Customer CASE STUDY
How Banc de Sabadell is transforming workplace culture to reduce project execution time
Banc de Sabadell, one of Spain’s leading banks, has its headquarters in Sant Cugat del Vallès on the outskirts of Barcelona. The headquarters accommodates 2,000 employees, but the maximum occupancy is 1,500 people. The Sabadell headquarters earned gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for buildings as a global recognition of the sustainability of the building.
Banc de Sabadell is on a mission to foster a new work culture centred around increased collaboration. The aim is to reduce project execution time by improving project collaboration across the organisation. Creating work environments that promote flexibility and collaboration among employees is essential in this transformation. To achieve this, space is a key tool for the Human Resources and Facility Management departments. "Good space distribution can help change ways of working," says Carlos Clua, Director of General Services.
Shorten project time as a very tangible ROI
How data supports change management and workplace transformation
To initiate this work culture shift, Banc de Sabadell is piloting a new office design on one floor of its five-story headquarters. The traditional office layout provided 1.15 desks per employee and bookable meeting rooms. This model is being replaced by a 0.7 model offering 0.7 desks per employee and includes 39 rooms and areas of varying sizes designed for collaboration. Only a few of these rooms can be booked. Transparency is a key feature, with all meeting rooms featuring semi-transparent walls.
The installation of Ubiqisense sensors enables the real-time collection of workplace occupancy data. The data provides invaluable insights into how spaces are used and allows Banc de Sabadell to monitor and analyse occupancy patterns continuously in order to optimise the workspace for maximum efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Integrating occupancy insights is a key step toward building a dynamic, adaptable, and employee-centric workplace that aligns with modern corporate values. More importantly, it supports the change management pilot project to foster a more collaborative work culture and shorten project time as a very tangible ROI.
The data helps Banc de Sabadell:
Identify popular or underused spaces, leading to informed decisions about workspace adjustments
Enable employees to follow the occupancy rates live and find available spaces faster
Reduce project execution time and cost
Support the main goals towards increased collaboration, efficiency, and sustainability
Live and consolidated workplace occupancy data enables adaptation to workforce need
This occupancy data is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the new office design and supporting the ongoing work culture transformation. By analysing which spaces are most frequently used and how employees navigate the building, Banc de Sabadell can make targeted improvements to enhance the work environment and achieve its ultimate goal: reducing project execution time.
To facilitate the transition, an employee ambassador program has been created. A group of 10-15 ambassadors has been trained to champion the project and encourage new ways of working.
The ambassadors help mitigate initial resistance, ensuring a smooth transition to the absence of fixed workspaces and the innovative use of collaboration zones. The positive feedback from employees, who now experience less stress over meeting room availability and the benefits of various collaborative spaces, serves as a proof of concept of these initiatives. The result is a dynamic, engaging work environment that significantly enhances employee morale and satisfaction.
This data-driven approach ensures that the headquarters is not only efficient but also adaptable to the evolving needs of its workforce. The HR and Facilities teams can balance cost and usability, ensuring that the new workspace design aligns with key project goals: fostering collaboration, enhancing efficiency, and promoting sustainability.
