Upgrade your office storage: 7 Proven tips to improve productivity

Now that most of us are back in our pre-pandemic routines, our workplaces have never been busier – especially considering most of our businesses now have new rules of working and a higher drive to keep employees happy and healthy. As an office manager or business owner, you are most likely busier than ever, and it’s challenging to keep on top of your office processes.

Here's where smarter storage can help. Streamlining and upgrading your storage systems not only improves your day-to-day operations but will also help boost productivity and office culture. These are seven quick tactics that won’t destroy your office budget but will improve your bottom line in the long run.  

Yes, the best kind of efficiency: a product that offers you twice the functionality. These aren’t just desks with storage; there are plenty of seating options that provide space. Check out this latest office furniture catalogue for options – it was recently voted the best catalogue in the market by 80% of industry specialists in a nationwide survey.
 

Brackets, floating shelves, hooks, racks, cupboards, hanging storage bins – there’s a massive range of wall-based storage options that can take care of everything from small stationery supplies to commuter bicycles. You can even create an oversized pegboard wall for extra storage. If you get these design options right, it will improve the design and flow of the space, offering easy access to the supplies that employees need. If it’s a rented space that doesn’t allow for wall nails and screws, then you can invest in handy standing lockers that you can place alongside your walls. An even more ingenious storage trick: install wall-mounted flip-down desks for employees to use while standing or seated.

This technically isn’t a storage option, but it does mean you can cut down on wall-based presentation screens and notice boards. This lets you turn a wall into a notice board or oversized calendar that you can wipe down and re-use whenever you like. It’s also a neat option in your canteen – your employees can leave notes and shopping lists when supplies are running low.

There are smart business technology ideas to help you save space, cut down on paper waste and ink toner costs, and improve productivity. Crucially, it will also drastically reduce the space you need for paper filing and archiving. Swap shared paper presentation docs for digital touch screens, tablets and pdfs, and use cloud-based storage and digital signature software like DocuSign instead of relying on old-school paper versions. You should upgrade your digital storage options, and you should be able to upgrade your printer into a smaller, more efficient alternative that takes up less space and costs you less to operate.   

One fast way to make storage work for you is to create office ‘walls’ out of storage options such as shelving units, bookcases or standing lockers. Ideally, open storage options are best for light and visibility, and it means that employees on both sides have access to what is being stored. These dividers can be used between desks and replace traditional cubicle designs.

Whether it’s cupboards, mobile pedestals, or even rolling lockers, they all offer versatile options that can be moved to where they are needed most – which is a massive benefit for any busy office manager. They are also brilliant options for hybrid workspaces that are added or stored according to demand.  

This can help you cut down on rented office space by removing the need for extra meeting rooms (and saving on rent). Stackable chairs and mobile folding tables are a brilliant way to help transform a space quickly, and they’re a clever option for hybrid workspaces, too.