Podcast: How data-driven insights can demystify the workplace experience

Since the pandemic it has become increasingly evident that the purpose, and need, for traditional office space is changing. To understand the extent of this shift, organisations have been turning their focus towards workplace data and analytics to offer key insights into their real estate. But the closer companies scrutinise their data, the more they find there is to uncover – and this can reveal a complex web of information.

In the latest episode of the Unworking podcast, Arraz Makhzani, associate director of analytics at Unwork sits down with Paav Gandhi, the head of product and co-founder of workplace experience technology company, Accessia. The conversation centred around how to leverage workplace data as a means to work smarter in the office, create more engaging experiences for employees and understand how to design spaces that are fit for purpose.

Unlocking the power of experience

Getting the workplace experience right is still a point of contention to lure employees back to the office. Increasingly, companies are realising that the workplace experience can make or break an employee’s decision to come into the office.

Makhzani and Gandhi discuss the component parts that must come together to craft a holistic and seamless experience. From providing the right spaces for different types of work to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, creating the right workplace experience is complex and multifaceted.

‘Workplace experience is complex and multifaceted…’

However, there is immense power in leveraging data to enhance experience, says Gandhi. For example, employees often prefer to come into the office to meet colleagues in-person and collaborate synchronously – having data available to see when colleagues are in the office ahead of time can create more meaningful and purposeful interactions in the workplace, while elevating the experience for those employees.

On the other side of the coin, data can offer granular insight into who is using space, when they are using it and where is popular in the building. Data of this granularity is important in scoping out requirements for future floor plates and office refurbishments, and making sure the office is adjusted to meet the needs of the workforce.

Navigating solutions

There is no one right answer to what data should be collected in the workplace. The data that should be collected is unique to every organisation depending on their specific needs and objectives. However, Gandhi notes that there is significant value in collecting people attributed data – this is data that informs companies who is actually using a space, and how.

Traditional data collection methods are currently not fully able to support this: whilst people-counting sensors can offer insight into the number of people in a given space, they lose the sense of who that person actually is and what team they are a part of. The true benefit of leveraging data allows organisations to customise experience journeys and focus on making the experience convenient and seamless from start to finish.

In making sure data technology and insights are fully utilised and not siloed within one team, Gandhi advocates for a clear and purposeful strategy which spans the entirety of an experience journey.

Listen to the full episode here: