83% of the global workforce now say they prefer a hybrid work model over either fully on-site or fully remote work. However, for some companies, hybrid working has led to a two-tier employee experience. To retain top talent and maintain high productivity, it’s essential to ensure that both on-site and remote employees have a seamless and consistent experience.
Technology plays a crucial role in enabling hybrid work, but the wrong tools can hinder productivity rather than support it. In this post, we’ll explore best practices for building a thriving workplace and highlight the key technologies needed for a successful hybrid work strategy. Gallup found that six in 10 employees with remote-capable jobs prefer a hybrid work arrangement, while fewer than 10% favor fully on-site work. This highlights the importance of aligning workplace technology and policies with employee expectations.
Keep reading to learn how to build a more effective and productive hybrid work strategy.
How to Prioritize the Employee Experience in Your Hybrid Work Strategy
Research has found that employees benefit from hybrid working when they can collaborate face-to-face with colleagues while also having the flexibility to work productively from any location.
A successful hybrid workplace does not prioritize remote employees at the expense of the in-office experience, or vice versa. Instead, the goal is to seamlessly connect both environments across multiple channels.
A 2024 Nature randomized controlled trial of 1,612 employees found that a hybrid schedule with two days working from home improved job satisfaction, reduced quit rates by one-third, and did not harm performance or promotion outcomes.
Consider what employees need when deciding whether to come into the office. For example, they may want to know which colleagues will be on-site, how much desk space is available, and whether meeting rooms are available for collaboration.
Encouraging productivity in a hybrid environment means giving employees the information they need to make informed decisions about when and where they work. McKinsey found that 87% of surveyed employees said they would be more productive if they could work their preferred number of days from home rather than being required to work in the office five days a week.
Removing Barriers to Productivity in Your Hybrid Work Environment
A successful hybrid workplace requires employees to be equally productive at home and in the office. Research from the OECD shows that hybrid work can maintain or improve productivity when employees are properly equipped in both environments. While your office may be outfitted with state-of-the-art furnishings and technology, it’s just as important not to neglect employees’ individual workspaces at home.
In a hybrid work environment, no one should be forced to work fully on-site due to a lack of technology or resources. Consider offering an equipment allowance that employees can use for items such as an ergonomic desk chair or a second monitor to reduce strain. Poor home office ergonomics are linked to increased physical strain and reduced productivity, highlighting the importance of proper equipment.
It’s also important to consider the on-site experience. If your organization requires a minimum number of in-office days—such as two out of five—these should be coordinated to maximize face-to-face collaboration within teams.
For example, Sales and Marketing could align their office days on Monday and Wednesday, while HR and Finance come in on Tuesday and Thursday. Employees may still choose to work on-site outside of these days, but coordinated schedules help ensure meaningful in-person collaboration where it matters most.
To learn more, explore this guide on how to succeed with hybrid work.
Investing in the Right Tech for Your Hybrid Work Strategy
Workplace Management Software
At the heart of a successful hybrid work setup is efficient workplace management software. Your organization needs one centralized tool for desk booking and room booking, as well as an overview of who’s going to be in the office and when. CBRE reports that on peak attendance days, typically Tuesday and Wednesday, 74% of organizations see office utilization above 60%, while only 28% reach that level across the full week, showing why real-time booking and utilization data matter.
This means employees can easily access the space they need, and your organization’s leadership gains an important source of data for workplace planning. By leveraging workplace analytics, you might find there is always a high demand for desk space on Tuesdays. So you could convert a meeting room into a hot-desking area on that day.
Mobile-Ready Technology
Chances are, your employees are already accessing their most commonly used workplace productivity apps – Slack, Gmail, Zoom, Teams – from their phone. And while it’s important to encourage your team to snooze these apps outside of working hours, it’s useful to be able to access your work platforms on multiple devices.
To keep your hybrid workplace running smoothly, make sure your workplace management software is mobile-ready. With a mobile app, employees can quickly check if there’s a free desk in the office or book a meeting room from their commute.
For employees in the office who want to hold a meeting without laptops – for example, a sprint planning session or team retro – it’s easy to book a space instantly. They can use their mobile app to scan a meeting room’s QR code and book it out, ensuring they won’t be disturbed.
Make Meeting Rooms Work in a Hybrid Workplace
When employees come into the office, they expect the workplace to be efficient, predictable, and easy to navigate. Meeting room displays play a key role in delivering that experience by giving teams instant visibility into room availability and enabling on-the-spot bookings directly outside the room.
In hybrid workplaces, where demand for meeting rooms fluctuates throughout the week, this level of visibility becomes even more important. Peak office days often lead to high competition for meeting spaces, while other days see underutilized rooms. Meeting room displays help balance this by making availability transparent and encouraging better use of existing space.
They also support smarter workplace behaviors. Features like check-in, automatic release of unused rooms, and real-time status updates ensure that rooms don’t sit empty when they’re booked but not used. Over time, this leads to more accurate booking data and better decision-making around space planning.
Make Hybrid Work Work in Practice
Hybrid work is no longer just a policy decision—it’s a strategic one. Organizations that invest in the right tools and workplace experience are better positioned to attract and retain talent while improving productivity and space utilization.
Workplace technology such as room booking, desk booking and workplace analytics play a critical role in making hybrid work successful. By giving employees visibility into space availability and enabling seamless booking experiences, companies can create a workplace that works just as effectively as their teams do.
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