Align experts partner with clients across industries to design, implement, and optimize workplace technology infrastructure. Through these hands-on engagements, we've gained unique insights into which technologies are making an impact and which innovations are poised to transform workplaces in the coming year.
Drawing from our extensive experience working with clients of all sizes we've identified six key technology trends that are currently reshaping workplace environments.
Advanced Meeting Room Technology Enables a Seamless Experience
In our conversations with clients, one message comes through loud and clear: people are tired of complicated meeting room technology. "What we're really seeing clients ask for is that one-touch-to-join experience," said Mike Lombardi, Align’s Workplace Technology Lead. One-touch joining has evolved from a nice-to-have to a must-have feature. And organizations aren't just looking for basic one-touch capabilities. They're asking for solutions that can seamlessly handle different meeting platforms. A client might be a Microsoft Teams shop, but they need to join Zoom meetings with external partners. The challenge is creating that same one-touch experience regardless of the platform.
We're also seeing advances in smart camera and speaker technology. Gone are the days of tiny figures in the back of the room or off-camera speakers. Modern systems can now intelligently track and focus on whoever is speaking, automatically adjusting as conversations flow around the room. The cameras actually follow the action. This ensures remote participants can clearly see who's speaking rather than stare at the side of someone's head.
Acoustics, too, have become a major focus area. Through our client implementations, we've discovered that even the most advanced video systems can be undermined by poor room acoustics. “Room acoustics is the convergence of architecture and AV,” says Jonas Lum, AV Design Consultant at Align. “The best way to ensure optimized acoustics in your meeting rooms is to partner with a technology company that can advise on architectural layouts and get involved in your project before construction begins. That is where we have seen the best success.”
Finally, we’re seeing solutions that actively address some common challenges like echo and HVAC noise – issues we've helped solve in both boardrooms and standard conference rooms.
These advanced meeting room technologies require more robust networks to support them as well. “To truly be a good AV designer you have to be a good IT designer,” says Lum. “Installing these technologies puts a lot of strain on office networks, meaning people often need to shore up their infrastructure to avoid slow networks or outages.”
Organizations Embrace Wireless-First Networks While Maintaining Critical Redundancy
When it comes to network infrastructure, we're seeing diverse approaches based on each organization's specific needs and culture. "A lot of people are going all Wi-Fi, sometimes trying to push as much stuff wireless as possible," said Lombardi. "It minimizes the footprint while providing coverage."
This shift is being accelerated by significant advances in wireless technology. “Wi-Fi 6E leverages the newly available 6 GHz band, providing up to 1,200 MHz of additional spectrum compared to previous generations. This translates to faster speeds, lower latency, and reduced interference: critical features for high-density environments like modern offices. Looking ahead, Wi-Fi 7 builds on this foundation with even more impressive capabilities. It offers speeds up to 30 Gbps and the ability to use multiple frequency bands simultaneously,” said Parmendra Chawla, a Network Engineer at Align.
But it's not a one-size-fits-all situation. While many organizations are embracing wireless-first environments, others maintain a more traditional approach. "We have clients who do not deploy wireless all over–everything is wired, with dedicated screens and workstations for each person," said Lombardi. "And that's the way they like it."
Regardless of the approach, certain fundamentals remain crucial. "It's easier to solve for one client, one location. But when you get into multi-sites and tie back into data centers and office spaces, it's about sizing it correctly," Lombardi said. Organizations need to carefully consider their bandwidth requirements across their entire footprint and implement appropriate redundancy measures to maintain business continuity in case of network disruptions.
Just as data centers ensure diversity in their power grid connections, companies need to "eliminate the single point of failure as best as they can across that network. A hybrid network approach that combines advanced wireless technologies with wired connections, mesh networking, and cloud-edge computing provides the most resilient infrastructure. It's about creating robust systems that can handle modern business demands while maintaining reliability.
Mobile-Based Access Control Systems Replace Traditional Badge Readers
"The days of card readers and having to swipe a badge coming in are changing," said Lombardi. "We're seeing more advanced systems now, like applications on your phone where you don't need the badge anymore. You just put your phone next to the turnstile and it has a range." But there's sophisticated thinking behind this seemingly simple interaction. In multi-tenant buildings, the system is carefully calibrated. You need to be close to the turnstile to prevent unauthorized access or what security experts call "tailgating," where multiple people try to enter on a single authorization.
The technology gets even smarter once you're inside. On single-tenant floors, like Align's 23rd floor, for example, the same phone-based system can provide more flexible access. "The card reader immediately opens the door for us because we have the controls around our space and it's only Align employees,” Lombardi said.
Facial Recognition and Smart Cameras Transform Building Security
The evolution of security systems reflects a growing need to balance protection with practicality. This challenge is particularly evident in access control. "There's been instances in buildings where people are in locations they're not supposed to be in," Lombardi said. "So as much as you can secure that and leverage some of the smarter technologies that are available, the better."
Some organizations are exploring cutting-edge solutions. "There's some technology out there where clients may be looking at using smart cameras in the turnstiles and card readers to actually leverage facial recognition," Lombardi said. While this technology is still being tested in some areas, it represents an interesting direction for building security.
Security isn't just about controlling access–it's about creating comprehensive systems that protect people and assets while making the workplace function smoothly. The key is finding the right balance between security measures and user convenience. To adapt the approach based on specific client needs and building requirements.
Anticipatory Infrastructure Design Prevents Future Workspace Disruption
Organizations are learning that careful upfront planning is essential for workplace technology success. This means engaging technology partners like Align early in the architectural design process to ensure optimal room layouts, lighting design, and infrastructure planning. As Lombardi said, the goal is to "do it right, do it once." This is particularly crucial in spaces with custom finishes. It’s these spaces where seemingly simple updates can become complex operations requiring specialized handling and union labor.
With custom ceilings becoming more common, organizations are investing more time on initial planning. The focus is on thorough coverage analysis and saturation testing before any installation begins. "You don't want to have to keep going up there if you don't get the design right," Lombardi said, highlighting why his team spends significant time on test fits and coverage analysis upfront.
Smart Monitoring Systems Enable Proactive Technology Management
The workplace technology landscape is shifting from reactive to proactive management thanks to advanced monitoring systems. "We're seeing a growing demand for solutions that can track and optimize technology performance in real-time," said Lum. These systems monitor everything from room occupancy patterns to equipment usage. They automatically adjust settings based on user behavior and provide valuable analytics about space utilization.
This data-driven approach allows organizations to make informed decisions about their technology investments and configurations. For example, meeting rooms that consistently run at capacity can be identified for potential expansion, while underutilized equipment might be redeployed where it's needed most.
Looking Ahead
As workplace technology continues to evolve, success lies in thoughtful integration and strategic planning. The key is creating environments that can adapt to changing business needs while maintaining security and reliability.
Want to learn how your organization can stay ahead of these trends? Connect with Align's workplace technology experts to discuss your specific needs.
