Jakarta, Indonesia – January 22, 2026 – The modern workplace is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the convergence of human needs, rapid technological advancements, and evolving physical spaces.
A recent panel discussion at the VEGA Indonesia Event discussed the topic of” The best practices of successful workplace space. ” The panel brought together a diverse group of experts, including Faisal Rachmadianto, Head of IT at Mubadala Energy, Khalif Mahendra, Project Director at Leads Property, Adrian Lim, Managing Director at iHD, and Chandra Herawan, Collaboration Specialist at Cisco—representing end-users, corporate real estate professionals, consultants, and manufacturers.
The central theme was clear, the future of work is not about technology for technology’s sake but about creating environments where technology and design seamlessly serve the employee, boosting productivity, satisfaction, and ultimately, business success. The conversation underscored that in this new competitive landscape, the focus must shift from mere infrastructure to the holistic experience of the “client,” who is now the employee.
The discussion identified three critical pillars for a successful human-centric workplace that drive competitive advantage: the human element, the role of technology, and the design of the space.
1. Prioritizing the Human Element
From the end-user perspective, the most significant human factor is the demand for technology that is instant and invisible. Faisal Rachmadianto, Head of IT at Mubadala Energy, emphasizes, “Employees want a smartphone-like experience where meetings start instantly, without the hassle of calling IT or fumbling with cables.” He adds, “The modern workplace must accommodate a diverse workforce, including the next generation, who expect flexible workspaces and support for hybrid meetings. The challenge for organizations is to balance the varied technological needs of departments like human resources, marketing, and sales, while ensuring a consistent and equitable experience for every participant, whether on-site or remote.”
2. Technology as an Invisible Enabler
Adrian Lim, Managing Director at iHD stressed that, “technology must follow the human, not the other way around. This means the design and technology must follow human needs, not the reverse.”
A key technological principle is standardization and platform agnosticism. Chandra Herawan, Collaboration Specialist at Cisco shared that, “Cisco for instance, is adapting to a multi-platform world (Zoom, Teams, Webex) by ensuring their devices offer a consistent user interface and experience, regardless of the platform.”
This consistency is vital because, as the moderator noted, people are “creatures of habit” and resist learning new, complex systems.
The discussion from the panelists highlighted several specific technological solutions that enable this human-centric approach:
- Acoustic Excellence: Acoustic quality was deemed the number one priority. If employees cannot hear properly, the meeting is compromised. Consultants prioritize this work to ensure sound containment and clarity, recognizing that hearing is fundamental to effective collaboration.
- Dynamic Visuals and Content: Digital signage and displays is moving beyond static banners to dynamic video content for employee engagement, town halls, and campaigns, making internal and external communication more impactful.
- AI-Driven Simplicity: Manufacturers such as Cisco are introducing features, including dynamic AI directors that automatically manage cameras and meeting settings, delivering the best experience without manual intervention. This moves technology from a complex tool to an invisible, intelligent assistant.
- Standardized Connectivity: The move to AV over IP and standardized wireless sharing protocols simplifies connectivity, eliminating the need for cumbersome cables and proprietary dongles, which were identified as major pain points.
3. The Synergy of Space and Technology
Khalif Mahendra, Project Director of Leads Property emphasized that the “client is king,” meaning the space must accommodate the employee’s needs. The ideal outcome is a space where the technology becomes invisible—employees simply walk into a room, and it works. This requires a strong collaboration between IT, facility management, and design teams from the outset.
The biggest barrier to achieving this seamless integration is often existing infrastructure and culture. Applying new technology to legacy spaces can be challenging due to fixed design layouts and the “generation gap” in technology adoption. The solution lies in meticulous planning and execution, ensuring contractors and suppliers are sufficiently experienced to handle the complex, often divergent requirements of various zones within a building.
The goal is to design rooms based on their function—from boardrooms requiring simple, efficient, and modern frameworks for high-stakes meetings to collaborative spaces that demand flexibility.
The panel discussion concluded that the successful human-centric workplace is a delicate balance achieved through early consultation and a commitment to serving the end-user. The primary barrier to success is often people—not just in terms of resistance to change, but the challenge of integrating multi-vendor technologies to meet diverse user habits. The solution is not more technology, but smarter standardization. By focusing on a few core standards (like platform agnosticism and robust acoustics) and ensuring that technology is deployed to be instantly usable, organizations can create a workplace that is not only highly productive but also genuinely supportive of employee well-being, proving that the most advanced technology is the one that is least noticed.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Ng
Marketing and Public Relations Manager | VEGA
852 5228 6015