Scotland
AAB
360 Workplace case study
Slough
Hitachi Digital
The Brief
When Hitachi Digital started on this journey, their initial objective was to develop a Standardised Workplace Strategy for their EMEA region.
As the project evolved, it became clear that this approach could deliver even greater value if expanded globally. With offices of varying sizes and scopes worldwide, Hitachi Digital sought to streamline their workplace transformation, moving away from the distributed design standards with a unified global strategy. This collaboration quickly evolved into a portfolio optimisation initiative, designed to align Hitachi Digital’s real estate decisions with its core values of harmony, sincerity, and pioneering spirit
About:
Workplace Strategy, Workplace Technology
What We Did
To achieve their vision, we collaborated closely with Hitachi Digital’steams through a series of tailored workshops. By engaging with department heads across HR, security, and operations, we gained a comprehensive understanding of their unique requirements. This process resulted in two key deliverables: a bespoke design standards playbook and an innovative space calculator.
The Design Standards Playbook served as a comprehensive toolkit for planning and executing workplace projects. It outlines Hitachi’s values, project guidelines, a detailed process for defining and delivering workplace solutions, as well as outlining their ideal workplace experience. This playbook also contains the requirements for each space typologies, such as key components, technology and ideal set up. This resource empowers local teams to align with a global standard while highlighting opportunities for regional nuances.
The Hitachi Digital Space Calculator complemented the playbook as a dynamic tool to guide space planning. By inputting metrics such as headcount, anticipated growth, and working ratios, the calculator recommends space typologies and quantities tailored to the needs of each location. This ensures optimal space utilisation, balancing efficiency with the diverse working styles of Hitachi Digital’s teams worldwide.
We presented these tools to Hitachi Digital through interactive sessions, ensuring teams across regions understood how to apply them effectively. Despite the complexities of navigating a lengthy business case approval process and adapting to varied project delivery timelines, our collaborative approach ensured successful implementation.
The Outcome
Hitachi Digital now benefits from a standardised workplace strategy that aligns with their global vision while allowing for local adaptability. Their teams are equipped with the resources to make informed decisions about space requirements, resulting in significant cost savings and enhanced operational efficiency. With a clear roadmap for their workplaces, Hitachi Digital is positioned to pioneer a consistent and forward-thinking approach to their global real estate.
This project highlights the power of strategy-driven design and collaboration, showcasing how tools like the playbook and space calculator can transform workplace operations on a global scale.