7 Things Needed For the Ultimate Smart Office

March 11, 2019

Your office—whether at home or in another building—is your go-to place for getting work done. And you need to try to think about productivity and smart design. What business technology and other equipment do you need to maximize efficiency and productivity?

Good news. There is a growing number of technologies and equipment designed to help you create a smart office—one that allows you to work efficiently and effectively. (And you needn’t worry about getting it all connected and set up yourself, thanks to an installation service.) Here are seven of the must-haves for today’s ultimate smart office:


1. Voice Assistant

Think Alexa is just for your home? Think again. A smart speaker like the Amazon Echo can help your business, too. You can query it to find out the latest headlines relevant to your industry or ask it to conduct quick searches that you previously would have to type into a smartphone or computer.


2. Business Desktop Computer

Surprise! Your laptop probably won’t cut it for your office. A business desktop PC will generally offer you faster processing and more overall power than a business laptop, while making it easy to upgrade with more RAM or storage. Plus, it’s more comfortable to work with a big monitor that you don’t have to squint to read. (Read about what to consider when buying a business computer.)


3. Desktop Hard Drive

You'll likely need more storage than your computer can provide, so consider getting an affordable external hard drive with fast speed and reliability.


4. USB Hub

In this day and age, you can't be charging one device at a time. You need a way to charge everything that needs to be charged simultaneously. A USB hub makes that possible.


5. Smart Lights

Lighting sets the mood, and you may need your mood to change over the course of a workday. You may need brighter lighting for high-energy or detailed tasks while dimmer lighting for calmer and creative tasks, like writing a report. Consider installing smart lighting in your office that allows you to easily change the brightness and even potentially the color of your office lighting.


6. Ergonomic Office Chair

Your chair doesn't need to be high-tech, but it does need to be a place you feel comfortable sitting for potentially hours on end. So, don't skimp. You can test out some office chairs to find the one that provides the right level of comfort and support. (Read about what to look for in an office chair.)


7. Wireless Keyboard

The beauty of using a wireless keyboard is you can quickly switch between using it on multiple devices, such as your desktop and your tablet. (And while you’re at it, get a wireless mouse.)


Of course, there are many other types of office technologies and equipment that can benefit your business depending on what you do and how you spend the bulk of your time. From wireless routers to phones (the mobile and non-mobile kind) to video conferencing hardware, you need to identify the devices that are essential to your company’s smooth and productive operations.


About the Author 

Kelly Spors is a freelance writer and editor based in Minneapolis. She previously worked as a staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal, covering small business and entrepreneurship.

All content provided herein is for educational purposes only. It is provided “as is,” and neither the author nor Office Depot warrants the accuracy of the information provided, nor do they assume any responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein.