Harish, welcome to HRTech Cube. Could you please begin by sharing your professional journey with us?
Thank you for having me! I am Vice President of Product & the Global Head of WeWork Workplace, the company’s space management software that launched in 2022. I have been with WeWork for almost nine years, beginning as an early member of the engineering team and am now a leader of our engineering and product innovations. Before joining WeWork, I held engineering positions at Samsung and AOL.

I have spent over 15 years working in engineering and product management to ensure organizations have the technology capabilities they need to succeed. At WeWork, that means working to seamlessly integrate technology into our products and workspaces so that our members can do their best work.

WeWork Workplace is the company’s first foray into software. Why did WeWork decide to expand into software and what is the purpose of WeWork Workplace?
WeWork Workplace was built for companies looking to add flexibility to their work strategies, improve employee engagement and maximize return on investment from their real estate. The software helps bring workplace strategies to life by encouraging employees to use their workspaces and amenities more purposefully and ensuring employers are able to make data-driven decisions about their office space, removing the guesswork of designing a strategic work model. Specifically, WeWork Workplace enables companies to manage their inventory across office spaces, foster employee collaboration and analyze real-time data to better understand how their space is being used.

We are working to innovate WeWork Workplace based on our member feedback and most recently rolled out an improved analytics dashboard and integrated the software into the WeWork app – creating a streamlined and enhanced user experience.

How does WeWork Workplace help companies maximize workplace value and engagement?
WeWork Workplace supports the needs of both employers and employees. Employers can use the software’s comprehensive office maps, overflow booking automation and detailed analytics, such as key card and meeting room utilization data, to ensure their office is well-managed and that they are maximizing the value of their space. Employees are kept engaged with tools like integrated desk booking technology, colleague search, team calendars and group bookings that allow employees to easily interact with their space and proactively coordinate with their team through the software.

Could you elaborate on how WeWork Workplace supports companies in analyzing space utilization and achieving significant savings on rental costs?
In the era of flexible work, effective space utilization is more important than ever as companies’ work styles upend the traditional 9 to 5 and move towards hybrid schedules. Employers must reassess how their space is being used by workers embracing flexible work to avoid over or underspending on real estate. WeWork Workplace provides companies with a universal platform that helps manage inventory across all of their office spaces. The software allows companies to create user groups, spatial zones and analyze capacity and overflow to understand when and how employees are using their office space. This space utilization management allows companies to assess whether they need to scale their real estate portfolio up or down in real-time.

With hybrid work models increasing, how does WeWork Workplace manage flexible desk usage and coordinate hybrid workers?
WeWork Workplace removes the guesswork from designing a strategic flexible work model. The software allows employees to book desks before coming into the office, and see when and where their teammates have booked desks to come into the office too. Employees then know and understand which spaces are available before stepping foot into the office. With this feature, WeWork Workplace facilitates connection and collaboration among coworkers to help maximize time spent in-office.

How have companies been using WeWork Workplace to support and enhance their office strategy and what have the results been?
Companies of all sizes and industries have used WeWork Workplace to successfully manage their workspace with intentionality and flexibility. One WeWork Workplace user, a fast growing car-sharing company, leveraged the software to enable their rapid growth.

The company needed to balance their operational needs with their financial constraints, so they sought a solution that would optimize how their office space is being used without compromising on quality. WeWork Workplace allowed the company to seamlessly manage overflow space for 90 new employees and quickly provide its entire team with WeWork memberships to support collaboration and productivity, without slowing down the business’ rapid growth.

How do you foresee workplace technology evolving, and what emerging trends do you believe will shape the industry?
Workplace technology has dramatically advanced since the Covid-19 pandemic, and I anticipate it will continue to evolve as work styles continue to change. Companies have varied return to office policies, requiring technology that adapts to a diverse range of work strategies. For WeWork Workplace, we’ve enhanced our product to include configurable settings that provide companies with data and analytics about their employees’ habits. Companies can use this data to adapt their office strategies to meet employees workplace desires while maintaining employee engagement. Ultimately, space management software will be required to make effective office decisions alongside changing employee work patterns.

In navigating the tech industry, particularly in space management, what strategies do you use to stay innovative and ahead of trends?
At WeWork, we evolve and innovate our offerings by listening to our members. Oftentimes, our members are the first to highlight potential improvements or new trends to us, and we’ve designed our products based on how they want to work. They have been an integral part of improving our business, and we will continue to use their feedback to improve all of our spaces, products and services.

For business leaders looking to enhance their workplace management practices and foster greater employee engagement, what advice would you offer based on your experience?
I recommend business leaders listen to their employees, and provide the proper tools for their workers to succeed at the office. Technology resources, including desk booking technology, digital floor maps and technology-enabled meeting rooms, are examples of tools that help make employees’ day at the office easier and more successful. By listening and engaging with employees’ needs, business leaders can move forward in a more intentional pattern that allows their workplace strategy to succeed.

Lastly, do you have any thoughts or insights to share on the future of workplace management and the transformative role of technology?
From my perspective, the future of workplace management will be about maximizing space utilization and enabling flexibility for organizations in a hybrid world. Technology will play a pivotal role in the growth of workplace management, improving the ways in which employers and employees manage and use their office space. Data and analytics will grow to become more instantaneous at determining companies’ real estate needs and workers will use technology for even more aspects of their workplace experience. These technological advancements will ensure office space is being used to its fullest potential, employee productivity is enhanced and employee engagement is substantially boosted.
Flexibility and constant evolution represent the future of workplace management, with technology being a cornerstone in effectively managing these changes.

Explore HRtech News for the latest Tech Trends in Human Resources Technology.