Colliers International's Flex, Core and the Cloud: A Blueprint for the Future Asia Pacific Workplace report addresses the adoption of cloud technology in companies' workforce models and broader implications for productivity and employee well-being. 

At a glance:

• Migration to the cloud fuelled by the Internet of Things (IoT)
• Clouding the workforce allows for integrated and decentralised leasing models
• Benefits include improved productivity and cost efficiency; pitfalls may include compromised security
• Landlords, occupiers to rethink operating strategies according to changing workforce demands

Colliers suggests Cloud computing, fuelled by IoT, has given rise to a new era of real estate possibilities for Asia Pacific companies and their workforces.

By allowing firms to store and process virtually limitless amounts of data remotely, the cloud is enabling what Colliers terms the Internet of the Workplace (IoW) - a digitally integrated enterprise architecture that exists in the virtual as well as the physical realm, connecting employees and allowing them to collaborate regardless of location. 

Robert Wilkinson, Associate Director, Corporate Solutions APAC at Colliers International told WILLIAMS MEDIA that, “In a fast-paced, competitive business environment, clouding the workforce can make companies more agile and cost-effective. It is also more in tune with the needs and expectations of today’s workforce, with positive impacts for employee well-being and productivity.”

Wilkinson also suggests that "Applying the IoW gives enterprises the ability to 'cloud their workforce' - adopting decentralised structures that mirror the cloud computing environment, based around multiple remote teams that can be rapidly combined or scales as needed, rather than a large central office."

Like any transformation, clouding the workforce can prove disruptive for enterprises and the commercial real estate industry, forcing landlords and occupiers to adapt to new demands. Through careful planning and the right approaches, companies can navigate this disruption while capturing the benefits of the cloud. 

Four stages of the IoW curve:

1. Traditional

• Core operations/employees concentrated in a central location
• Data/IT services stored, managed and delivered via in-house physical infrastructure
• Employees have dedicated workspaces and rarely or never shift teams or locations

2. Transitioning

• Key administrative functions and critical technology infrastructure based in a central location
• Employees connected, and some data/IT services delivered via public or private cloud
• Employees occasionally work on different teams or at different locations; enterprise provides limited IoT infrastructure to support virtual teams

3. IoW Adopter 

• Technology infrastructure is almost entirely cloud-based
• Core business functions spread across multiple hubs that scale according to business needs
• Hubs employ BYOD and IoT technologies to enhance the working environment and enable employees to work freely across teams and locations

4. IoW Powered

• All technology infrastructure is cloud-based
• No central location exists; employees log in independently from various IoT-optimised flexible workspaces or their homes
• Employees form teams dynamically in response to business demands, using online platforms and collaboration tools to communicate, cooperate and achieve goals

 Impact for Occupiers

• Determine which business services or processes would be more cost-effective and efficient to deliver via the cloud, and develop a roadmap for cloud migration
• Consider adopting a BYOD policy and encouraging employees to work remotely where feasible
• Adopt IoW technologies, and minimise or reduce the number of dedicated workspaces, to make offices more scalable and encourage cross-team collaboration
• Develop an overarching plan for the clouding of the workforce, overseen by a cross-functional team

 Impact for Landlords

• Develop more flexible lease structures and spaces to accommodate changes in occupier demands
• Ensure buildings and office spaces are designed in a way to respond to rapid changes in occupier headcount
• Consider alliances with flexible workspace operators to enhance the flexibility of their property portfolio
• Evaluate whether the technical infrastructure of properties is sufficient to support IoW models

Click here to view Flex, Core and the Cloud: A Blueprint for the future Asia Pacific Workplace. 

For more information or to discuss the report, phone or email Robert Wilkinson, Associate Director, Corporate Solutions APAC at Colliers International via the contact details listed below. 

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