Touchless Technology: The Key to a Safer Workplace in the New Normal

In the wake of COVID-19, workplaces around the world are learning to adapt to a new normal. With heightened awareness of everything we touch, especially in the office, businesses are seeking ways to create safer environments for their employees and visitors. Touchless technology, once considered a cool feature, has now become essential in keeping people safe at work.

Identifying Problem Areas

Before reopening the office, it's crucial to assess your current space and identify areas that could increase the risk of transmitting the coronavirus. Pay close attention to common touchpoints such as doors, break rooms, shared workspaces, and restrooms. Once you've identified these hotspots, you can focus on managing them effectively.

When budgeting for touchless technology updates, prioritize the most-used spaces and areas with the greatest impact. Invest in solutions that will provide long-term value, as touchless technology is not just a fad created by the pandemic, but a future-proof solution.

Starting at the Front Door

Touchless access control is your first line of defense in a smart, safe building. By implementing a system that utilizes mobile credentials, you can eliminate the need for physical badges and reduce the risk of transmission. Look for access control systems with hands-free functionality, such as wave-to-unlock capabilities, and ensure that the system is reliable and can be managed remotely.

Integrating your access control system with an employee or visitor management system can further automate your new procedures, such as digital check-ins and health questionnaires. This integration creates a seamless, touchless experience for everyone entering your building.

Upgrading to a Touchless Registration System

Implementing a mobile employee registration system and a visitor management system enables a touchless sign-in process. By allowing people to request access and pre-register before arriving at the workplace, you can minimize the spread of germs and make the process more convenient for everyone involved.

Collecting essential information, requiring health questionnaires, and handling additional actions before the visit not only saves time and hassle but also demonstrates your commitment to creating a safe environment for your team and guests.

Rethinking Maintenance Management

Even with touchless technology and digital processes in place, regular cleaning and increased maintenance are still necessary. Leveraging technology can help keep the workplace clean and make your operations more efficient, ultimately reducing costs.

Digital workplace management tools, such as cloud-based access control systems, provide real-time data and reporting to help you plan better maintenance schedules. By analyzing occupancy trends and user group activity, you can optimize work shifts and adjust maintenance schedules without disrupting your employees.

Key Takeaways and Best Practices

• Focus on the most impactful areas when budgeting for touchless technology
• Implement hands-free access systems at key entry points with high traffic
• Enable touchless sign-in processes and require pre-registration for employees and visitors
• Use cloud-based reporting to optimize employee schedules and maintenance based on access data and analytics

WOX and Openpath offer a complete solution for safer, healthier buildings by integrating app-based employee and visitor management with touchless access control. This powerful combination streamlines sign-in processes, enables remote door unlocking, and provides detailed activity reporting and capacity tracking to automate maintenance and cleaning schedules.

As more people return to the workplace, investing in touchless technology and integrated security and workplace platforms will be essential in creating a safe environment that instills confidence in your employees and visitors.