Orgatec 2024 is over, and now it’s time to look back at what we have seen and noticed during this amazing event! With remote and hybrid working becoming more and more regular in the office world, GoBright naturally was once again well represented at this biannual event. Besides from inspiring visitors to be bright and showcasing our Smart Workplace Solutions, we got to see the latest trends and developments for ourselves. Our colleagues Romy, Erika, and Jelmer have visited Orgatec and here is a recap of their experiences.
MAKING THE OFFICE FEEL LIKE HOME
Workplaces have changed a lot over the past few decades. Where offices used to be grey and white cubicles in bright lighting, we have seen them become more welcoming and focused on the wellbeing of the employees. Nowadays, your office space can be just as cosy as your living room. This trend has shone through a lot at Orgatec. We have seen a lot of desk chairs and office furniture that would not be misplaced in your average living room setting. A lot of furniture is now focused on comfort, style, aesthetics and cosiness. Gone are square shaped, grey and pointy office desks and hard desk chairs, making way for more rounded, neutral and light-coloured furniture. Working at the office can now be as relaxed as working from home, but maybe don’t put your feet up.
ACOUSTICS IN OFFICE DESIGN
What is an office without proper acoustics? Having good acoustics at the office has now become indispensable for a healthy work environment. Good resonance is meant to limit and relieve distractions such as background noises, phone calls, loud voices and other nuisances. This means using soft materials that can absorb all the noise and reduce its reflection.
With the rise of hybrid working, your home office also could use some nice soundproofing, as you would probably want to be just as focused at home as in the office. What we have seen from the furniture that was displayed are soft, easy on the eye colours with a more earthy, neutral tone which we saw from ACTIU. However, softer iterations of the basic colours such as blue, red, and yellow and green were used as well to give a more comforting feeling, which is perfect for both your home office and work office.
PRIVACY IN THE WORKPLACE
Another trend that stood out was the focus on privacy. Not necessarily regarding data or sensitive information, but more focused on the employee. It’s a trend at the office where employees can find themselves being overwhelmed by too many noises, meetings, small talk and other overstimulating triggers. This makes focusing and getting actual work done challenging for some people, and it is therefore key to provide employees with the ability to retreat. This is why small work pods are gaining popularity, such as our partner Kabin. They have developed smart working pods where employees can sit comfortably to take a moment to themselves or focus on getting work done. And these pods are very advanced too! Choose a cosy setting with a variety of different “moods”, connect your headphones and enjoy a nice background music, or turn on quiet mode.
The different kinds of privacy pods at Orgatec came in multiple user editions. In these pods, your employees can come up with the greatest new innovations for your company or have private conversations without having to worry about eavesdroppers.
WORKPLACE ERGONOMICS AND EMPLOYEE HEALTH
Healthy employees mean healthy companies. Investing in employee health will lead to better results. After all, mentally and physically healthy people tend to be more focused, active and able to sustain workload better. As we all know, a person needs at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Working at an office sitting behind a desk in a slightly uncomfortable setting makes accomplishing those 30 minutes a bit harder. Therefore, businesses should invest in employee health, as it would not only benefit their employees but themselves as well. What we have seen at ORGATEC 2024 are smart solutions to improve employee health. A perfect example is Urban Office, a concept by Zgoll, which designed a cycling desk so employees can get their cardio in while still being focused on their work. It’s a perfect solution to fit exercise into a busy lifestyle.
WORKING FROM ANYWHERE
Doing your 9 to 5 at an office is now a thing of the past. The biggest trend we have seen in recent years in office life is hybrid and remote working. There is no longer a need to be physically at the office anymore. All you need is just your laptop and a connection to the internet, and you’re good to go. Naturally, technology advances every day. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality, it’s essential to keep up with the latest trends. One of our resellers, Zgoll, showcased how AI and AR can impact our office lives. Zgoll showcased the latest trends and technologies in augmented and mixed reality, as well as spatial computing in their mobile booth.
Thousands of visitors got to experience how these technologies are transforming the office of the future and tried out tools such as Mixed Reality headsets and the MR app Zintoo, to see how they can impact our daily work lives.
SUSTAINABILITY AND RECYCLING
Another trend we have seen is the focus on reusing and recycling used materials. For example, used plastic bottles were collected and reused to make office furniture. Over the years, many businesses are putting in more efforts to make their offices sustainable. Not only does this goal affect climate change, but also aid in future proofing businesses. Younger generations highly value sustainability and climate neutrality.
