Akshay Lakhanpal, regional MD, Spacematrix

Spacematrix is a workplace specialist firm with a focus on incorporating identity, ethos and needs into unique working environment designed. Lakhanpal and Aildasani believe that if done well, workspace design can further an organisation’s business goals and reinforce its brand, culture and values.

Lakhanpal feels that sales, business or front offices must enhance sales through the design of their office. “The office itself acts as a canvas to superimpose the ‘touch and feel’ aspects of the sales process. If done well, they can enhance the conversion rates overnight. This is ‘enhancing output’ in terms of sales. On the other hand, back office designs are focused on facilitating higher productivity, better use of technology, attracting and retaining employees, and on the whole, creating a great place to work. This is ‘enhancing output’ in terms of productivity,” they explain.

According to Lakhanpal, the introduction of collaboration, technology, dynamic workplaces, ‘in-between spaces’ and casual spaces are the latest trends in this segment.

“As a rule of thumb, a contemporary look that incorporates the company’s philosophy, business objectives and appropriate technology is bound to succeed. The first stage in workplace design is to understand and list down the stated and implied business objectives. Then comes the difficult task of exploring and blending design solutions into the plan. Through the design and implementation process, we try and find solutions to business problems. Most of our recent projects are an outcome of this approach, where the workplace design itself creates and fosters an environment that caters to complex business problems,” concludes Lakhanpal.