Zoom has opened a new London Engagement Hub this week, comprising an innovative space integrated with Zoom technology.
The new space is designed to move away from traditional offices to experience and collaboration-focused working hubs to support the demand for remote and hybrid working practices. The space caters to the unconventional and individualised work experiences that have evolved as hybrid working has become the new normal for most businesses.
"The world of modern work has changed," observed Phil Perry, Head of UK & Ireland at Zoom. "Both employers and employees have experienced the benefits of a more flexible approach to work and want to use technologies like Zoom to maintain them. The organisations that best adapt to these changes and optimise the benefits of technology and flexible working while maximising the times that teams spend face to face will be those that succeed commercially in the race for the best talent."
The new building is a multi-use cohesive hub with built-in Zoom technology, offering a collaborative space where Zoom's 200+ UK employees can discuss and share ideas while honing a sense of community across the global Zoom network.
The ambition behind the project was to realise Zoom's broader workplace strategy in the real world, offering specially designed optimal working spaces for employees who live close to the office to collaborate in person on designated team days.
Perry said:
We have totally re-imagined our London HQ for the modern, digitally connected age. We are confident the state of the art design, underpinned by the full suite of Zoom technologies, will make it the perfect place for our teams to come together to do their best work on some days, while being optimised for hybrid and remote interactions leveraging the full power of the Zoom platform on other days."
The London Engagement Hub encompasses 75 work points, varying in design and structure to support a holistic range of employee needs and preferences. There are library-style benches, touchdown spaces, agile tables for collaboration, and traditional desks. Workers can book these facilities via Zoom’s workspace reservation tool. This all-in-one solution allows its employees to plan their workday in the office.
Each meeting room comes with the latest Zoom Rooms technology along with digital signage to encourage collaboration and customisation in any space. This in-built technology ensures meetings are frictionless regardless of what devices employees are working from.
Even for orthodox in-office roles, such as receptionist, Zoom’s Virtual Kiosk means they can manage the office remotely, with tasks including greeting guests and handling admin, so every employee can work to the best of their ability from anywhere.
To foster in-person colleague cooperation, the Engagement Hub also has creative furniture, community areas, and formal gathering spaces laid out, as well as designated quiet areas for calls.
Zoom's commitment to sustainability is illustrated by its new London office receiving the LEED certification, a globally recognized marker of sustainability achievement.
Zoom Hints at Intelligent Director Launch
UC Today was treated to a full tour of the London facility this week, including hands-on access to workspaces and meeting room technology. Ben Neo, Head of Customer Experience UK&I, revealed Zoom's latest AI tool Intelligent Director. The AI is designed to help create equitable experiences between remote and in-room participants and offers features such as customisable layouts, in-tile framing, meeting summaries with time stamps and action points.
Intelligent Director is currently in beta but is expected to be rolled out this September.
Zoom Requesting Staff Return to Office Two Days a Week
Zoom has asked staff to come into the office two days a week.
