Reviewing your existing office space can save money and improve productivity

By reviewing their existing office layouts, systems and processes, even cash-strapped business can improve productivity and save costs. Aside from significant money savings, research has shown that people in well designed office environments are happier, more efficient and more productive. This approach could boost many businesses still reeling from the effects of a difficult year last year. Cape Town-based Karyn Reynolds, of interior architects DynamicSpace, advises on how to do this.

The key factors are furniture, storage methods, work flow layout and de-cluttering.

A business can reduce its need for space by introducing furniture that takes up less space. They can also taking advantage of decreasing technology costs by investing in flat computer screens.

Revising storage arrangements can increase workable space. Standardised, better organised filing systems and more efficient archiving arrangements can save time spent looking for misfiled or lost documents, increasing productivity.

Some departments work more closely together. Others have needs specific to their operations, such as static-free IT offices. Understanding this, a business can revise office layouts to improve departmental connections and increase efficiency.

Finally, by simply arranging ‘de-clutter’ days a business can maintain a well organised, clutter-free, uniform environment.

Karyn says: “Thinking more carefully about your office layout is relatively straightforward, but can save both time and money. We’ve seen businesses save 33% in space, and well over a million rand in cost.”