How are leading and innovative corporate real estate (CRE) leaders creating a unique and valuable user experience for their companies and employees?
That, in essence, is the question posed by Marie Puybaraud, PhD, Global Head of Corporate Research, JLL, a breakout session at the CoreNet Global Summit in Philadelphia this week.
She was joined in a panel featuring John Corbett, Head of Asia Pacific & Japan, APJC Workplace Resources for Cisco; and Paul Van Wijngaarden, Regional Workplace Manager EMEA, and Global Project Manager Planning, Analysis & Innovation at Uber.
According to Puybaraud, “We are living in an experience-based economy that is transforming work, the workplace, and the economy.” An informal poll of attendees showed that they agree that user experience is the “next big thing.”
Examples include Apple and Nike stores which revolve around the idea of giving those who step into their stores a truly unique, branded encounter. “You cannot mistake an Apple or Nike store for any other store,” said Puybaraud.
While so far the idea of providing unique experiences has been limited to the customer, this philosophy is now extending to giving employees, the internal customer, the same. Citing global research conducted by JLL, Puybaraud said work philosophies that have a positive impact on employees revolve around trust, kindness and the ability to take the initiative.
And, she said the factors that go into creating a unique “experience,” are happiness at work, recognition, personal training and development, creativity and inspiration.
Her thoughts were echoed by the representatives from Uber & Cisco.
“The most important thing is the work being done,” Van Wijngaarden said. And to provide an experience that facilitates work, Uber captures every available piece of data garnered through workplace systems and the Internet of Things to determine what people do and how they use their space.
Van Wijngaarden said that at all Uber locations, people work when they want and how they want, whether it’s in a traditional office space, or on a couch or at a coffee shop.
And, Uber, with 3,000 employees, and 500 leases in 70 countries realizes that “It’s different everywhere.”
Corbett, of Cisco, said that the company’s challenge is to look at the landscape through they eyes of the employees, all of whom have different perspectives. “Our job is making sure we can provide it before the employee demands it.”