Behold the workplace of tomorrow

With an array of things that need to be inculcated to cater to enhanced productivity, changing millennial mindsets and ensuring the happiness of employees at the workplace, Neetish Sarda, Founder, Smartworks, details why the workplace is no longer meant only for business activities and is convinced that an idyllic workspace has a direct correlation with productivity. Neetish admits he was also inspired by a playschool in Singapore to reinvent Indian workplaces

How has the workplace of today changed?

There is a huge shift in workplaces today from how they used to be a couple of years back. Every aspect of the work environment demands a different attention-be it technology, social atmosphere, design element or other amenities at work. Disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning are being embraced by new-age offices increasingly.

To maintain work-life balance, workplaces have started incorporating facilities like gyms, creche, recreational activities like concerts, comedy fests etc. for ensuring a better professional as well as personal life for employees. Employee wellness and healthcare workshops are encouraged in offices today along with making healthy options of food available to employees in office premises. Counseling options, chair yoga, therapies are also some of the initiatives that help.

How would you define the office of the future?

The role of ML, IoT and AI will increase manifold in the establishment of futuristic offices and determining the design elements of such workspaces. Collaboration and community will continue to play a crucial role in workspaces. It can’t be stressed enough how important these two aspects play in increasing efficiency of businesses across industries. Flexibility and the need to accommodate as per millennial aspirations also become key. The traditional workspace or even a mindset that is conventional will not come into play any longer.

Do you think it is a time of profound change in how design supports work in all its varied forms?

An office-goer spends approx. 8-9 hours at work on a daily basis and hence it only makes sense to create an office space where they feel comfortable and relaxed. From layout, workspaces, corridors, open and closed spaces, conference rooms, staircases, elevators, walls to even bathrooms can go a long way in motivating employees to give their best or demotivating them if it’s just another boxy office. Indeed, where you work matters a lot. An office should be a place where an employee feels relaxed and not cramped as it affects the mood which in turn leads to dissatisfaction at work.

Could you explain how companies can design work environments to connect and engage their people and draw top talent and retain them?

One should always look for a co-working space that improves employee engagement through its design and work culture. Studies show that exposing employees to a workspace that provides flexibility, transparency, recognition, etc. enhances productivity and creates more value for the business. No wonder multinational organisations abroad are proactively using new-age upcoming co-working spaces to boost the productivity of their employees.

Community, collaboration, connection are essential for the growth of employees and growth of the company. So a new-age office that is designed in such a way that people can connect and share ideas in a setting that seems natural and relaxed is optimum. The work stations, meeting rooms should help increase engagement without creating a disturbance.

Do you think HR departments are helping to humanise their workplace and positively impact employees?

Traditionally, businesses have shown concern only towards productivity and profitability at workplaces. But today, the dynamics are certainly changing and HR departments are undoubtedly bringing that innovation across industries. Some of the best practices by HR departments in their efforts to make workplaces more impactful primarily include equality and diversity at the workplace, encourage transparency and flexibility and autonomy at work.

Is it true that you were inspired to reinvent workspaces in India after visiting your sister’s playschool in Singapore?

Yes, two seminal moments in my career (exposure to modern workspaces in US/Singapore vs. setup in India and playschool in Singapore) inspired me to reinvent workspaces in India driven by the simple motto: how can I make going to office fun and engaging again? Exposure to future workspaces and high employee engagement levels in the US and Singapore across offices like LinkedIn, Microsoft, Google made me evaluate the current status quo at my father’s office in Kolkata and India in general. It made me think why is a delightful office experience inaccessible and costly, available only to elite organisations? My visits to traditional offices across India-poor aesthetic design, low employee energy levels, limited flexibility, dysfunctional employee culture-reinforced the belief that commercial office space needs to be disrupted.

Analogously, while visiting my sister’s playschool in Singapore, I was amused to see how much children looked forward to come to school and enjoy the entire experience (activities, community, food, events) and it made me ponder, can we not replicate a similar experience for employees who actually start looking forward to come to office everyday.

"Community, collaboration, connection are essential for the growth of employees and growth of the company. So a new-age office that is designed in such a way that people can connect and share ideas"

If you were to design the best company on the planet to work for, what would it be like?

My dream was to disrupt traditional work culture in India by offering a superior office experience and a thriving culture that promotes high employee engagement. In April 2016, this dream came true and Smartworks was born. Smartworks isn’t just an office space, it is an experience. We are building inspiring workspaces where going to office becomes fun again. We are really getting valued for the office experience and culture we are bringing to the table to make employees more productive and reduce the attrition rate.

Indian companies still look like they did 20 years ago. What are the reasons for such a state of affairs?

It is true that traditional office space and business centers in India have seen limited innovation in the last decade. Moreover, these spaces are not completely in sync with the aspirations of the millennial workforce who exposed to the shared economy, modern consumerism and Western practices want a radically new office experience. The reasons could be many starting from high upfront capex requirement, lack of collaboration/community, limited focus on overall office experience to non-adaptive to technology and much more.

How is Smartworks challenging the status quo among most traditional offices?

Businesses of today are all about breaking the traditional hackneyed patterns and looking towards reshaping the future afresh. With this in mind, we envisioned Smartworks, to bring the global phenomenon of futuristic workspace design to India as the need to be a new-age office, has become a necessity more than a choice. We are set out to change how Indians perceive offices.

Have you faced serious crises and what have you learnt from that?

At the start of our journey, we focused mostly on startups and freelancers as they were seekers of coworking solutions. However, over time, we realised that in order to truly revolutionize the way offices function in India, we would need to cater to the MNCs. One of the hurdles faced by us was challenging the preconceived notions of MNCs and Indian enterprise giants, who were reluctant to leave their comfort zones and trust a coworking space with their operations. We focused on not just providing an office space, but a holistic experience.

When it comes to corporate culture and customer experience, what advice would you offer to business leaders?

Customer centricity is the prime focus for all businesses today. In today’s competitive business environment, it is important to understand customer needs first before offering any solution. A positive experience can result in repeat and loyal customer and therefore a robust strategy must be put in place to ensure customer delight. It is also important to focus on the customer perspective and the journey of the end consumer. In the case of co-working spaces, the client feedback is extremely important.

Prior to your entrepreneurial journey, where were you?

I passed out from G.D. Goenka School and pursued my graduation from Purdue University, Indiana. My professional career began with a very rewarding stint with Vision Comptech Integrators Ltd. as their Director of Business Development. I also dabbled in my family business, overseeing the group’s divisions of manufacturing and real estate.

What are you really into outside of work?

Family accounts for a lot of my time but I also ensure I take time out for books, music, podcasts and think of ideas on how can I further bring in innovation at Smartworks. I love travelling, so in case if am not doing any of the above, I am out to someplace, learning new cultures, seeing new places and picking up the best practices. I like learning beyond the conventional forms of education. I also hold an interest in sports like cricket and squash.