Pulling People Back to Work Post-Pandemic

If designed correctly, a corporate environment should help its employees feel engaged, motivated, and safe in their workspace. When everything falls into place, the ability to engage in constructive conversation and effectively express ideas can increase tremendously.

In person discussions can be much more beneficial when compared to a Zoom or Microsoft Teams Call. Being able to see and react to real time reactions from the other party, whether it be a coworker or client, is always easier and extra engaging when it is done in person. A few months past the year anniversary of the WHO declaring an end to the COVID-19 epidemic, the effects of this dark and stressful time still linger. Almost half of the workforce of in-person employees pre-pandemic now works remotely, companies have shrunk significantly by physical and economic metrics, and the average employee can be seen protecting their personal space a little more than we would’ve five years ago. The world is different on all levels because of this epidemic and the environment of the corporate workplace was not exempt.

Ghent has viewed this change externally as well as felt it internally within our own walls. Letting these remaining problems create connectivity issues with clients and put up walls within the workplace was an issue we set out to solve. The latest addition to the Ghent catalog is a mobile collaboration hub we call GRVT. This product can take teamwork anywhere, indoors or out. The multifunctional make up allows it to be transformed from mobile whiteboard to table and chairs easily and instantly depending on your needs. Read below about the process behind taking this simple idea and making it a reality.

What inspired the creation of GRVT, and how did you envision it transforming collaboration in the workplace/classroom?

The ideation of GRVT was the result of producing a mobile workspace that can combat the modern-day obstacles that a user faces in the continuously changing work environment. Workspaces are getting smaller as remote options become more prevalent in the current corporate environment. Now more than ever, time spent in a physical environment with your coworkers or business partners is incredibly important. No less important is the ability to have these collaborations wherever and whenever is convenient and preferred.

Can you describe the initial need that GRVT was designed to address?

Post pandemic the in-person environment has shifted dramatically, on average only 52% of employees are in the office during the week. As a result, companies need to reduce overhead with this now unused space. Turning meeting areas into flexible workstations or creating more focused work zones from what used to be casual collision spaces. The opportunity for people to connect within these spaces still exists, and with this product we aim to eliminate the bottleneck of the physical environment and provide a solution.

What considerations were made to ensure GRVT offers an intuitive and seamless user experience?

Listening to the customers’ voice, researching how people are working today and the way they would want to work in a perfect scenario set the framework for GRVT to be created. Exploring what drives someone to come into the office in a world where their work can be completed remotely along with what challenges they are facing when they make that commute. By putting prototypes in front of users and seeing how they interact with GRVT, it allowed us to see how they want to sit, what they are touching, where they want to work, and the ways the user connects with one another once there.

How does GRVT integrate with existing technology and systems? Were there any challenges in ensuring compatibility?

Technology and productivity go together like bees and honey, it's nearly impossible to have one without the other. By allowing someone to plug in while working with a GRVT we've been able to eliminate the potential of power deserts. Creating the ability to be outside away from outlets and continue to juice up your devices. Over complications with technology lead to technical issues and an unpleasant experience, resulting in users not returning to the product. Our solution is simple as there are few limitations to what can be plugged in, whether you use USB-A or USB-C, both are compatible to be powered.

What kind of environment do you think benefits the most from using GRVT?

Any environment that contains people gathering and information being shared could benefit from GRVT. People have returned to the office in hopes of personal connection with corporate amenities and GRVT helps that by providing personalized experiences on how and where they can work throughout the day. If the physical building isn't working for the user, GRVT can provide an outlet to make the building work for the user or allow the user to move outside the building entirely.