- by Dan Bladen, CEO and co-founder of Chargifi
It’s hard to imagine a world without smartphones. With Apple’s unveiling of the iPhone in 2007 - now the UK’s most popular smartphone - came a new appetite for connectivity. In the 12-years since, consumers have developed an insatiable desire for 24/7 connectivity. Mobile phones have become one of our favourite companions; from waking us up in the morning to putting us to sleep at night, we trust them to get us through the day. But, this digital dependency has created a challenge; thousands of daily interactions with our devices and multiple apps running simultaneously is draining power from phones, fast, and two-thirds of mobile users run out of battery before 5pm. If there’s one thing each of us have in common, it’s that we start and end the day on a charger.
With such high demand and consumer expectations of a mobile phone and connectivity, it is little wonder that models are constantly evolving and improving with the intention of making lives more seamless - it’s the only way to stay competitive.
12-years on from the iPhone launch and Apple continues to put stakes in the ground that re-shape the expectation of connectivity. The latest stake? Apple announced that, as of September 2019, all iPhones they ship will be equipped with wireless charging capability. This means one-billion devices - from phones through to airpods - with wireless charging capability are expected to be in circulation by the end of the year. So, it’s safe to say that wireless power provision is set to sky-rocket, and, if we have learnt anything from Apple, it’s that it has the capability to completely re-define consumer habits. For employers, this development presents a unique opportunity to get ahead of the curve. By enabling the always-on habits of their staff with connectivity and power, businesses can boost engagement, productivity and efficiency, and also future proof their organisation for the changing habits of consumers and employers.
With one of the world’s leading smart tech manufacturers recognising that power is the foundation to connectivity, it won’t be long before others follow suit to meet demand and prevent loyal consumers being priced out of the latest innovations. Within a week of Apple’s 2019 announcement, Huawei unveiled fast wireless supercharging and improved reverse wireless charging to its Mate30 series allowing users to charge at three-times the speed offered by previous Huawei phones - a distinct commitment to wireless technology.
A flexible offering
With the rise of flexible working, office spaces are transforming and employees are shunning the traditional confines of their desks - opting to move freely from desk to meeting room to break-out area. The rise of the third place - social spaces that bridge the gap between the traditional home and work environments - highlights that this preference for fluid, co-working space is here to stay. A recent report found that 71% of workers described feeling more creative since joining a coworking space, and 62% said their work had improved.
Because of this on-the-move, co-working culture, employees are snacking on power to stay connected, however, sustaining this access to power can be a pain point. To accommodate this demand there is an opportunity for employers to make power - the critical foundation to connectivity - as convenient and accessible as possible in as many spaces as possible.
By embracing smart technology such as wireless power, employers also see a spike in employee engagement and staff retention. Traditionally engagement was boosted through benefits and perks such as company cars, but today’s workforce have different priorities - they simply want to work in an environment where they feel valued and stimulated. Smart workplaces that can predict employees’ every need can engender loyalty and mean that employees feel personally and virtually connected to the business.
Smart wireless charging drives engagement by acting as a trigger point for seamless and personalised experiences like meeting booking, hot-desk check-in which automatically enables facilities and will kick-start a meeting, conference call or work session without the need to manually login and load apps.
Such smart technology will not only help employers to retain talent, but will also help with recruitment. Studies show that over 87% of employees who don’t feel engaged at work are looking for a job elsewhere, and businesses can take advantage of smart technology to make their environments more attractive to potential employees.
A 360° view of how the workspace functions
Another aspect of the workplace experience which smart technology is revolutionising is building efficiency. Your average office building is running at a noticeably low 30-40% capacity. The increase in remote and flexible working is undoubtedly impacting how much - or how little - commercial properties are being used.
As part of an IoT connected technology stack, smart tech can give companies a clear picture of what spaces are being used and when, allowing them to make informed decisions on space utilisation, reducing wastage and cost per square foot. With smart wireless charging, multiple digital charge-points throughout an office - in meeting rooms or on desks - enable employees to check in and out as they move, giving employers the data to make smarter, more efficient decisions. Facilities managers can see real-time reports on which rooms and desks are available and can direct staff towards under-utilised facilities via push notifications and virtual wayfinding.
Businesses will also benefit from invaluable insights on employee behaviour; smart technologies capture data which enables employers to understand their staff and their experiences at work. When it comes to smart wireless charging, charging spots connect via WiFi to the Internet of Things and they are managed remotely at scale. Employee behaviour data, including charging sessions, hyper-location and insight on dwell time are then provided through a dashboard in the cloud platform. Such robust information will transform the employee experience and enable a data-driven culture based on fact rather than assumption, and this new level of business intelligence will be key to driving efficiency.
An efficient solution
Through embracing smart workplaces, businesses will see an improvement in productivity too. Integrated IoT management platforms give businesses full control of their network, allowing them to see real-time updates on connectivity. In the case of wireless charging, employers can manage individual smart charging spots remotely including connectivity and power delivered.
Real-time alerts inform on diagnostics detected, with many issues resolved over-the-air using remote tools for debugging and diagnostics management. This type of cloud-based platform reduces operational and maintenance costs and prevents faults from hindering the productivity of employees.
Wireless charging as the new norm
Whether you’re using a smartphone to navigate your way across a mountain summit, asking Google for a helping hand in a pub quiz or trying to get your top score on Candy Crush, the reality is that you will always need power to stay connected. As for businesses, the onus is on them to recognise that their employees are going to walk into the office every month, every year, with greater expectations for connectivity. Employers that embrace this technological evolution and enable a fully connected workforce, will have the opportunity to shape the world around their needs and demands; increasing productivity and making the working day as seamless as possible.
