Interview: Introduction of 1.50 Office at 2do Marketing Services

In March 2020, many companies faced the challenge of reorganizing their daily work routine and adapting it to the Corona rules. At basecom, we largely switched to a home office relatively early on. How did you deal with the situation at 2do? What solutions did you find for yourselves?

Home office was actually not the optimal solution for us from the beginning. Of course we switched to a home office because of the turbulent situation. However, we noticed that many coordination processes, especially with regard to large campaigns, work better when we are together as a team. We therefore staffed our office with one person per room. In the summer, due to a more relaxed pandemic situation, more colleagues were able to come into the office again and sometimes two could sit together in one room. But when the number of infections went up again, that was no longer an option. We then reverted to our division of one person per room. Pupils and trainees, who were still present at school, unfortunately had to be looked after in their home offices. Out of 30 people in our team, only seven to eight are in the office at any one time. At some point, however, it also became clear that not everyone copes well with the home office situation and would like to get out of their own four walls again. Karsten Ilm from brandence then told us about 1.50 Office and we then contacted basecom to use the tool for us so that everyone has the opportunity to come back to the office.

Many companies made this observation during the Corona crisis: the home office works quite well at first, but after a while many employees also want to return to the office. At least occasionally.

Yes, exactly. But it was always very important to us that everyone feels and is safe at work. For example, the compulsory wearing of masks in the office was an issue that we introduced early on. As soon as a person comes into the office, it’s: ‘Mask on!’ Since November last year, it’s been FFP-2 mask or OP mask for us. In addition, we have installed air filters in all offices and have now even started testing the staff. After all, everyone wants to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Apart from these restrictions imposed by the Corona rules: What has changed in your agency’s everyday life? Are there any positive impulses for you as a result of the crisis?

I would say we have become more flexible and digital: In some departments, for example, we have upgraded our technology and equipped our staff with laptops. When I come into the office, I can sit down at any workstation and connect my laptop to the monitor. I am no longer dependent on a fixed workstation. Of course, this is not possible everywhere: the graphic designers, for example, need different equipment, they are still tied to certain office workstations. There is simply a noticeable change. The crisis has clearly given an impulse. I also notice this in other companies and among my friends: in many companies, flexibility is now possible that was unthinkable just a short time ago. For many companies, the lockdown situation was a test phase that showed that hybrid working models work. Management and executive levels have seen that their employees work at home as well as in the office. I also believe that this is a good development for many families. Balancing family, everyday life and work really becomes easier with flexibility.

1.50 Office is an online booking tool for office workplaces that is supposed to support flexible working models. How long have you been using the tool at 2do and what has your experience been with it so far ?

At the moment, you can only book half or full days, which are only indicated by a dot or a dash. By the way, at the beginning it was confusing for us that the room plan is not displayed immediately, but that you first have to select the company and the floor. This could perhaps be made easier. Of course, we are very interested in whether 1.50 Office meets your requirements for a booking tool. Yes, all in all it definitely does. It’s super easy to set up and you can get started right away. What we would still like is for users to be able to see directly who is in the office and when, so that it is easier to plan joint presence with colleagues when working together on a project, for example. And a better adjustment and overview of working hours would be desirable. At the moment, you can only book half or full days, which are only indicated by a dot or a dash. By the way, at the beginning it was confusing for us that the room plan is not displayed immediately, but that you first have to select the company and the floor. This could perhaps be made simpler.

Of course, we are very interested in whether 1.50 Office meets your requirements for a booking tool.

Yes, by and large it definitely does. It's super easy to set up and you can get started straight away. What we would still like is for users to be able to see directly who is in the office and when, so that it is easier to plan joint presence with colleagues when working together on a project, for example. And a better adjustment and overview of working hours would be desirable. At the moment, you can only book half or full days, which are only indicated by a dot or a dash.
By the way, at the beginning it was confusing for us that the room plan is not displayed immediately, but that you first have to select the company and the floor. This could perhaps be made simpler.

Thank you very much for your feedback! We will gladly take this into account in the further development of 1.50 Office. With the next update, some of the points you mentioned will be implemented. The booking overview will be improved and there will be a filter option to see who is in the office and when. Finally, we would like to ask you for a personal assessment: In your opinion, will the working world change after the pandemic or will the clocks be turned back again?

I think that in some areas and sectors it will move back towards face-to-face work. But I believe that hybrid working models will become more important in the future. At least from our industry, I know that many agencies want to change and work more flexibly and digitally. In this respect, 1.50 Office already reflects the future in my view. In many companies, working time models and compulsory presence in the office are being revised and made more flexible. Nevertheless, I think we still need core working hours. Personally, I like being in the office. I like being with people and I also need direct exchange. Only a home office would not be for me in the long run. But that always depends on life situations and personal preferences. At the moment, I find the flexibility we have very pleasant. Of course, also with regard to the Panademie. If the numbers increase and it’s too delicate for me, I can retreat to the home office for a week. I would like to have this flexibility in the future as well. Gladly in a hybrid working model – and for me, more often in the office. Of course, a planning tool is helpful to coordinate and organise things well.

Thank you very much for the interesting interview! We look forward to meeting you and your Hamburg colleagues in person soon. Until then, all the best and best wishes to Hamburg!