Data-Driven Decisions: How Finance Leaders Are Transforming Workplaces with Real-Time Insights
VergeSense is the industry leader in providing enterprises with a true understanding of their occupancy and how their offices are actually being used.
In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, financial institutions are facing unprecedented challenges in managing their office spaces. As companies navigate the shift toward hybrid work models, the need for data-driven decision-making in real estate and workplace strategy has never been more critical. Leveraging real-time data not only helps in optimizing space utilization but also plays a vital role in enhancing employee satisfaction, reducing costs, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Financial leaders are increasingly turning to occupancy data to make informed decisions that align with both their business goals and employee needs. By understanding how spaces are used, these leaders can optimize their real estate portfolios, design spaces that foster collaboration and productivity, and streamline operations to achieve maximum efficiency. Two such leaders who have successfully harnessed the power of data in their workplace strategies are Mark Bell of Raymond James and Jason Finneran of Bread Financial.
Mark Bell: Optimizing Space Utilization
Mark Bell, VP of Corporate Real Estate and Mobility at Raymond James, faced a significant challenge when his company consolidated four smaller offices into a single, larger space on Park Avenue in New York City. With this consolidation, the need to efficiently utilize the new office space became a top priority.
To address this challenge, Bell and his team turned to occupancy intelligence. By leveraging data from VergeSense sensors and the Occupancy Intelligence platform, they were able to gain precise insights into how their space was being used. The data revealed that despite initial concerns about space shortages, the office was, in fact, underutilized in certain areas.
This insight allowed Bell and his team to make informed decisions, such as adding an additional floor to better accommodate the company’s needs while ensuring that all spaces were utilized to their full potential. This data-driven approach not only optimized space utilization but also improved the overall employee experience by reducing overcrowding and ensuring that the office environment was both functional and comfortable.
Jason Finneran: Tailoring Office Design to Employee Needs
Jason Finneran, Workplace Experience Specialist at Bread Financial, faced a different but equally challenging situation. As Bread Financial’s workplace evolved, Finneran was tasked with designing spaces that not only met the immediate needs of employees but also supported long-term collaboration and productivity.
To achieve this, Finneran utilized occupancy data to understand how different teams used the office space. By analyzing this data, he discovered that employees had varying needs for privacy and collaboration, which were not being fully met by the existing office layout. In response, Finneran and his team reimagined the office design by adding acoustical elements to collaboration spaces, adjusting the size of tables in cubicles, and repurposing larger conference rooms into more flexible work points. These changes were directly informed by occupancy data, ensuring that the new design was aligned with how employees actually worked. The result was a more dynamic and responsive workplace that supported diverse working styles and enhanced overall productivity.
Unlocking the Potential of Data-Driven Workplace Strategies
The experiences of Mark Bell and Jason Finneran underscore the importance of using data to drive real estate and workplace strategy decisions in the financial sector. By embracing occupancy intelligence, these leaders were able to transform their office environments to better meet the needs of their organizations and employees.
For financial institutions looking to navigate the complexities of modern workplace management, the key lies in leveraging data to make informed, strategic decisions. Whether it’s optimizing space utilization, designing collaborative environments, or streamlining operations, data-driven insights can provide the clarity needed to align office spaces with business goals.
Want to learn more about how occupancy intelligence can solve key challenges in the finance industry?