BONSAI’S Hybrid Work Environment
It's no mystery that working looks a lot different these days than it did 3 years ago. Flashback to 2019, BONSAI was operating in a traditional office setting with our team coming in every day to work in person. Then, come Spring of 2020, we were mandated to close our office and had no choice but to adapt to our new reality. We implemented a VPS (virtual private server), staff were set up with laptops, and Google Meets became our space for collaboration and client interactions.
Flash forward to present day and we've successfully maintained a primarily virtual work environment for the last 2 years. However, we have been shifting again to a hybrid format that can make the most of both virtual/digital platforms, and in-person efforts. Architecture and construction are both highly collaborative fields that necessitate interaction with co-workers and clients. As such, we are very excited to have a new office space in the works to better facilitate in-person working days.
Even with a new office, however, virtual work isn't going anywhere. If anything, we've been witness to just how many benefits the digital workspace can have. For one, it allows for employees to work from anywhere so whether traveling, in the midst of a snow day, or simply needing a change of scenery to a local coffee shop; our team can plug in and get work done wherever there's wifi. There's also the added benefit of saving on gas from less commuting and maximized time with our pets! They have really been soaking up all the extra attention.
Another positive aspect to having a strong virtual workspace is the ability to interact with our clients more freely as meetings can occur online. We decided to make Google Meets our platform of choice because of its intuitive qualities and lack of download requirements. With these capabilities BONSAI can take on and maintain contact with clients from virtually anywhere, even outside of Colorado. We have even begun looking into VR technology and Metaverse spaces to further enhance the design experience for clients.
It wouldn't be fair to only touch on the positive aspects of virtual work when there are definitely some cons. Most prominently is the lack of human connection. Sure, we have the platforms to facilitate this online, but there is no true replacement for human-to-human interaction. There is also the reality that technology is not a failsafe and often there are hiccups with these virtual platforms and digital communications.
As we look to the future, we are excited about the potential for our hybrid-based work environment and finding the balance between virtual and physical capabilities.
