible or “agile” working has seen a massive rise in popularity. CV Library ranks flexible hours as the most desirable benefit for employees, winning 47% of the vote in a survey. As workers choose more non-essential hours and want to work from home, the number of people working in a traditional “office” setting will decrease. Co-working spaces, where smaller companies or entrepreneurs typically pay to use shared office space, will become increasingly popular, as fewer workers require permanent desks.

An agile workforce must be able to access their files from home or from any location at a time that works best for them, without relying on reams of paperwork.

2) Rise of Centralized Cloud-Based Technology. Data Protection Is Key

Just a few years ago, experts dismissed cloud computing as a fad. Now, it has greatly changed the face of IT and the way businesses operate around the world. The popularity of mobile devices (and remote work) is partly behind the rise of cloud-based technologies. Like the need for collaboration: cloud-based products allow for easier communication between employees and more streamlined processes.

Data protection will also continue to be important, as consumers become more aware of their rights and the laws surrounding the GDPR become more integrated into working life. People have been skeptical about how the cloud will impact data protection and security, but a RapidScale study states that 94% of companies saw an improvement in security after moving to the cloud, and the 91% indicated that the cloud made it easier to comply with regulations.

Cloud solutions save time, facilitate better communication, provide more control; they increase safety, and meet the demands of a flexible workforce.

3) People Care About the Planet. The ‘Paperless’ Is Back

As a society, we are increasingly aware of our impact on the environment. Consumer demand is putting pressure on companies to go green: GreenBiz reports 25% growth in organizations promoting environmental benefits in the last 2 years, and 40% of companies say they have taken action to improve the ecological compatibility of what they offer. This means reducing the amount of plastics we use and the waste we produce for landfills, and a revival of the “paperless office” concept we’ve been hearing about for years.

While a truly paperless office is still many years away, we will see strong attempts from companies trying to significantly reduce their consumption. This means printing fewer unnecessary documents; do not duplicate already printed files; and moving towards a digital document management system instead of traditional physical folders.