The workplace switched in the past years from the concrete perspective and definition of the wall-defined premises to the more elaborated, flexible and hence, challenging, workspace. We talk for several years now about an ecosystem of working, rather than an actual fixed office desk. The tech applications started to accompany, supplement and push for a new definition and understanding of the workplace as space for working, operating industries and delivering business opportunities. This is something people are still struggling to adjust to and to make the best use of it.
In this context, The Diplomat – Bucharest organizes on the 8th Edition of WORKPLACE OF THE FUTURE at HotSpot Workhub Bucharest, on June 4th , the conference dedicated to the workplace trends.
What defines now a functional, effective and healthy-culture-based workspace and workplace? The developments shaped in the previous years continue to emerge, aspect after aspect and perspective after perspective, especially in the context of the rising of breakthrough technologies (particularly AI). The more asks for more and the rate of adoption of all kinds of technologies is faster than businesses and people can cope with. The wave after wave of digitization and transformation will affect everyone in business, society and any kind of human-based kind of organization.
The event benefits from the support of:
PLATINUM PARTNERS: NXP Semiconductors, Wipro Technologies
GOLD PARTNERS: MyHive, Hagag, Hotspot, Vastint Romania, Genpact
PARTNER: Cognizant
SUPPORTING PARTNERS: Concordia, BRCC, ClujIT, ANIS, Lovering & Partners Business Consultants
MEDIA PARTNERS: Sustainability Today, Automotive Today, Outsourcing Today, Financial Intelligence, Romania Durabila, Economistul, Club Economic, Bursa
EVENT AGENDA
09:00 – 10:00 Registration & Coffee
10:00 – 12:00 CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS
12:00 – 13:00 Networking Lunch
Conference Topics
WORKPLACE SWAPPED BY WORKSPACE
The workplace holds a new meaning for employees, especially for the new generations, as they are freewheeling and root-free from a certain place. In the same time, everyone can agree that it is only natural for people to seek each other’s presence, at least from time to time, so the office spaces, transformed into more flexible and tech welcoming spaces remain the most suitable for people to make the best use of the available facilities, the collaborative spaces flexible, adjustable, tech-centered and fast responding to their needs.
SUSTAINABLE WORKING PRACTICES & OFFICES
The sustainability aspects reflected at all levels of working saw some major developing trends and increase in the necessity for people communities to address it in the most serious manner. Understanding and reducing the impact of work and actions on the environment transformed industries, work visions and strategies and not the least, people’s lives. Romania has a National Strategy on the circular economy, committing to create and implement circular processes that reduce wastage and encourage recycling and re-use of resources. The ESG metrics are at the forefront of the business agenda made companies to initiate change and improve their sustainability goals. Hence, the workplace is the first promotion to implement green aspects related to environment, wellbeing, health, security and flexibility, recycling, green building standards (green construction or sustainable building), social value and net-zero targets. The offices remain the companies’ first tangible setting for showcasing green and sustainable norms and values.
WELCOMING THE NEW COLEAGUE, THE GENERATIVE AI
This is the big one in all sectors and industries and workplaces are the concrete representation of people-jobs representation, even if now it is not anymore defined by a certain desk. But there is a certainty that cannot be avoided and linger around anymore, that of AI. A popular line is saying that AI won’t replace jobs – but people who can use AI will replace people who can’t. Generative AI tools are quickly evolving to the point where they offer solutions that can increase efficiency in just about any task or line of work. The purpose of AI is to make things better (if not best), faster, easier and cost-effective and the role of people is to intervene in the process with the only human-based skills and particularities. There are businesses more based on tech, of course, but there will always be aspects in all businesses enabled only by people’s minds and hands.
A PLACE FOR PEOPLE
Employee and customer experience is key to developing lifelong relationships and generating recurring business. In the companies, from a HR perspective, the employee experience is something that can make the difference between leaving or staying. The concept of employee experience refers to wider understanding of aspects such as work/life balance, wellness, mind welfare, work/intellectual fatigue, tech fatigue, burnout, besides personal growth and development or work purpose fulfilment. People as human resources in work processes are becoming more complicated and challenging to address from a cold managerial perspective as the barriers of personal /workspaces vanished and transformed in interchanging spaces and personal approaches. However, companies and businesses are cold constructions that need structure and a clear frame to function and, in this context, managers and leaders of companies have to step in and look closely to the needs and expectations of their teams and grind them to the business agenda.
