Nov 09, 2021
By Brandon Davis

IWMS Systems Are Gaining Popularity. A New Guide from Gartner®Explains Why.

During the global pandemic, there have been seismic changes in corporate workplace operations across all industries.

The rise of hybrid work has required leaders in corporate real estate, human resources, space planning, and facilities management to adapt quickly and find efficiencies within their new circumstances. Some of their most common concerns include:

To address these new challenges, many organizations are turning to cloud-based digital solutions like integrated workplace management systems (IWMS). An IWMS brings all departments together on one platform, breaking down silos and enabling better cross-departmental collaboration. These systems can be used to visualize and modify workspaces, capture and report real estate data, and even automate facilities management work orders. For an organization undergoing significant operational change, an IWMS can help make the entire process easier and more transparent.

In October 2021, Gartner released its Market Guide for Workplace Management Systems, which, in our understanding, examines IWMS adoption trends and assists leaders in finding an IWMS that meets their needs. The data shows a growing demand for these systems in the wake of the pandemic, as many leaders have adopted or are planning to adopt IWMS technology by the end of next year.

Here are some key findings we believe can be found in the report:

  • Most employees don’t want to return to the office full-time. Gartner states that only 14% of employees surveyed want to work exclusively from a corporate office, only 10% want to work exclusively from home, and 40% want flexibility to choose the location that makes the most sense for the work they need to accomplish on any given day. This is a major factor in the growing need for space and real estate management solutions.

  • Seat reservation systems are becoming a must-have. A whopping 86% of CRE professionals surveyed said they had either implemented a seat reservation system or planned to implement one by the end of 2022. This will be a necessary feature for many hybrid workplaces as they introduce shared workspace arrangements such as hot desking or desk hoteling.

  • Employees expect a safer and healthier workplace. Almost every employee surveyed (97%) stated that they want their organizations to make the work environment safer following the pandemic. This is fueling the rise of new and useful capabilities from IWMS providers, including automated cleaning and sanitization work orders, wayfinding (to decrease physical navigation touchpoints), and other innovations.

To learn more about the IWMS market landscape and gain additional insights, read the full version of Gartner’s Market Guide for Workplace Management Systems.

 

Source: Gartner, Market Guide for Integrated Workplace Management Systems, By Rashmi KotipalliTori Paulman, 20 October 2021

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