As more companies attempt to entice employees back to the office for a few days each week, adopting new approaches to working like hotdesking and hotelling is necessary. Swiss company Logitech has announced the Logi Dock Flex for managing hybrid working. This unique and full-featured docking station is made for shared desks in flexible work environments.
The move to hybrid working has also enabled companies to use their office space more efficiently and optimize facilities. However, the hybrid evolution also requires new ways of enticing employees back to the office. Companies must have the data and insights to manage the process to understand how office space is used.
Scott Wharton is the general manager of Logitech’s B2B division. He says: “Businesses know they must earn the commute to get hybrid work employees into the office. The answer is not to add more foosball tables, but to instead offer a way for employees to plan their in-office days together. We took a multidimensional approach to building Logi Dock Flex that not only solves desk booking and management issues but promotes social collaboration and gives IT and workplace managers data on how the tech and space are being used.”
The Logi Dock Flex is a new docking station with an 8-inch color touchscreen for showing desk availability and booking spaces. The device also has three USB ports on its front and three at the back. The Logi Dock Flex can support dual displays, plus it has an Ethernet connection and up to 100W of power, enabling connections for both secure and standard-issue computers and employees who bring their laptops to work.
Using Logitech’s desk booking service, employees can plan their days in the office in conjunction with their teams. Employees can book a desk for themselves using Logi Tune software and choose their preferred space and who they want to sit by. Once their space is reserved, the software will notify the employee’s teammates in-app. And once the employee arrives at the office, all they need to do is plug their laptop into Logi Dock Flex using a single USB-C cable and they will be automatically checked in and ready to work.
The screen on the Logi Dock Flex shows the employee that they’re logged in and it’s all done automatically so that facilities management teams can see how many desks are occupied. By using Logitech’s Sync software, IT teams can remotely monitor and manage how the Logi Dock Flex is running, adjust booking settings, manage equipment, and customize the dock according to the company’s hybrid policies.
Because the Logi Dock Flex supports multiservice capability, the company’s IT team can choose whether to use Microsoft Teams, Zoom Workspace Reservation, or Logitech’s desk-booking service. More platforms will be supported in the future. The Logitech desk booking service is managed using Logitech Sync and can be deployed using the Logi Dock Flex or with QR codes for a system that doesn’t require Logitech hardware.
For Facilities Managers, having access to real-time insights and analytics on how office space is used will help them understand how the return-to-office policies are panning out. Workplace management data, like desk utilization, peak occupancy rates, and user behaviors, can reduce the guesswork in allocating workspace and planning demand.
Pricing & Availability: The Logi Dock Flex will initially be available in an off-white finish and will start shipping in Fall 2023 through authorized sellers and logitech.com. The suggested retail price of the Logi Dock Flex will be $699. Logitech’s desk booking service is free and can be requested today through the Sync management portal. Premium features like usage insights, alerts and floor plan maps are free from public beta until July 1, 2024.