PostNord transitioned from remote work to a hybrid working model with the help of Taitori’s door display
In the autumn of 2021, PostNord’s headquarters moved to the Tripla’s Workery West office complex in Pasila, as the old facilities in Vantaa no longer met the evolving needs of the company and its employees.
“Although the old facilities were quite nice, the transport links were poor, and there were hardly any nearby services. Then came COVID-19, which sent everyone home to work, leaving our office empty due to remote work recommendations. We thought it was the right time to let go of the old and find new, attractive spaces for our staff. We wanted an office that is easy to access, supports the new hybrid work model, and is a pleasant environment for welcoming clients and stakeholders. Naturally, we also wanted a space we could be proud of,” says Katja Luotola, Head of People and Communications at PostNord.
With the lifting of remote work recommendations, PostNord employees have returned to a new normal—a hybrid work model where remote and on-site work can be done flexibly.
“At the new headquarters, all workstations are flex spots, and not every employee has a dedicated workstation. Each team determines its own frequency for coming into the office. Needs vary according to personal circumstances; some come in every day, while others only once a month.”
The difference is radical compared to the old model, where remote work days could only occur once a week, more as an exception than the norm.
“We’ve been seeking a balance regarding what works for whom and what kind of flexibility is beneficial. Also, how much of a community and interactions with others are needed.
Currently, we encourage coming into the office about twice a week, but each team reflects on how best to operate. We are also training our managers to recognize the risks associated with remote work models. If personal contacts and collaboration with others decrease or if teamwork starts to falter, face-to-face meetings can help move things forward,” Luotola explains.
Taitori’s Doorway Displays bring easy and flexible hybrid work to PostNord’s headquarters
Following the move to the new headquarters, PostNord required many new devices, and Taitori was able to meet one clear need: user-friendly doorway displays. The headquarters serves approximately 120 PostNord employees, with 15 to 50 people working in the office daily.
The office has six meeting rooms, a larger open-plan area, a quiet space separated by glass walls, two bookable smaller rooms, and a Framery phone booth.
“We knew exactly what we wanted: easy-to-use doorway displays that immediately show the booking status of a room. And we wanted the devices to be integrated with our Outlook-based meeting room bookings. As we’ve returned to a new normal and are coming into the office regularly but irregularly, we wanted an easy and flexible way to utilize our spaces. It was essential for us that meeting rooms could also be booked on a whim. The ad hoc feature is absolutely crucial.
Often, we find ourselves booking a Teams meeting even when everyone is in the office. Now, instead of always going to Outlook, it can be quicker to head directly to the doorway display and book the meeting room right away,” Luotola says.
The doorway displays have been in use since autumn 2019 and have functioned well from the customer’s perspective:
“The devices have worked as we wanted, and the Outlook integration has been good for an organization of our size,” says Harri Parviainen, IT Specialist at PostNord.
“In general, we’ve been satisfied with the product; it has performed as promised and meets the need we had a clear vision of beforehand.”
“From a user perspective, I can definitely recommend it to other companies,” Luotola adds.
In conclusion, how does PostNord view the role and future of office spaces?
“For us, the new headquarters is primarily a meeting place. For some, it is a space where they can work more calmly and ergonomically, but for most, our new spaces serve as a meeting point where we schedule meetings, and when coming to the office, we have lunch together or hold coffee meetings.”
“We’ve noticed that when there are more people present, our meeting rooms are always booked—meaning that the time spent in the office clearly emphasizes collaboration.”
“Before the move, we also involved our employees and discussed these matters with a workplace professional in joint workshops. The spaces are for our employees, and we felt it was important to include them in the conversation.”
Thus, the office spaces are a place for collaboration and significantly impact the workplace atmosphere and employee well-being:
“Teams meetings often make it harder to connect with colleagues or discuss topics beyond work. Maintaining team spirit also requires informal chatting and interactions.
Additionally, engagement with the work community would be more challenging if people never met face-to-face. It is essential that we have spaces where people want to come, catering to our employees’ diverse current needs,” Luotola summarizes.
