As companies continue to evolve their approach to workspace management, organisations across the UK and beyond are redefining what workspaces look like — and more importantly, how they function. This week’s conversations around workspace strategy highlight a confluence of urgent needs: rising demand for prime office space, a surge in flexible working environments, creative initiatives to encourage office attendance, and growing concerns about surveillance-led management. At the heart of it all lies a clear imperative: businesses need smarter, people-first ways to manage space — and that’s where Accordant comes in.
1. Prime Office Spaces: The New Battle for Quality
In leading commercial hubs such as London, demand for high-quality, sustainable office buildings is outstripping supply. Rents have reached record levels as companies compete for space that supports ESG objectives and enhances staff retention.
However, paying a premium for office space only delivers value if it’s used efficiently. This is where Accordant’s space management software proves essential. By offering real-time insights into space utilisation, Accordant enables companies to see how their offices are actually being used — supporting smarter planning, better resource allocation, and potentially avoiding unnecessary expansion.
2. Flexibility is the New Standard
Across regions like India, flexible office arrangements are becoming the preferred choice for new Global Capability Centres (GCCs). These businesses seek adaptability in leases, scale, and infrastructure — a reflection of the broader move towards agile operations amid global uncertainty.
Accordant supports this shift with its drag-and-drop move management tools and desk booking functionality. Organisations can easily reconfigure floorplans, support hybrid teams, and respond dynamically to workplace changes — all without the need for external consultants. Facilities teams gain the freedom to manage change proactively and independently.
3. Enticing the Return to Office — Without Mandates
To strike a balance between productivity and staff wellbeing, many employers are investing in perks such as wellness rooms, lounge-style collaboration zones, and complimentary food. These ‘destination workplaces’ are designed to make office attendance more appealing — but their success hinges on data.
With Accordant’s booking systems and occupancy analytics, workplace teams can monitor how often different areas are used and identify which perks are delivering real value. This data empowers informed decisions on layout changes, amenity investment, and workplace enhancements that employees truly appreciate.
4. Occupancy Insights Without Surveillance
While many organisations are encouraging a return to the office, some have turned to surveillance technologies — including RFID tracking, CCTV analytics, and productivity monitoring software. These approaches can often undermine employee trust and have a detrimental effect on workplace culture.
Accordant offers a non-invasive, people-first alternative. By using anonymous data from occupancy sensors, Wi-Fi, or access control systems, Accordant provides accurate and ethical insights into how space is being used — without identifying individuals or monitoring behaviour.
In addition, Accordant’s observation studies offer a manual, human-centred approach to understanding workspace utilisation. Trained observers capture activity levels, desk usage, and meeting room occupancy over a defined period — giving organisations a qualitative, real-world picture of how spaces function. These studies can complement sensor data or serve as a standalone method for businesses looking to gather insights without deploying any technology at all.
Together, these methods allow businesses to optimise office layouts and workplace strategy based on facts — not surveillance — fostering a more transparent and respectful culture.
Conclusion: Building Better Workplaces, Ethically
Workplace transformation is happening fast, but it needn’t come at the cost of privacy, wellbeing, or trust. Whether your business is investing in premium office space, adapting to flexible models, or reimagining the employee experience, Accordant delivers the tools to manage it — ethically, flexibly, and intelligently.
Today’s workplace isn’t just about where we work — it’s about how we work. With Accordant, you can do both, better.