Since the pandemic disrupted the world almost two years ago, SAP has been one of the global companies in the foreground of workplace transformation supporting the survival and success of organisations while ensuring the wellness, health, and safety of the workforce through intelligent technologies and services. Internally, the enterprise software giant has also seamlessly adapted to the new world of work since it has been supportive of a location-agnostic work model for decades now. 

Under the COVID-19 environment, SAP solidified its advocacy on remote working by implementing Pledge to Flex in June, a 100{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} flexible and trust-based global framework where people can work from home, at the office, or remotely to support employees’ productivity and creativity as well as meet business requirements during these dynamic times. Most recently and in addition to the company’s initiatives on hybrid working, the SAP Southeast Asia office in Singapore has been completely redesigned to adapt to today’s new workspace and workforce requirements.

SAP Labs in India Redesigning Workspace

Echoing SAP SEA’s new hybrid workplace design, SAP Labs India, the largest Research and Development center outside SAP’s Germany head office, has also transformed its iconic building BLR01 on the Bangalore campus. In an article written by Sindhu Gangadharan MD, SAP Labs India & SVP, SAP User Enablement, she shared how SAP’s new and the first hybrid office in India covered several key design considerations for a sustainable hybrid workplace that would further enhance the employee experience. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic represents an inflection point that will significantly re-shape the future of work over the next five years – and likely beyond. At SAP Labs India, we are proud to lead this change and eager to learn more to create an employee-centered experience for an inclusive global workforce,” she said.

Open Office Layout

Taking into account the results of SAP’s internal findings that a resounding majority (88{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22}) of its employees spend less than 50{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of the day at their desks, SAP Labs India’s BLR01 hybrid office now has conferences that are not entirely walled. The office has also covered the remote work collaboration needs with high-tech communication tools.

Collaborative Spaces

The office design is comprised of three primary courtyards that incorporate social spaces and pocket meeting areas that offer flexibility according to employees’ engagement needs.

Health and Wellness Areas

The pandemic has amplified the need for work-life balance as well as health and overall wellness. SAP’s new office design incorporated open fitness areas located around the office to encourage employees to do a quick workout or stretch after long hours of working.

Sustainability Driven

In relation to SAP’s ambitious global goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2023, SAP Labs India currently runs 95{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of its campus operations, including BLR01, on renewable energy, specifically from green energy sources. The hybrid workspace utilises an onsite solar power grid along with Power over Ethernet (PoE) lighting systems and 70{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of the company’s fleet is powered by EV. The newly redesigned campus has placed EV charging stations to encourage employees to embed sustainability in their daily activities.

Expressing appreciation for the new hybrid office, Sudhansu Mohanty, DevOps Tech Lead at SAP Labs India, wrote on LinkedIn: 

“An office building like none other. SAP Labs India renovates their oldest building in Bangalore to welcome colleagues to work in a new hybrid model. The office space is almost like a 5-Star resort!!! Amazing SAP!”

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The recently held 2021 HR Asia Awards, streamed live on the HR Asia website on 16 November 2021, recognised SAP Thailand, a subsidiary of SAP, as one of the Best Companies to Work for in Asia– the company’s second consecutive recognition. The awards ceremony, held annually in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the UAE, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, recognises organisations that have demonstrated best people practices and employee engagement, outstanding working conditions, and excellent workplace culture. SAP partners DXC Technology and Microsoft in Thailand were also given the HR Asia Award.

The HR Asia Awards received by SAP Thailand is a reflection of SAP’s commitment to continuously enhance employee experiences and engagements worldwide. Having an extensive track record as an employer of choice and an advocate of inclusion and flexibility at workplace, SAP has received a total of 114 employer awards globally in 2021, including Best Workplaces for Millennials by Fortune, Best Workplaces for Giving Back by Great Place to Work, Asia’s Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work and 100 Best Big Companies to Work for by Fortune.

SAP Indochina Managing Director Atul Tuli said:

“Trust, Flexibility, and Inclusivity are becoming fundamental aspects for organisations as they redesign and revisit their work policies to address employee feedback and improve their people journey. The human resources function needs to be repositioned into a people power affair where employee experience and human experience management are key factors to a company’s success.”

Flexibility at Workplace

Under the pandemic background, SAP has swiftly adapted to the unprecedented needs of the workforce, from developing new solutions to implementing a new flexible and trust-based framework worldwide. 

In June, SAP pledged to a 100{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} flexible and trust-based global framework designed to support employees’ productivity, creativity, and inspiration while running the business responsibly and meeting business requirements. This backs the company’s recent surveys showing that over 80{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of SAP employees want a mix of working from home or remote with some time in the office. This initiative aims to provide an inclusive environment that gives people the freedom to choose where to work as well as to achieve inspiring office designs tailored for creativity, collaboration, community, and focused work.

“Our Pledge to Flex model is flexible, trust-based, and powered by our intelligent technologies and will revolutionise how we work,” Tuli stated.

Usa Kongthawornwong, HR Business Partner, SAP Indochina, explained that SAP strongly believes in the potential of technology in Thailand and adopting the new work structure means preparing the country’s workforce to ensure business continuity.

“With Pledge to Flex, employees will able to work remotely, in the office, or a combination of both, and have flexible work schedules. Inspirational office design is tailored to creativity, collaboration, community, and focused work, enabling employees to find the right space for every task. Sustainability and health are prioritised for all office buildings,” Usa stressed.

“The award is yet another milestone on our journey of putting people first,” Usa added. “As we introduce Pledge to Flex, we want to create a more flexible and inclusive work environment grounded in a trust-based workplace that encourages employees to be the best of themselves and provides a safe place for them.”

Leveraging Technology to Enhance the Employee Experience

SAP recognises the need to enhance employee experience framework all-encompassing hybrid workplace and ensuring talent recognition and retention. Several solutions launched this year to HR for the post-pandemic era include Qualtrics Experience Design for Hybrid Work and Workplaces, Concur Experience Optimizer, RISE with SAP for Human Experience Management, and SAP SuccessFactors Opportunity Marketplace.

Tuli explained that today’s digital native employees expect a fully digitalised HR processes and technology is the ultimate lever to help organisations achieve a flexible work model that the workforce need. Tuli detailed: 

“We use Qualtrics software to understand their feedback and SAP Success Factors software to create a better employee experience. At the same time, the HR back-office needs to leverage a connected Cloud HR platform that can be easily extended by intelligent technologies, such as robotic process automation, machine learning, and cognitive agents to achieve operational efficiency and drive down the cost of operations while delivering consumer-grade HR services at scale with a human touch.”

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