May 28, 2025
Boost Workplace Engagement in Every Space with Immersive Tech
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When your meeting rooms and collaboration platforms empower people to do their best work, everyone wins.
Attracting and retaining top talent has become one of the most pressing challenges for today’s employers. While flexible work options are no longer a perk, but an expectation, many companies are also trying to bring employees back to the office, at least a few days a week, to foster collaboration, innovation, and a strong culture. In fact, CBRE’s 2024-2025 Global Workplace & Occupancy Insights survey reported that 92 percent of companies responding said they now require employees to spend some time on site.
The Balancing Act
It appears that employers want teams to return to the office, while employees are reluctant to relinquish the flexibility of working from anywhere. The result? The compromise of the new modern workplace. Hybrid models enable individuals to split their time between home and the office, often tailoring their schedules to accommodate family obligations, personal well-being, and productivity peaks. This added control over how and where they work leads to significant improvements in work-life balance.
Flexibility also empowers employees to work when and where they’re most focused and efficient. Many professionals find they are more productive at home during heads-down tasks and more energized by face-to-face collaboration in the office. Hybrid work enables a rhythm that balances deep focus with social interaction, leading to improved performance and a more sustainable work pace.
For employers, offering hybrid schedules isn’t just about employee perks. It’s a strategic move to attract and retain top talent. Workers who experience better balance are more engaged, loyal, and motivated. Conversely, you risk losing valued team members if you don’t offer remote work options. A recent Pew Research survey of people who can work remotely stated, “Nearly half of workers in this group (46%) say that if their employer no longer allowed them to work from home, they would be unlikely to stay at their current job.”
How IT leaders help solve talent challenges
This delicate balance of flexibility and in-person engagement puts pressure on IT leaders to create a smart workplace that employees actually want to return to. And the key to making that happen? Delivering seamless, frustration-free experiences through intelligent meeting room technology and unified communications platforms like Microsoft Teams.
Unified communications platforms tie everything together. When chat, calls, file sharing, and meetings happen in one integrated space like Microsoft Teams, employees stay connected and productive no matter where they work. Add AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, and tasks like meeting recaps, follow-ups, and data retrieval become faster and easier. This automation helps your teams spend less time managing technology and more time doing meaningful work.
For IT leaders, these tools not only improve the employee experience but also reduce support tickets, simplify device management, and increase adoption of Microsoft 365 tools. The result is a more agile, smart workplace that supports business goals and enhances job satisfaction. If your organization is looking to boost its talent strategy and make the office a destination, now’s the time to invest in technology that makes your employees’ lives easier.
Microsoft solutions work together to create a smart, seamless workplace
Discover how Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Microsoft Places work together to deliver an end-to-end smart workplace solution that empowers both employees and IT teams. Download the AVI-SPL eBook, “Microsoft and the Evolution of the Smart Workplace,” to get started.
