In today’s world, where health and safety have taken centre stage, the adoption of touchless technology in commercial spaces is not just a trend but a necessity. Commercial Building Repairs, a leader in innovative building solutions in Australia, is at the forefront of integrating touchless technology to ensure safer and more efficient workplaces.
The Rise of Touchless Technology in the Post-Pandemic Era
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped our approach to workplace safety, making us acutely aware of the surfaces we touch and the potential risks involved. Touchless technology, once a novel feature, has rapidly evolved into an essential tool for maintaining health and safety standards in commercial environments. This technology minimises physical contact, thereby reducing the spread of germs and viruses.
Identifying High-Risk Areas for Touchless Upgrades
The first step in implementing touchless technology is to identify high-contact areas within a commercial space. These typically include door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, and stair railings. Commercial Building Repairs recommends conducting a thorough assessment of these common touchpoints to determine where touchless solutions can be most effectively deployed.
- Entrance and Exit Doors: These are the most commonly used touchpoints. Installing automatic doors or touchless access control systems can significantly reduce the risk of germ transmission.
- Elevator Buttons: In multi-storey buildings, elevators are high-traffic areas. Touchless solutions like voice-activated systems or foot-operated buttons can be effective alternatives.
- Light Switches: Frequently touched by multiple individuals, replacing traditional switches with motion sensor lights or touchless switch panels can enhance safety.
- Stair Railings: While it’s challenging to make stair railings touchless, applying antimicrobial coatings or implementing regular sanitisation protocols can help reduce risks.
- Restroom Facilities: Automatic faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers can minimise contact in these essential areas.
- Shared Equipment: Items like printers, coffee machines, and water coolers can be upgraded with touchless technologies or controlled via smartphone apps.
- Meeting Room Controls: Switching to wireless systems for AV equipment and air conditioning controls in meeting rooms can reduce the need for physical contact.
Budgeting for Touchless Technology
Investing in touchless technology requires careful budgeting. Focus on areas that yield the highest impact, such as entry points and communal spaces. While it might be tempting to invest in high-tech amenities, prioritising health-related technology ensures long-term value and safety.
Touchless Access Control: The First Line of Defence
A key area of focus should be the entry points. Implementing touchless access control systems not only enhances security but also reduces the need for physical contact. Features like mobile credentials and wave-to-unlock capabilities offer a seamless and hygienic way to manage access, eliminating the need for traditional keycards and physical touch.
Touchless Registration Systems: Streamlining Visitor Management
Upgrading to a digital, touchless registration system simplifies the check-in process for both employees and visitors. This system can handle pre-registration, health questionnaires, and other essential information remotely, reducing the need for face-to-face interactions and shared surfaces.
Rethinking Maintenance Management with Touchless Solutions
Despite the best efforts, it’s unrealistic to eliminate all touchpoints. Regular cleaning and maintenance are still crucial. Touchless technology, however, can aid in creating more efficient maintenance schedules. Utilising cloud-based management tools, Commercial Building Repairs can help businesses track usage patterns and optimise cleaning schedules, ensuring a consistently safe environment.
Best Practices for Implementing Touchless Technology
When integrating touchless technology, it’s important to focus on areas that will have the most significant impact on health and safety. High-traffic entry points should be prioritised for touchless access control. Additionally, implementing a touchless sign-in process for all, including visitors, enhances overall safety. Utilising cloud-based reporting tools can provide valuable insights for optimising maintenance and employee schedules.
- Prioritise High-Traffic Areas: Focus on installing touchless systems at main entrances, lobbies, and other areas with high foot traffic.
- Inclusive Touchless Sign-In Processes: Implement a touchless sign-in system for employees and visitors. This could include QR code scanning or facial recognition technologies.
- Leverage Cloud-Based Reporting: Utilise cloud-based tools for real-time data on building usage. This information can help optimise cleaning schedules and manage building occupancy levels.
- Regular Maintenance of Touchless Systems: Ensure that these systems are regularly maintained and updated to function effectively.
- Employee Training and Awareness: Educate staff about the new systems and the importance of touchless technology in maintaining health and safety.
- Feedback Loop: Establish a feedback system to continually assess the effectiveness of touchless technologies and make improvements.
The Future of Touchless Technology in Commercial Spaces
Looking beyond the pandemic, the integration of touchless technology in commercial spaces is set to become a standard. Commercial Building Repairs is dedicated to providing cutting-edge solutions that not only address current health concerns but also pave the way for future innovations in building safety and efficiency.
- Integration with Smart Building Systems: Touchless technology will increasingly be integrated with broader smart building systems for enhanced efficiency and safety.
- Advancements in Sensor Technology: Expect to see more sophisticated sensor technologies that can further reduce the need for physical contact.
- Customisable Solutions: Touchless technology will evolve to offer more customisable options to suit different types of commercial spaces and specific business needs.
- Sustainability Focus: Future touchless technologies will likely incorporate sustainability, reducing energy consumption while maintaining health standards.
- Increased User Acceptance: As people become more accustomed to touchless interactions, user acceptance and demand for such technologies will grow.
In Summary
The implementation of touchless technology in commercial spaces is a critical step towards ensuring health and safety in the workplace. With the expertise of Commercial Building Repairs, businesses can seamlessly integrate these technologies, creating environments that are not only safe but also conducive to productivity and wellbeing. As we navigate the challenges of the post-pandemic world, embracing touchless technology is not just a smart choice but a necessary evolution in commercial building management.