In recent years, SAP has been providing numerous businesses of varying sizes and in a wide range of industries with the innovative solutions they need to weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as prosper and speed up their digital transformations. Even more so than usual, the German enterprise software giant is committed internally to ensuring the wellbeing and health of its employees and to making their lives easier to handle.

Multiple SAP locations in the Asia Pacific region have already adopted the hybrid workplace design dubbed “Pledge to Flex” since the introduction of the fully flexible and trust-based workplace framework in June 2021. These locations include SAP Thailand, SAP Southeast Asia (SAP SEA) in Singapore, SAP Labs India, and SAP Malaysia. In addition to the opening of its new headquarters in Otemachi, Tokyo, SAP Japan also recently announced that it will be embracing the IT giant’s modern workplace concept there as well. (InsideSAP Asia often references articles from websites in other languages to bring you as much information as possible.)

Moreover, the “Pledge to Flex” structure creates a culture of trust among employees worldwide, allowing them to be more adaptable in their work schedules in order to meet the demands of customers and business partners. SAP’s goal is to protect employees’ safety and wellbeing, boost morale, and encourage top performance by giving them the freedom to pick the work arrangement that fits best for them.

Explaining that the “Pledge to Flex” initiative based on the concept of “flex location, flex time, and flex workplace,” Hiroshi Suzuki, President and Chief Executive Officer at SAP Japan, further shared in a statement: (InsideSAP Asia often references articles from websites in other languages to bring you as much information as possible.)

“Our company has been implementing complete remote work since February 2020, but in the future, we will continue to encourage employees to freely enjoy both the benefits of remote work and the benefits of working in the office. We will make it possible to combine them.”

SAP Operations in Japan: An Embodiment of Flexible Workspace

The newly opened office will serve as a campus for the SAP Experience Center and Inspired.Lab, both of which are already located in Otemachi, to speed up innovation and engagement with customers and partner firms. SAP’s Experience Center is where visitors can learn more about SAP’s products and services, while the Lab is where established enterprises can test out new ideas and find ways to reinvent themselves. Ultimately, the new building will serve as a hub for teamwork among employees, clients, and affiliated businesses.

According to SAP Japan Office Project Manager Ryosuke Urita, the company intends to create an office that stimulates the curiosity of workers by evolving according to the needs of users, without fixing the design and layout. 

“In terms of supporting well-being, we will provide free drinks and snacks, install exercise equipment so that our employees can exercise their bodies, and prepare a breastfeeding room for our diverse employees. We try to play it in various places,” he added.

To facilitate interaction among workers, a “Workplace Ambassador” has been put in charge. Community management and event preparation are two of its functions, and they both contribute to the larger goal of fostering interaction among the company’s staff, customers, and corporate partners. 

Additionally, SAP Japan also unveiled its first-ever original application that allows users to look for coworkers who are currently at work. The program called “SAP FlexConnect” allows users to track down coworkers, compare methods of working, and plot everyone’s whereabouts on a map.

“By making full use of these three facilities, which are within walking distance, we aim not only to maximize the value we provide to our customers, but also to create a new ecosystem,” Urita concluded.

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The office transformation in SAP Singapore came after a survey revealed that 88{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of employees spend less than half of their day at their workstations. This data, which is based on a utilisation study, influenced how the tech giant redesigned its very first hybrid office in South East Asia (SEA). Teaming up with ChangeWorq, an independent workplace strategy and change management consultancy, the project is aimed at boosting social interaction, increasing employee engagement, and fostering team collaboration.

Paul Marriott, President at SAP APJ, said that navigating the reality of hybrid work has taught leaders new approaches to focus on improving employee well-being and workplace conditions. He further explained in a LinkedIn post:

“When planning the space, we put our people first. The new office includes flexible spaces for active team collaboration, focused work, or downtime and is all about empowering our people to choose where to work and when.”

“As we slowly emerge from pandemic restrictions, I’m excited to see how this new hybrid and sustainable workspace inspires our employees to approach their work and personal lives in new ways,” he added.

Boosting Employee Experience in the SAP Workplace

Moreover, the new office in SAP Singapore is in line with the organisation’s Pledge to Flex initiative which was introduced in June. Pledge to Flex is a 100{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} flexible and trust-based global framework intended to support employees’ productivity and creativity, while at the same time, meeting business requirements and running operations responsibly.

Verena Siow, President and Managing Director at SAP SEA, shared in the press release:

“Coming into the workplace is no longer about the physical amenities, it is about the employee experience which revolves around the 3Es – employee engagement, environment, and education. Engagement means offering the best career experience to our employees through our diversity and inclusion initiatives where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Centered on improving employee experience, the workplace now provides flexible spaces so people may choose the best location for their activities. Additionally, SAP also wants its remodeled office to facilitate in-person activities such as collaboration, brainstorming, and social interaction, which are absent when employees work from their own homes.

SAP SEA also advocates for mental health in the workplace through relaxation facilities and programs like Focus Friday. Throughout the year, the local employee engagement committees arrange a variety of in-person and digital initiatives to improve the physical, emotional, and social wellness of all employees and their families.

Reinforcing Sustainability at the New Hybrid SAP Office in SEA

On the other hand, Siow also stressed that the climate crisis necessitates collective action. She noted that protecting the environment is a crucial aspect where organisations can unite employees by implementing sustainable practices and reducing carbon footprint. In support of the Singapore Green Plan — a national push to promote the country’s climate agenda and attain net-zero emissions as soon as possible — the German enterprise software giant also dedicated 5{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of the total area of its office space to greeneries and eco-friendly technologies such as energy-efficient LED lights.

To emphasise its commitment to sustainability, SAP has also established a new SAP Sustainability Center within the SAP Experience Center where customers and partners collaborate through hands-on demonstrations that leverage technology to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“In addition, empowering our employees for the future of work with digital skills and competencies in growing areas of demand such as data analytics and AI in the Fourth Industrial Revolution helps them thrive as their jobs evolve,” Siow stated.

Last month, SAP partnered with SkillsFuture Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic to advance the skills of mid-career professionals for the future of work. Under the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme-Company Training (SGUP-CT), SAP and Temasek Polytechnic launched four new SAP courses focused on developing market-relevant skills to improve the employability of 370 mid-career job seekers.

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