Imagine working in an office which is completely automated, controlled by the lift of a finger! Where everything is made up of smart devices and smart sensors to maximize efficiency.
Smart office with the Internet of Things (IoT) creates a much efficient environment and ensures maximum productivity!

The first automation of offices was started with the invention of typewriter and the copier machine. The rise of a mechanized system was a revolution in itself. Fast forward to a day in the 1980s when the personal computer came out. This day marked the beginning of a new era. This can be considered as the start of office automation. So what is office automation? Office automation is the usage of varied computer machinery and software to digitize the content, collate and record data. With office automation, creation and sharing of information, is all automated and online.

With the advent of  IoT devices and sensors, automation is the future of the world. With the easy control access and gesture movements, implementing technology such as contact sense light sensor to control lighting remotely or a temperature sensor to control the humidity and temperature of the office setting using a remote single switch might sound really cool. However, the most important aspect of office automation lies in automating the data:

• Automating data storage – Data is one of the most important part of an office. Maintaining records up to date is a crucial aspect. Data storage is anything from storing or editing a file or image, processing the data and storing it. Text handling software ensures that data handling is automated. Word processing is the most basic of the office automation activity. Editing, formatting, printing and processing – all these can be done with ease. Image handling software is another automated tool to handle images. Images or pictures in the form of documents, photographs or graphics can be edited and processed using these software. Multimedia presentations are now a cake walk!
• Automating Data Exchange – With the rise of electronic sharing devices, real time sharing of information is now an easy task. Electronic exchange systems such as electronic mail, video calls, audio calls and video conferencing allow the data to be sent virtually.Office automation systems also allow sharing of information between more than one user and this is called groupware. One classic example is the video conferencing or meeting virtually. Another interesting and upcoming concept is that of telecommuting.
• Automating data management – Task management, reminder systems and schedulers ensure automatic management of the data. Necessary information is shared and tasks are remotely and easily controlled. With all the data online, it becomes easy to process the data and thereby easy to access as and when required.

Office automation is an ongoing task and has to be updated with the growing technology. Tools, people and the management – all are a part of this system and have to embrace the change to maximize productivity. Apart from these advantages, there is an enormous scope for the businesses to save money with cost effective sensors and devices. Smart offices are the future and are here to stay!