What is Smart Working?

The traditional idea of work is changing. For generations, the standard was a five-day week, from nine to five, in a designated office. But today, a growing number of professionals are asking for something different. They want more control over how, when, and where they complete their tasks. This desire for flexibility is so strong that, according to a FlexJobs survey, a significant 27% of workers would accept a pay cut of up to 20% just to have the option to work remotely.

This shift isn’t just about employee preference; it’s about a new philosophy of work that benefits everyone involved. This philosophy is called smart working. It’s a modern approach that moves beyond the simple idea of “working from home” and into a more dynamic, trust-based, and results-oriented model. Let’s explore what smart working really means and how it’s shaping the future of business.

What is Smart Working?

Many of us have heard the phrase, “Work smarter, not harder.” Smart working takes this old saying and gives it a powerful new application in the modern workplace. At its core, smart working is a work model that uses technology to improve both performance and job satisfaction. It’s not about a specific location, but about empowering employees with the tools and autonomy to perform their jobs effectively.

While smart working can include working from home, it is a much broader concept. It’s an agile way of working that trusts people to deliver results from anywhere. The focus shifts away from hours clocked in a chair and toward the successful completion of goals. It relies on a combination of sophisticated technology, clear communication, and a culture of mutual trust.

This approach acknowledges that different tasks require different environments. Deep, focused work might be best done in a quiet home office. A collaborative brainstorming session might be more productive in a shared workspace. A client presentation might demand a formal meeting room. Smart working gives employees the freedom to choose the best setting for the task at hand.

How Smart Working Differs from Other Work Styles

To truly understand smart working, it helps to see how it compares to other common work structures. It’s distinct in its philosophy and execution.

Smart Work and Traditional Office Work

The most obvious difference lies in the reliance on a physical space. Traditional work tethers productivity to a specific office building and a rigid schedule. Success is often measured by presence. Smart working, however, decouples productivity from a particular place or time. The emphasis is entirely on the task or goal.

Furthermore, smart working leans heavily on automated processes and digital tools. This frees up the team’s mental energy to concentrate on creative problem-solving, customer engagement, and business development rather than repetitive administrative tasks.

Smart Work and Teleworking

Many people use the terms “teleworking” and “smart working” interchangeably, but they are not the same. Teleworking, or remote work, specifically refers to working from a location outside the traditional office, most commonly from home. It is a component of smart working, but not the whole picture.

Smart working is a more comprehensive approach. It’s not just about where you work, but also how and when. It might involve a mix of working from home, collaborating in a coworking space, and occasionally coming into a central office. It’s about flexibility in hours and methods, not just location. Smart working is based on using technology and efficient time management to allow employees to choose the most productive way to work, without being tied to a fixed schedule.

Smart Work and Coworking

Coworking is about sharing a workspace. It’s a physical place where freelancers, entrepreneurs, and employees from various companies work alongside each other. While a person practicing smart working might use a coworking space, the two concepts are different. Coworking is a place; smart working is a method. A company that adopts a smart working model might provide its employees with memberships to a coworking space as one of their flexible work options.

The Advantages of a Smart Working Model

Adopting a smart working strategy offers substantial benefits for both the company and its employees. It creates a positive cycle where empowered employees drive better business outcomes.

How Employers Benefit

Businesses that embrace smart working often see improvements across the board.

1. Productivity Levels Increase 

When employees have control over their environment, they can minimize distractions. Working from home can mean fewer interruptions than in a busy open-plan office. More importantly, smart working technology and automation allow people to focus their efforts on tasks that directly contribute to the company’s growth and key performance indicators. This naturally leads to higher productivity and profitability.

2. A Larger Candidate Pool When Hiring 

When geography is no longer a limiting factor, a company can hire the best person for the job, regardless of where they live. This opens up a vast, global pool of talent, giving the business a competitive edge in finding skilled and experienced professionals.

3. Increased Employee Loyalty 

Trust is a powerful motivator. When employees are given flexibility and feel trusted to manage their own work, their job satisfaction soars. They appreciate the modern work environment and are more likely to remain with the company long-term. This loyalty is backed by data; the same FlexJobs survey found that 81% of respondents would be more loyal to their employer in return for flexible work arrangements.

4. Turnover Rates Drop 

High employee turnover is costly and disruptive. Since workers place a high value on flexibility, they are much more likely to stay with a company that offers a smart working strategy. A shorter or nonexistent commute, a flexible schedule, and the freedom to achieve goals in innovative ways all contribute to a better work-life balance, making employees hesitant to leave.

5. The Number of Sick Days Decreases 

It’s a common scenario: an employee has a mild cold but feels pressured to come into the office. They spend the day feeling unwell and unproductive, while also potentially spreading germs to colleagues. In a smart working model, that employee can simply work from home. They can still accomplish their tasks without commuting or infecting others, preventing a single illness from spreading through the entire team.

How Employees Benefit

The advantages for employees are just as significant and contribute to a healthier, more balanced life.

1. Better Work-Life Balance 

This is perhaps the most celebrated benefit. Smart working eliminates or reduces commute time, freeing up hours each day. This extra time can be spent with family, on hobbies, or simply resting. The flexibility to adjust work hours around personal appointments and family needs reduces stress and prevents burnout.

2. Autonomy and Empowerment 

Smart working is built on trust, not micromanagement. Employees are given the autonomy to decide how to best tackle their responsibilities. This sense of ownership and freedom is incredibly empowering and leads to greater job satisfaction and personal accountability.

3. Focus on Results 

In a smart working environment, performance is judged by output and the quality of work, not by the hours spent at a desk. This allows dedicated professionals to be recognized for their actual contributions, which is far more motivating than being judged on “facetime.”

Finding the Right Space for Smart Work at The Sentry

For a smart working strategy to be truly effective, employees need access to the right environment for the right task. The home office is perfect for quiet, focused work, but it isn’t always the ideal solution. Sometimes, you need a professional setting for a client meeting, a dynamic space for team collaboration, or simply a change of scenery to spark new ideas.

This is where The Sentry in Vietnam provides the perfect solution. We offer premium, flexible workspaces designed to support the modern, agile professional and the companies embracing this new way of working. At The Sentry, we provide the infrastructure that makes smart working seamless. With our high-speed internet, state-of-the-art facilities, private offices, and professional meeting rooms, we offer the ideal extension to your smart working strategy.

Whether your team needs a dedicated hub for collaborative days, or you need a sophisticated space to impress a client, The Sentry empowers you and your business to work smarter.

Discover how our flexible spaces can enhance your productivity and support your journey into the future of work. 

Book a tour today and discover your new workplace at The Sentry.

• Phone: +84 969 067 845
• Email: leasing@thesentry.com.vn