Unlocking Office 2.0: Reimagining Authentication for the Modern Office

Get ready for Office 2.0

What do we mean by “Office 2.0”? It’s a new era of work characterized by increasing digitalization, technological progress, connection and flexibility. While there is no single definition, Office 2.0 is commonly understood to include some or all of the following.

• Flexibility: Flexibility is the name of the game in the modern workplace, so companies can accommodate different working styles, hybrid work models, and a range of day-to-day requirements. A mix of individual offices, open coworking spaces, and collaborative work environments allows companies to stay nimble and responsive to employee needs.
• Technology: Modern technologies—such as cloud computing, video conferencing systems, and software solutions—enable effective collaboration and enhance productivity for employees. Data and applications are increasingly stored and accessed via the cloud to enable anywhere access and collaboration between far-flung teams.
• Sustainability: Sustainability and environmental concerns are important considerations for most companies today, with efforts to reduce waste, use energy more efficiently, and create healthier working environments.
• Employer brand: The office also serves as a tool for strengthening the employer brand. A modern and innovative working environment can help attract and retain talent.
• Work-life balance: Employee well-being and work-life balance are growing concerns for both workers and employers. Flexible working hours, hybrid or remote work options, and similar measures give employees more freedom and flexibility in shaping their working lives.

Overall, Office 2.0 is about creating a work environment that meets the needs and expectations of employees and the business, promoting high productivity and satisfaction.

The use of authentication solutions in Office 2.0

Authentication solutions in the form of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), or mobile access credentials using Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE), can make Office 2.0 more effective and convenient for employees while ensuring business security and enabling optimization for companies. RFID and mobile authentication solutions offer significant advantages for both workers and organizations. 

• Fast and convenient access: Authentication solutions such as NFC, BLE and RFID enable employees to quickly and conveniently access specific areas or resources in the office without having to use physical keys or passwords. This saves time and effort and increases employee productivity.
• Flexibility in workplace use: An RFID card or token or smartphone credentialing app can provide access to a variety of office applications, including physical spaces (e.g., for access control in secure locations or check-in to shared workstations or meeting rooms), devices such as shared printers for secure printing, and business systems, networks and files. That means employees have access to everything they need with a single credential and can move easily and quickly between office environments and systems.
• Improved security: RFID and mobile authentication solutions typically provide a higher level of security compared to passwords, PINs or physical keys. Authentication solutions enable secure identification and verification of employees, reducing the risk of unauthorized access to office buildings, workspaces or confidential data.
• Remote access and mobile authentication: Authentication solutions can also be used for remote access and authentication—for example, to authenticate employee log-on from the home office. This enables employees to access resources or systems from outside the office without having to be physically on-site, which facilitates remote work and promotes flexibility in an Office 2.0 model.
• Easy management of access rights: RFID and mobile authentication solutions typically enable centralized management of access rights, making it easier for organizations to manage and customize employee access permissions for locations, resources, systems and data. This enables efficient and effective management of access rights in Office 2.0 and contributes to security.

However, it is important to note that authentication solutions must be carefully implemented and managed to ensure enterprise security. This includes, for example, regular updates of access rights, monitoring of user activities, and protection against potential security risks such as loss or misuse of NFC tags, BLE beacons or RFID cards.

Office 2.0 authentication solutions

ELATEC can help companies implement Office 2.0 authentication solutions in several areas, including:

• Time recording: ELATEC offers authentication solutions that enable employees to record time and attendance hours easily and securely. This can be done, for example, by using NFC or RFID technologies that can be integrated into employee badges or other mobile devices.
• Access management: ELATEC can help companies implement Office 2.0 access controls to regulate physical access to specific areas or resources. This is accomplished using authentication solutions such as NFC, BLE or RFID to control access to buildings, offices, rooms or other sensitive areas.
• Single Sign-On (SSO): ELATEC also offers solutions for Single Sign-On (SSO), both in the office and in the home office. With SSO, employees can authenticate once and then access different applications and resources without having to log in multiple times. This improves usability and productivity.
• Use of facilities and amenities: ELATEC can help organizations implement authentication solutions to regulate the use of various amenities in Office 2.0. This can include, for example, the use of cafeterias, EV charging stations, kiosk systems or other services and resources in Office 2.0.

By implementing authentication solutions in these areas, ELATEC can help companies make Office 2.0 more efficient and secure, provide convenient access to employees, and optimize the management of resources and services.