3198: Logitech on Hybrid Work: Why It's About How You Work, Not Where

[00:00:03] The way we work has changed forever. Hybrid and remote working are no longer temporary fixes. They're the new normal. The workplace has evolved. Is your business truly set up to support productivity, inclusivity and seamless collaboration no matter where the employees are located? Well today I'm joined by one of the leaders from Logitech, a company that has spent 45 years shaping the way humans interact with technology.

[00:00:32] And while many know Logitech for its mice and keyboards, the company has evolved into a major force in video conferencing, workplace technology and AI driven solutions. Solutions that are designed to enhance how we work, whether that be in the office, at home or anywhere in between. So today I want to learn more about how Logitech's technology is making hybrid work more effective and equitable.

[00:01:01] And ensuring that everyone has an equal voice in meetings, not just in the room. So we'll discuss the role of AI in workplace collaboration, how companies can attract and retain top talent through workplace flexibility, and why the focus should shift from where people work to how they work. But with so much discussion around return to office mandates, workplace surveillance and real estate utilisation, how should you as a leader think about the future of work?

[00:01:31] Is your organisation investing in technology that empowers your employees? Or are you simply trying to regain control? If any of this resonates with you, you're going to have a great time today. But enough scene setting for me. It's time for me to bring today's guest onto the podcast now. So thank you for joining me on the podcast today. For people hearing you for the first time, could you just tell them a little about who you are and what you do?

[00:01:58] I'm George's company. I currently run the D2B business for Logitech across Europe. So that's all of Logitech sales to any companies, businesses across Europe. So in all of the areas. So that's working with the partners that we have, selling into the customers, but also directly with customers and looking for any engagement with Logitech at all. So non-consumer, I suppose, as we define it, is what I do currently.

[00:02:26] And of course, Logitech is a globally recognised brand, huge company. But one of the things I always try to do before finding out more about that is a little bit more about the origin story of my guests. So I've got to ask, what was it that initially drew you to the world of tech? And how has your personal journey in the industry evolved over the years? Or as someone that watches too many of those Hollywood movies, what's your origin story? So, yeah, the world of tech, that's an interesting one.

[00:02:54] I went to university, did electronic engineering at university. Don't know if I deliberately planned that, but I ended up there. When I left, I went over to do some oil exploration actually. So I ended up lower rigs out in the North Sea, which is a bit strange. And then it was completely by chance that I got an opportunity to start installing, you probably don't even remember this, Neil, at your age, but X-25 terminals in shops like the old Allied carpets.

[00:03:23] So basically really early stage computers and early stage networking that sort of ended up there and just really sort of drove through. And as the industry has changed, I seem to have gone along with it. Each change, you know, as the Internet came in and now, you know, as we've gone further into technology, I seem to have just gone into, you know, various companies around IT. So it wasn't a delivery plan.

[00:03:47] I just happened to be in it and I firmly believe I'm probably the most exciting industry there is out there. So I'm very pleased where I ended up. And one of the reasons I always ask that question, I think a lot of younger people place so much pressure on themselves and they must have that perfect plan and everything. And almost every guest that I've spoke to in what, three and a half thousand interviews, none of it was by some kind of master plan. My journey wasn't a master plan here. And fast forward to present day. I mean, how is Logitech?

[00:04:17] How's that helping workplace leaders create a future ready productive environment? Because we've been on quite a journey ourselves over the last five years from working at home at scale to hybrid working. So what are you doing around this and what have been your biggest challenges and equally opportunities? I mean, Logitech in itself, I mean, it's 45 years old and you should be around being a company. It's been around for a long time. But if you think about, you know, where its origins are, you know, from the first mouse it created.

[00:04:46] And I really what you think about is Logitech's whole remit has been to connect a human being to the digital world right from the very first moment. So it's all about how we connect humans to the digital world, whether that be right at the beginning, which was the mouse, you know, how that works. And then connected to the computer to keyboards through to video conferencing systems and now even interaction with AI. So it's completely continuing sort of that role of connecting humans to the digital world.

[00:05:14] So I think that's our role. I mean, that's what we do. And that's what we continually look for to how to look at how the workplace is evolving, how people are changing the way they work and how they need to be empowered in the choices where they where they actually work. You know, the buildings they're in or the places they choose to do their work. So that's that's really our job is how to connect them and to make them most valuable in the places they are, you know, working from.

[00:05:41] Yeah. And I think, as I said, we've been on such a journey over the last five years. And in terms of hybrid work, how do you think organizations can better shift their mindset and focus on how people work rather than where they work? It's something I lot struggle with. But any advice around that? Yeah. I mean, for me, I mean, I'm quite passionate about this, I think, because I because I've been I've been doing this for a long time now in collaboration spaces.

[00:06:07] I work for a number of different software companies as we were doing, you know, distance working and digital working and working from video conferencing rooms. And I think the thing for me that it was almost over a couple of decades, really, that people started to work in a hybrid manner. So, you know, I was having conversations with the flying doctors in Australia about 15 years ago talking about whether they could do consultations over video before they actually had to get over and travel those vast distances.

[00:06:34] So over that sort of couple of decades, people just got used to being and working in a hybrid manner. So it started out, you know, as a casual day where people would wear their jeans for the first time in a week, you know, rather than being in a suits all week. And they wouldn't perhaps not have to go to work on one day. And as as we started to get broadband at home, you could start to do video meetings. And that was happening. And I think sort of pre 2020, we were in a pretty comfortable hybrid way.

[00:07:04] And actually, it was at the point where COVID and the pandemic hit that everything kind of stopped. Everything just hybrid just stopped and it became work from home. And that was the thing that really made a big impact on the the 20 years evolution of hybrid. So now we've come out of the pandemic, people looking how to get back to the hybrid. And I think this is where some businesses are maybe slightly misguided. And they're thinking that is about forcing people back to the office.

[00:07:34] But actually, it's really trying to get people back to being hybrid again, where we shouldn't be concerned too much about where people are. We just should be about empowering them to work in the best way possible where they're working from. So so I think that's, you know, interesting for me is is hybrid isn't get back to the office for three days a week or get back to the office for four days a week. It's about saying when you're in the office, how productive can you be when you're not in the office?

[00:07:59] How productive can you be? And that's what I think we are in a perfect position to do as Logitech in terms of connecting people wherever they're choosing to work from. And however, they they're, you know, doing having their meetings or conducting their business. You know, if it's in a coffee shop, if it's in there in their living rooms or if it's in their office, how can we enable them to be as productive as possible? So I think that's where that we've got to get back to that point where hybrid is allowed and is accepted and it's not forced.

[00:08:29] And, you know, it's not regimented. I think that's the place we are. And it's funny because everyone looks at the change being post COVID. And actually, I think it was all pre COVID. Yeah, such a great point. And I completely agree with you. And I think it's about giving the teams the flexibility and the tools that they need to complete whatever task at hand they've got. There will be instances where they need to be in the office.

[00:08:53] They need to have that face to face time. But equally, there will be those moments when you need to be at home and not being distracted with a tap on the shoulder every five minutes. So I'm curious, what role do you think technology plays or indeed Logitech technology plays in ensuring hybrid work equity too? Yeah, I mean, it's a really important role. I said, well, I said at the beginning, I think our job in Logitech is to connect people to the digital world.

[00:09:19] So if our meetings are digital, so we're having a meeting now over Zoom and our job is to make sure that you can hear me really clearly. And so we have tons of technology around this. So things you won't even notice, but you know, my cat, the camera I'm using here, which is on one of our later webcams of one of the Brio family is really adjusting for light.

[00:09:42] You might see there's a lot of streaming light coming in from my office window, but the camera is really adapting constantly to the changing environment I'm in. And the sound, it's cancelling out all the noises from a squeaky chair from the people in the background in my office is making sure that you can hear me. So all of the technology we have is allowing me to be as productive as possible. I don't need to be in a meeting room in the office, which is, you know, soundproof without, you know, big heavy door to stop it.

[00:10:09] I can use technology to enable me to have the best possible conversation with you without needing to go to a particular location. And that is a true for everywhere I work and Logitech takes a part in that. So really from my point of view and from Logitech's point of view is wherever that individual wants to work, we need to provide them with a technology which allows them to be as involved as possible in a meeting, in whatever work they're doing.

[00:10:37] Whether that be, you know, our tablet cases which take an iPad and make it, you know, into almost a computer that they can work from in a coffee shop or whether I can get my home sets up here or whether I go into an office in a large meeting room. All of those components of being able to connect an individual to the meeting in a most productive way is what we do. It's what our job is.

[00:11:01] And we, I think we've done absolutely brilliant here, but we've not mentioned AI in our first 10 minutes, but we need to, of course, we are entering the third year since the world went absolutely mad over all things AI or generative AI. So I'm curious, how do you say, or how do you see AI assisting employees in that day-to-day work that they have? And what are the main benefits that you're seeing here with AI? I think AI has been around for a while.

[00:11:28] We started to look at the journey of AI from machine learning all the way through now to generative. So I think AI, we've had AI in our products for practically seven years, really. If you think about our cameras and room systems are not, they're not switching based on who's talking. They're actually looking for the triangle between the shoulders and the head of individuals in a room so they can pick out individuals in a room. So our cameras are looking for individuals in a room.

[00:11:56] And that's, that's, you know, AI. That's the proper use of it. And I think our technology continues to do so. Now, generative AI is a massive change in the world. But, but I see some of the arguments around the change that we're getting in AI, you know, whether it's going to be this sole, you know, the solution to world hunger, or whether it's going to be, you know, the massive change to everyone's jobs. I see it very similar to the way the, the internet was came in the first time where everyone was able to connect and do business.

[00:12:26] You've never thought, you know, 20 years ago, 30, one of the internet came in thinking about time at the time that what you buy over the internet, how you communicate with the internet was, was incredible and incredible change. AI is a bit like that. And I think embracing AI is the key to success. So I think if you use AI every day, I don't think there's a killer app yet defined for AI.

[00:12:49] I don't think anyone's looking for, you know, you have to download this in order to get, ah, we've got various AI programs we can ask questions to and they can give us information. But I think we're still looking to how to get the best out of AI. I use it daily and I try to use it, you know, in my planning. I try to use it as a sounding board. So I ask AI questions and I, and I, and I take those questions and I adapt them and I keep on, keep on questioning the different models to see what information I can get.

[00:13:18] So from our point of view, logic is how we get the interaction between the human being and AI. For how we use generative AI, I think, you know, the future is, is, I mean, I'm very excited about what it's doing. But I think the key is to, to use AI, to ask it questions, to challenge it. I mean, it's to use it the right way. And I think that can, that can really be, you know, transformative in, in the way we're, we're doing business today.

[00:13:49] Completely with you. And I think one of the responsibilities that we have here is ensuring that technology makes workers' life easier, makes it, gives them more options, more tools in their toolbox to do whatever they need, wherever they are. And of course, providing a scenario like that or a workplace like that is what is going to attract and retain employees. So what do you think companies should be doing to stand out in today's job market and not only securing talent, but retaining that talent too?

[00:14:19] I mean, this comes down to when we're, I mean, go back about this hybrid work thing, doesn't it? I mean, we, I've, I've interviewed lots of people. I don't know what generation we call it now, but they certainly are interviewed people who one of their first questions or one of their first thoughts is, do they have to come to the office? Are they, do they need to travel? All those things. And I think they, and we've gone through the phase, I think of, of, you know, who should be in work, how many days at work. And now we should be, how do we get people as productive as possible?

[00:14:48] So how do we make the workplace as inclusive as possible, but also as attractive as possible? So people want to come to work. They want to have those meetings. They want to, they want to be involved in the community of work. And I think that's the biggest thing to stand out for as you are advertising a job is not only the job role itself, but actually the community and the company you're joining and how inclusive it is and how appealing it is to work for, really.

[00:15:16] So we go away from that initial, you know, I'm very comfortable, you know, working from home or what. And it becomes less of a location and more about the company and how it empowers the individual. And at the dark side of hybrid working and remote working and something we've seen over the last few years is something called workplace surveillance. It's continuously evolving. Workers, indeed, have adapted with it.

[00:15:40] I've seen so many videos on YouTube of people attaching a mouse to a fan and things to stop the screensaver kicking in and give the appearance that they're working. But how are you seeing workplace surveillance evolving and what impact does it have on employees and their productivity? I think the term is difficult to call it workplace surveillance. I mean, workplace surveillance, in my view, is wrong. You know, just being staring at people and watching people what they do, that's wrong, doesn't make sense. Unless it's being used for a particular reason. So we talk about environmental reasons.

[00:16:10] So how is the office being used? How are the meetings being used? Are the oxygen levels in the meeting room at the right level to keep people alert and interested? So if you've got a closed meeting room with no windows, you know, if there's a few people in there and it gets too warm and the oxygen levels go down a bit, actually people get tired and it's not very effective. So I think that kind of monitoring is really, really positive. I don't think staring at people to make sure they, you know, the equipment of clocking in, clocking out is a very good thing.

[00:16:39] I think it's a very bad thing, but I think observing people in the office and how the offices are used are absolutely essential into understanding how we design offices in a better way so that breakout areas are really useful. So I think we've moved from maybe the Californian style of beanbags and, you know, cans of soda in terms of that's how you break out and that's how you relax.

[00:17:03] So now being, you know, the water cooler meeting, the area, the canteen area, those things are adapting all the time. So I think it's really important that we take a view and we look at people and how they're using the space to really design that space better so that we know that if people are comfortable sitting around the coffee machine having a conversation, why shouldn't we put some technology there which allows someone in a remote location to join that conversation?

[00:17:31] So I think that sort of monitoring the workforce is important, but only if it's done for the right reasons. If it's done, as I said, to replace the clocking in, clocking out, that's not a good reason. But if it's done to improve things, then I think it's a good thing. I think it's a good thing and I don't think we should be too paranoid about it. I think employment laws would probably stop anyone from being fired for not sitting at a desk for nine hours a day.

[00:17:55] But I think we can learn a lot and we can make the place a nicer place to be if we do observe people in those locations. Yeah, 100%. And you're very fortunate in the position of being able to talk with so many big businesses and brands around the world. So from everything that you're seeing, how are companies creating a productive work environment without relying on surveillance tools as such? Anything else that you're seeing or even promoting at Logitech here? No, I think it's about empowerment.

[00:18:25] It's about getting people to be as best connected as they can be. I mean, we often talk about meetings as part of the work, but obviously meetings are part of work. So our view is to try to get, no matter where you are, to be as connected into the meeting as possible. So if you're sitting by your desk, how do we make sure that you're as connected into the meeting as possible? How do you connect with your colleagues and even your customers as effectively as you can be?

[00:18:55] And that's about what RIT does. So whether you're in a large meeting room or sitting by your desk, it's about making those connections and empowering people to be as important in a meeting as if you were there face to face. I mean, that's really what we're trying to do. And I do think sometimes we underestimate the impact that technology can have on the workplace in areas that you don't automatically associate with technology.

[00:19:20] So is there any advice that you'd give to business leaders looking to create a more inclusive and productive work environment using Logitech technology, of course? I think, you know, if you look at a meeting room scenario, again, we're going back to meetings a bit, I suppose. But sometimes when you're looking at, when you've got a different group of people in the room, you've got a number of people in the room, a number of people dialing into a meeting. It's very familiar now, dialing in, you know, she's not really dialing anymore, but, you know, joining the meeting via technology.

[00:19:46] The key thing is inclusivity is people are seen and they're heard. And because if you're remote and you feel excluded because, you know, you're not powered, you're clipped, your audio is wrong, the room can't quite hear you. Or if you're in the meeting room, you're sitting in the back of the room and you're not at the top table, you know, opposite the CEO or opposite the manager, you know, you're not heard. The idea of the technology is to say, how do we balance that all out?

[00:20:13] How do we get that inclusivity into the meeting so that wherever you are, if the meeting, if you've been invited to the meeting, you should be an equal participant in the meeting. You know, that's the point of having a meeting. So the technology is about making sure that you're heard, you're seen, and you have your chance to give input. So that's what we're about in terms of technology. And I think that's, you know, that's the inclusivity to be making sure that everyone in a meeting is present, everyone is involved,

[00:20:42] and everyone can be seen and heard. I love that. And I'm curious, from all the conversations you're having internally, maybe some internal meetings on a daily basis, and all those conversations that you're having with businesses around the world, if we put all those conversations into a big melting pot, what is the key trend that you're seeing shaping workplace experience management today? And what role is technology playing in that too? I know that's a great question.

[00:21:10] And it's funny because I would have thought it had ended by now. But I suppose real estate utilization is probably the key thing. And that's a sort of big summary of everything because it was that kind of hybrid stuff. It's still going on. It's still probably the key conversation that happens now is how do we get those workers back to the office or how do we empower workers? So it's that. And the real key thing, and you can see it in London now, lots of big companies are moving out of some of those really large spaces and moving back into the center in smaller locations.

[00:21:39] And the question is, when you've got a certain group of people that were getting used to us, I said over 10, 20 years, they were sort of mixing how often they were coming to the office. Now, if you get everyone back into the office, I don't think you've got the real estate space. So now it's about saying, how do we empower people wherever they are? How do we get the right spaces in the office? So it's no good having a massive office just full of desks because that's not how people want to work. But what do you take out half the desks?

[00:22:07] And then what do you do with the rest of the space? How many meeting rooms do you need? Does someone need an office? If you do have to have a one-to-one meeting, where does the office need to be? And as I said, the environmental concerns. So all that utilization of office space, I think, is the key thing that companies are looking for. Ron, I, like you, read all the articles about people going back to the office, either getting people to come back in a certain amount of times a week or getting to come back in the centre of London or moving the office space out in different parts of the country.

[00:22:37] And I think the key thing is it's how to get the right environment for people to want to come back in. And when they're in, they can be as productive as possible. And again, that's what we do. You know, we're trying to look at every space, enabling every space, small meeting rooms, large meeting rooms, open spaces. And technology to aid people to be able to communicate and to collaborate as efficiently as possible. And I think that is a powerful moment to end on.

[00:23:05] So much food for thought in there from our conversation today. And anybody listening, business leaders or wanting to find out more information about some of the B2B work you're doing at Logitech and finding out more information on anything we talked about, how you might be able to help. Anywhere in particular you'd like to point everyone listening? That'd be a great, great one for you. This is a test, Neil. I'll say, connect to me on LinkedIn or message me on LinkedIn or go to, obviously, any of the sources of Logitech information.

[00:23:34] I mean, Logitech is a very, very well-known brand. So you can get the information you need. But I'm very happy to follow up with anyone who wants to ask me a question on this. Just click me on LinkedIn and we can start talking.

[00:24:14] Awesome. And one of the things that I've heard about is that hybrid work isn't about forcing employees into an office. It's about enabling them to be more productive anywhere.

[00:24:38] And Logitech's innovations in AI-powered video conferencing, smart workplace design and mobile productivity tools, all from the outside looking in, all seem to be about empowering people to do their best work, no matter what the setting is. And I think we touched on the big shift in workplace design today from offices being desk-centric to experience-driven.

[00:25:01] And businesses are rethinking real estate, meeting spaces and collaboration areas based on how their employees actually use them. And there's a lot of data around that, too, which is well worth looking into. And yes, of course, AI is playing a crucial role, not just in enhancing video and audio experiences, but in helping reshape how businesses optimize their working environments.

[00:25:25] So as every company navigates the evolving world of hybrid work, time to bring you into the conversation. Is your organization focusing on productivity, flexibility? Or will you admit you're trying to turn back the clock to outdated ways of working? And hey, we always used to do things this way. I'd love to hear your thoughts. How is your company approaching hybrid work and workplace technology? Let's keep the conversation going.

[00:25:52] I will put a link to my guest LinkedIn, as I promised a few moments ago. Equally, if you want to connect with me, techblogwriteroutlook.com, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, all those platforms, easiest guy in the world to find there, Neil C. Hughes. And my website is techblogwriter.co.uk, where you'll find over 3,200 interviews and a myriad of ways that you can work with me. But enough from me. I'll return again tomorrow with another guest from another industry. Thank you for listening, as always.

[00:26:21] And I will speak with you all tomorrow morning. Bye for now. Bye for now. Bye for now.