In an era where adaptability and flexibility are becoming essential, businesses are learning to adjust to the evolving needs of their workforce. It’s more important than ever that organizations embrace flexibility by focusing on specific areas within the work environment that can be updated to make tasks more efficient and productive. Here are some of the benefits of embracing an agile work environment and how mobile workstations are the key to this type of modern workplace.
What is an Agile Work Environment?
The definition of “agile” for businesses has changed a bit in recent years. Originally, the term was used to describe a specific set of software development practices as a means to meet project goals more efficiently and faster. Recently, however, agile working refers more to how organizations can inject more flexibility into the way they approach work.
An agile work environment refers to a workplace that is designed to be as flexible as possible. Unlike traditional workplaces, where workers are expected to complete their tasks from assigned locations, there is freedom to move around in an agile workplace. Specifically, workers can use different spaces or work setups to complete their tasks, depending on what works best to achieve the stated objectives.
The Benefits of Offering an Agile Workplace
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a trend toward focusing more on flexibility for workers and efficiency for businesses. Fortunately, agile workplaces can achieve both of these goals while offering a long list of benefits:
Better space efficiency — For years, businesses have been wasting billions on unused space. Transitioning to agile workplaces gives organizations the opportunity to optimize their physical space and reduce costs. - Improved collaboration — The freedom to move around the workplace creates more opportunities for creativity, teamwork, and collaboration. When work isn’t restricted to a fixed location, employees feel more free to share ideas between departments.
- Increased productivity — As anyone in a warehouse, factory, or medical clinic will tell you, the ability to choose how you accomplish your work can have a significant effect on productivity. Agile work environments make it easier for employees to get things done.
- Lower injury rates — Some work environments are so rigid that they invite injuries. For example, when workers are forced to walk back and forth to a central location to retrieve instructions or enter data, this can invite fatigue and repetitive motion injuries.
- Higher employee satisfaction — Workplace flexibility is a primary driver of employee job satisfaction. An agile workplace supports more flexible work environments, so employees feel supported to approach work in ways they know will be the most efficient.
- Better employee retention — Having the flexibility to choose a work environment is more important than salary for nine out of 10 millennials. Offering an agile workspace that meets this criteria can help your business attract and retain top talent.
The Types of Businesses That Can Offer Agile Workplaces
Implementing an agile workspace may not be appropriate for every type of business, particularly those that require employees to be stationed at a designated location during specific hours. These might include customer- or client-facing businesses, such as retail stores. However, most businesses can benefit from having some flexibility in the way they operate.
Agile workplaces are ideal for businesses driven by adaptable processes and those driven by clear objectives. Manufacturing plants, warehouses, medical facilities, laboratories, and many offices can benefit from the autonomy and flexibility offered by agile workspaces.
How Mobile Workstations Are Key to Agile and Flexible Work Environments
When you decide to invest in an agile work environment, you want to get the most bang for your buck and ensure you realize a positive ROI as quickly as possible. This means taking advantage of the latest technology that will optimize your workplace and provide the most benefits to you and your employees. Enter mobile workstations.
Instead of having a workspace that is anchored to the floor, these workstations are on heavy-duty wheels and come equipped with swappable battery packs, many of which will last an entire shift or longer. Because they are battery-powered, they don’t require cords, so they can be transported anywhere they are needed, whether to the furthest corner of a warehouse or into a patient’s room in a hospital.
Mobile workstations are completely customizable, so they provide additional flexibility for your employees. For example, one mobile workstation might have multiple monitors, a wireless printer, and scanning capabilities. Another might have several tablets, RFID scanners, and storage compartments for supplies.
These workstations also consider ergonomics, which prioritizes the comfort of the worker to prevent injuries and create a more comfortable work environment. For example, keyboard trays and monitors can tilt so there is minimal eye, wrist, and neck strain to accomplish work. Tabletops can rotate to make work more user-friendly. The entire work platform is height-adjustable for people of different heights.
Mobile workstations are configured so they are easy to maneuver anywhere they are needed with minimal strain or muscle fatigue. These carts are so versatile they can be used in virtually any workplace environment to boost efficiency and productivity.
The paradigm shift in working methods over the past decade has prompted businesses to seek out more efficient and user-friendly work environments. For many, this involves the adoption of various technology solutions. Combining these with mobile workstations enables workers to reduce errors, improve profitability, and perform work more safely. The benefits derived from investing in an agile work environment will improve the organization’s overall results.
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Making the Case for Mobile Workstations for Receiving |
