Workspaces are incredibly diverse – your lap, your desk, your kitchen table, and the tools we need to work effectively are as varied and distinct as the workspaces we use. Art O’Gnimh, VP & BU General Manager at Logitech, talks to UC Advanced on various workspaces that have emerged in the modern day workplaces, and how Logitech have developed the devices to assist everyone to achieve digital equity.
Work has changed. It used to be a place you’d go to, or a list of tasks. Today, it’s no longer confined to a physical space, nor to a narrow definition of productivity. An office can be wherever you choose to work, a desk is wherever you set down a laptop, iPad, or phone, a studio is wherever inspiration strikes, and a classroom is wherever the desire to learn takes root. In this new age of work, habits and expectations have evolved, with workplace and time flexibility becoming paramount, especially for younger employees.
Work is no longer merely a paid job either; it’s about walking the talk and embracing the evolution of technology and roles. We are at the dawn of a new era of tech, collaboration and human connection. And it demands a fresh approach to work, one that empowers people to be more productive, creative, collaborative, and happy while enabling organisations to thrive.
Putting People First, Embracing Technology as an Ally
To make this new era of work, work for everyone, we must prioritise people and leverage technology as a powerful ally in extending human potential and solving the challenges of the modern work world.
The Office: Workplaces need to catch up, less than one in three offices have been redesigned in the past three years, according to a Workplace Survey by Gensler. Balancing areas for focus work as well as collaboration work, different types of desks, meeting rooms and including advanced yet simple desk booking tools can help optimise office spaces and bring people back together.
The Meeting Room: With dispersed teams and hybrid work arrangements, traditional meetings where everyone gathers around a table are becoming rare. During global lock downs, everyone had an equal presence on video calls, but now, that balance is skewed, with some people in a room, and others at home or remote. Collaboration tools like Logitech’s Sight, an AI-enhanced camera that works with Zoom, Teams, and Google to frame individual speakers as the conversation naturally moves around the meeting room, can help create a more equitable and fluid meeting experience by enabling teams worldwide to work together as if they were in the same room.
The Anywhere Workspace: 60% of remote workers still experience discomfort, making it impossible to be productive when in pain. Creating a workspace where one can thrive is a fundamental tenet, whether we’re working in an office, at home, or anywhere else. But one size does not fit all. People have different job functions, tasks, preferences, ergonomic needs, tech skills: think of a software developer or designer compared to a product manager or accountant, for example. Their tasks, their tools, their software, their workspaces, their computer OS, and even their hand size will vary. While some needs and expectations are common to us all – quality, comfort, reliability, familiarity, ease-of-use – others may not be. As organisations, we must embrace this diversity and equip individuals with the tools they need to succeed, whether in the office, at home or on the go. Powerful hardware like Logitech’s MX Series of mice, keyboards, webcams can transform a workspace, while Signature Slim Keyboard K950, Lift Ergonomic Mouse, Brio 501 Webcam, Combo Touch for iPad, or the Zone Wireless 2 headset, can be mass deployed for office and remote work. This ensures that people working from home can have the same productive and healthy setup as in the office.
The Magic of Software and AI: Hardware alone is not enough; software adds the magic sauce for a great experience, including putting the power of AI just a click away. Logitech believes in the transformative potential of AI to enhance productivity, enabling time saved on tasks like writing and editing documents to be invested in strategic thinking and customer impact. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Workforce Report, tech literacy is a core skill for today’s workforce, and organizations must invest in training to drive tech adoption and fluency. Tools like Logitech’s AI Prompt Builder can streamline this process.
By embracing technology as an enabler while keeping the human experience at the forefront, we unlock the full potential of both people and enterprises.
Culture is the glue that holds it all together
In these transformational times, the significance of a company’s culture and core values cannot be overstated. At Logitech, we take immense pride in our culture, where individuals from every kind of background not only challenge and support one another but also have the freedom to be themselves without the need to conform. Celebrating and nurturing this culture is an increasingly key responsibility for business leaders, and it pays off in terms of team satisfaction, and business results. Deeply rooted in our values, we strive to empower individuals and organisations to succeed in this new era of work.
