Businesses are increasingly keen to use artificial intelligence to track sustainability and energy efficiency within their offices, a new study by EY has found.
The EY Future Workplace Index, which surveyed over 500 US C-suite and business leaders, found that 38% want to apply AI to ‘track the office’s sustainability and energy efficiency’, while 44% added that they are using AI to ‘collect data to maximise and optimise their office space’.
Respondents in tech industry also reported using AI for tracking sustainability, as well as for financial analysis, and monitoring a company’s equity and brand health.
Hybrid working
Among the main findings of the Future Workplace Index is that 80% of businesses report that employees are in the office three or more days a week, while those adopting a full-time ‘remote working’ model has fallen from 34% in 2022 to 1% in 2023.
It found that currently, 86% of employers have a policy that mandates in-office attendance a certain number of days a week. With this in mind, employers cite a number of challenges in optimising their office space, including creating the right kind of space for their employees (32%) and retaining/recruiting employees who are willing to go into the office (21%).
“It’s clear that hybrid work is no longer in a test-and-see period; it’s here to stay,” commented Mark Grinis, EY Americas real estate, hospitality & construction leader. “As at least two to three days a week in office is the norm, leaders need to ‘earn the commute’ and enable greater opportunities for productivity, collaboration and creativity than employees experienced working remotely.
“With this, there is now an increased spotlight on workplace investments — from AI integration to expanded office footprint and virtual collaboration resources.”
The EY Future Workplace Index anonymously surveyed more than 500 US-based C-suite and business leaders spanning a multitude of industries.
