Insights
Author: Laura Morgan, Senior Facilities Manager
Across industries, businesses are still grappling with a common challenge: how to encourage employees back into the office; incentives or mandates? While flexible and hybrid working models will remain, there’s long been recognition that the physical workplace remains a vital tool for collaboration, connection, and culture.
But simply reopening the doors isn’t enough. To make the office a place people want to be, businesses need to reimagine the employee experience - and that’s where Facilities Management (FM) plays a critical role.
Elevating employee experience through facilities management
FM is no longer just about maintaining buildings, it’s about creating environments that enable people to do their best work. From the moment an employee decides to visit the office to the time they leave; FM teams shape that experience.
Technology is now central to that journey. As businesses progress with their workplace strategies, ‘experience technology’ has become the showpiece of modern workplace management and enables employers to communicate trust and empowerment.
Office space is the backdrop to company culture. By providing access, transparency and the power to influence your own environment, businesses can demonstrate on a practical level, that their employees matter and are trusted.
Connected workplaces, personalised experiences
Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) provide a seamless self-service point for employees. Synchronising with IoT and sensor technology, these platforms offer real-time information on:
But the real value lies in how they personalise the employee experience. With greater visibility of how the spaces are used, FM teams can deliver more predictive, tailored services, turning each office visit into a productive, enjoyable experience.
This isn’t tomorrow’s workplace - it’s happening right now. With FM technology, the everyday becomes effortless:
It’s in these seamless moments that a workplace truly comes alive - intuitive, efficient, and human at its core. A place where technology quietly works in the background, so people can shine in the foreground.
Balancing business and employee needs
As organisations encourage, or mandate office attendance, they must strike the right balance between operational needs and employee expectations. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach - success depends on combining:
When these elements work in harmony, the office becomes more than just a place to work - it becomes a destination that supports productivity, wellbeing, and connection.
The role of FM in workplace harmony
FM teams sit at the heart of this transformation. By leveraging data, technology, and human insight, they ensure that workplaces aren’t just operational, they’re optimised for experience and individual wellbeing.
At Macro, we help businesses design, manage, and enhance their workplaces to deliver exceptional employee experiences supporting not only the return to the office, but the ongoing success of your organisation.
Ready to reimagine your workplace? Contact us.
