Over half of the employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are in favour of their company investing in connected technology – such as smart lighting – ahead of other workplace improvements. That’s according to new research from Signify, a world leader in lighting (formerly known as Philips Lighting).

Signify commissioned a YouGov online survey of some 1100 senior decision-makers from private sector SMEs in the UK and United States. The research found that nearly one in five SMEs already use some form of connected technology in their business, and just under a third (29%) are interested in doing so in the future. Two in five SMEs also felt that investing in connected technology might help them retain employees.

Of the SMEs with areas that can be visited by customers or clients, over a third (36%) thought smart lighting would improve the customer or client experience and give a more favourable impression of their business.

“High workplace satisfaction influences engagement and the reputation of a business as a great place to work, so it’s no surprise that SMEs are looking into connected tech options to enhance engagement,” said Bianca van der Zande, research scientist at Signify.

She added: “Nowadays, with new technologies such as LED and IoT, lighting can be a powerful influencer in the workplace. With about half of the surveyed employees being in favour of having smart lighting installed, this could be an excellent way for SMEs to make the workplace more appealing to current and potential employees.”

Dr Craig Knight, director of Identity Realization (IDR) and an expert in the psychology of office space, also emphasised the importance of lighting at work. “Light can have astonishing effects within the workplace,” he said. “It has been shown to be at once invigorating and calming. Yet too many businesses pay scant attention to light, offering cheap rather than effective solutions.”

Dr Knight added: “Science suggests that poor lighting strategies put wellbeing, happiness and productivity in jeopardy.”

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