There are many time-consuming outdoor tasks that employees might have to tackle during their working day. While some might be necessary, they can eat into time when they can be doing something they enjoy and that is more meaningful. So what are these and what can you do about them? You may not even notice some of the worst offenders, but you can make some small changes to gain back your precious time. From smart irrigation for office gardens to secure office drop boxes, here are some useful suggestions.
Automated Robotic Helpers
Automated tech is pretty common at modern businesses, but now the tech has advanced so much that robotic helpers are no longer science fiction. From a small robotic lawnmower to AI security robot dogs, businesses all over the world are investing in smart devices and advanced AI products to save time and money in the long run. Even something as simple as a mower can save a worker hours per week, which means they can get back to doing their actual job.
Cut Time-Wasting Outdoor Tasks with Smart Irrigation
The average office courtyard with plants can take between 60 and 95 minutes per week to water. That’s time that could be spent doing something more meaningful. But how can you combat this? Smart irrigation can water your plants for you, with benefits beyond time-saving:
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Smart irrigation can feed directly into sustainability policies by reducing water usage.
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Precise watering stops unnecessary usage, saving the company some money.
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Controlled watering prevents fertilizers from washing away into the soil.
Automated Gates and Access Systems
Office security is necessary and a major advantage when it comes to protecting employees, inventory, and even data. However, a lot of time can be spent on manual sign-ins, especially if someone has to get up from a higher floor and manually go to the gate and let someone inside the premises. As such, a lot of time can be wasted this way. However, automated gates and remote access systems can allow employees to allow visitors inside without wasting time.
Add Some Native Plants
Not all businesses can afford to pay professional gardeners to keep the office gardens maintained. As such, the task can fall on an employee, but that employee will also have their own tasks, and extra yard work can eat into their time. To combat this, adding native plants can be a major advantage. Native plants will use much less water, grow only as they need to (reducing trimming time), and don’t require as much maintenance as flower beds.
Reduce Time-Wasting Outdoor Tasks with Pavers
You may not think of the office layout when it comes to employee retention, but recent data suggests that up to 46% of young employees are quitting because of bad office design. However, time-wasting outdoor tasks can be made much more challenging with muddy areas or routes that aren’t apparent, yet simple pavers can help workers get around the space efficiently.
Reduces the need to mow and trim
Paving awkward side yards, sloped strips, and small patches of grass removes spots that are difficult to walk through, or even maneuver a lawnmower as fast as an employee needs to.
Prevents mud and puddle pooling
Replacing bare high-traffic shortcuts with pavers prevents worn dirt tracks and stops mud from being tracked into the office, which some unfortunate employee only has to clean up later on.
Blocking weed growth
You can also lock paver joints with polymeric sand. Unlike standard sand, this hardens quickly and prevents anything from coming through the gaps between pavers, saving another task.
Landscape Some Artificial Turf
A lush green lawn can be a wonderful place for stressed-out employees to relax. However, lawns require a lot of care and attention, which costs time. This is especially true through harsh winters and very hot summers, and someone will need to take time away from their work to care for it. However, you can remove this need pretty much altogether with artificial turf. Artificial turf is zero-maintenance once installed and most workers won’t even notice it’s not real grass!
Outsource Your Office Upkeep
Maintaining the office grounds has many advantages beyond employee wellbeing. It helps your business look more professional and helps with first impressions, boosting client acquisition and employee retention. But it does cost a lot of money and time. You can do what most businesses do and outsource the upkeep of the office grounds to local professionals. This means an employee doesn’t need to get up and do it, but it also means you need enough in the budget.
Cut Time-Wasting Outdoor Tasks with Drop Boxes
The average business receives up to 30 parcels per week, and someone usually has to get up from their desk to sign for these. However, you can install secure drop boxes that delivery drivers can use to leave packages in a safe place for collection when you have the time:
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Staff don’t have to stop what they are doing to come and collect a package.
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Packages can arrive safely and securely when there is no one at the business.
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Multiple items can be received and processed at the same time in batches.
Install Smart Security Sensors
Security is critical for any type of business, even companies that don’t have inventory on the grounds. An office can still contain valuable items such as equipment, supplies, and of course, data. Traditionally, someone would need to do a walk-around of the building and premises, but not today. You see, there are many different types of smart office sensors you can install, many of which allow remote monitoring, saving security staff a lot of time during a shift.
Summary
Automated AI robotic machines can help today’s offices become more efficient by cutting time-wasting outdoor tasks that employees might usually have to do, improving productivity. However, something as simple as pavers can also help by reducing mowing needs, improving pathways, and even blocking weed growth. Of course, safety is critical these days, and remote sensors can remove the need for security staff to take manual walkarounds during a shift.