roundtable ... continued from previous page


Driscoll: “There is a need for a place where everyone can drop-in – there will always be face-to-face requirements.” But, through cloud-connectivity people can often work from 4-5 locations plus home.


Can we bridge the generation gap?


John Lohan


Younger generations didn’t want to be tied to workstations and tech applications were helping them to achieve that freedom. “Businesses need to be more agile, it’s not one-size fits all, there has to be choice. There are so many generations, different cultures working together in companies now and it’s technology connectivity that will make the whole thing work,” said Allan.


Driscoll stressed the need to embrace diversity in the workplace as the business case for talent acquisition and retention, not least since generational boundaries were moving further apart as employees worked beyond normal retirement.


Steven Barker


Barker: “Most people I know are comfortable with 5-10 year traditional leases, but my grandchildren won’t be. They don’t even talk any more; they use Instagram, Snapchat etc. They will not have offices as we know them today. We ignore this breaking wave of digital technology at our peril because it’s so different.”


Driscoll noted that the Government was trying to encourage a sharing economy because employees today didn’t want a rigid, hierarchical working culture. Such an economy can offer employees work where and when they want, involving perhaps a number of different income streams from various roles.


Maintaining human needs in a digi-tech world


Peter Laurie


Making advanced technology simple to operate by the end users was essential, said Laubscher. One dial control, as used in prestige cars, was currently becoming favoured over touch-based platforms, he noted.


Technology advancement was becoming focused on personal use and also its human benefits, agreed Allan, not least in helping maintain employee wellness in modern technology-enabled workspaces.


“Being able to control the work environment – from noise, heat and lighting to reducing employee stress and improve well-being, is quantitatively becoming more important than a BREEAM building rating. Tenants are more likely to be interested in whether staff sickness can be reduced.”


Savage stated CRS ‘New Real’ research 24 businessmag.co.uk


had revealed that 73% of industry respondents found quantifying the potential financial gains from improved employee health and wellbeing, the most challenging when evaluating smart building costings.


Laubscher suggested too few industry senior managers and decision-makers fully embraced today’s digital technology. “I think many are afraid of it. There is still so much paper on construction sites. We have not yet transitioned to a digital environment. It is starting to come together, but we need to educate existing staff as well as the people coming through using the new technology.”


Allan proudly announced: “All our project managers and site teams are using iPads, iPhones and 4G with applications that can source and distribute information at the touch of a button.” Adopting technology had revolutionised snagging, for example, with photographic evidence used to instantaneously advise supply chain consultants and suppliers. “Gone are the reams of lists; it is all digitally logged.”


It was now commonplace rather than futuristic technology, said Driscoll, with IT enabled virtual visualisation helping to resolve adjudication and arbitration matters on critical path construction disputes.


Decision-making in a 3D or CGI environment was also quicker and cost- effective noted Laubscher, who like Allan advised selective communication to avoid scattergun information overkill.


BIM, CGI and Virtual Reality (VR) significantly helped customers to envisage the final product, noted Allan. Such technology enabled occupiers to “live in the space before it is actually built.


“All this progressive design is becoming far more valuable in the workplace to articulate creative thoughts and understand how businesses work.”


Hill agreed. He didn’t see BIM as just a drawing tool but a technology that suits a collaborative working style, including the emerging design with client and design team in virtual reality.


Savage pointed out that VR goggles were now breaking into the consumer market. Within 20 years time that gaming experience technology will be massively important in many business sectors, he suggested.


Jeffers highlighted that the winner of this year’s Solent Business Awards ‘Best Use of Technology’ category, sponsored by Taylor Made Computer Solutions, was nDreams a leading UK software developer growing its market in the VR field, further highlighting Savages’ point.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – DECEMBER 16/JANUARY 17


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