The way we work has transformed significantly over the past decade. Work is more mobile than ever, with teams collaborating across various locations, both in-person and online, and often spanning cities ... and even countries.

Our work roles and tasks have become more fluid, driven by rapid developments in technology and shifting markets, prompting organisations and customers alike to pivot. And all of these changes have fueled an ongoing discussion around the future of work.

Information technology firm Datacom has become an important voice in this conversation. Their research has explored the evolving work environment through a people-first lens, transcending physical space, and exploring how humans feel, receive and create value in an increasingly machine-driven world.

Though this thought leadership was initially intended as a resource for its own customers, when Datacom needed a new office space, it presented a unique opportunity to put theory into practice, using the findings as a blueprint for its office design.

For Datacom, the desire was to design and create a workplace that was responsive to these different ways of working and supported people to do their best work. The aim was to create spaces that would enable people to thrive in a flexible, purpose-driven environment and encourage collaborative ways of working both in the office and remotely.

At the heart of its research are four mindsets – learn, clarify, focus and create. The design of office spaces and experiences would need to position people where they needed to be, support how they needed to work and allow them to do what they wanted to do.

This insight became a chance for Datacom – and its key build partners, including Logitech and Futureworks – to radically rethink office design and technology application. And with Whai, its new headquarters, Datacom had the opportunity to leverage Logitech’s cutting-edge technology and solutions to reshape how employees connect, collaborate and perform.

Focus on flexible

Datacom’s managing director Justin Gray posed: “How do we fundamentally shift the concept of what collaboration in the workplace looks like?”

Logitech’s focus on flexible, people-first design aligns seamlessly with Datacom’s approach, where empowering employees and fostering collaboration are central to its strategy.

Both companies share the belief that it’s people – not physical assets – that drive business success, and this shared vision laid the foundation for creating workspaces that are not just functional, but transformative.

Justin asked: “How can we leverage technology to support the hybrid way we work, overcoming traditional challenges like feeling disconnected – whether in the room or online – and not being fully engaged in the conversation?”

He believed that there needed to be seamless integration in its workspaces; and this insight shaped a solution, where technology became the bridge that kept teams connected, no matter where they were.

To this end Logitech’s Rally Bar was paired with the Logitech Tap, to provide intuitive, easy-to-use video conferencing that enhanced virtual collaboration. The Logi Dock brought simplicity and efficiency by consolidating multiple functions into a single connection.

The goal was to design spaces that could easily adjust to the diverse needs of the people who use them.

“[We wanted to have] a space that could change, morph and adjust with the needs of our team as their complicated work lives demand,” Justin explains.

Logitech’s product range has allowed the office environment to become more adaptable.

When there are quieter moments, the Brio Webcam and Logi Dock allows employees to instantly switch into high-quality video calls without disrupting their workflow. For collaborative moments, the Rally Bar offers crystal-clear audio and video quality, ensuring everyone in a meeting, whether in-person or remote, feels truly connected.

Employees can use Logitech Scribe to share whiteboard content during video meetings with a single button push, ensuring that ideas can be shared in real-time without disruption, offering a new level of interactivity and innovation during video meetings.

Measuring success

The success of Datacom’s new workspace was measured not only by its usage, but by the tangible ways in which it enhanced collaboration and engagement with team members, wider partners and networks.

Ease of use and accessibility underpins a tech environment that fosters enhanced connection, with associate director of optimisation and innovation, Tracey Cotter-Martin saying, “Logitech technology is so simple and intuitive to use; it does exactly what it says on the tin and provides a really simple way for people to connect with each other”.

Since the move, Datacom has seen a significant increase in customer interactions, with three times the number of client visits compared to their previous office space.

These increased interactions have helped build stronger business relationships and have positioned Datacom as an even more relevant and dynamic partner in the eyes of their customers.

On average, Whai plays host to nearly 50 offsite visitors each week, and in just three months since opening has seen the executed more than 110 events, including 69 customer events, 18 workshops and nine community events, further cementing Datacom’s reputation as a hub for collaboration and innovation.

The success of the workspace is also evident in how it is used by employees. Feedback indicated that the tech-enabled spaces were actively sought out by teams who valued the ability to work seamlessly across locations.

The integration of advanced tech into the workspace became a draw not only for Datacom employees but for clients as well, who leverage the spaces for their own meetings.

On average, more than 230 people use Datacom’s offices every day, demonstrating the space is not only well-designed but also highly valued by those who choose to work there.

The meaning of Whai

The word whai is Māori for stingray. The shape of the building, with its north-oriented curved aspect, suggests the shape of a whai caught in a moment in time. Not a static shape burrowed in the sea floor; rather a whai in the action of turning, one of its fins and its tail hidden from view. The whai concept connects strongly with Aotearoa identity, in that Te Ika a Māui, the fish of Māui commonly referred to as the North Island, is also a whai.

The tech that powers Whai

Logi Dock

For hybrid and remote workers, juggling devices, cables and software can quickly turn a desk into a distraction. Logitech’s Logi Dock offers a streamlined solution – combining a docking station, speakerphone and meeting control hub into a single, compact unit.

Designed to reduce desktop clutter, Logi Dock supports up to five USB peripherals, two monitors and delivers up to 100W of laptop charging – all through a single connection. Integrated meeting controls and calendar syncing make it easy to join calls with a tap, while built-in enterprise-grade audio ensures clear communication and crisp sound for both meetings and music.

Certified for platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet, Logi Dock is built to support the tools professionals already use. Whether in a home office or a shared workspace, it helps bring order, clarity and simplicity to the modern workday.

Logitech Scribe

In the evolving landscape of hybrid work, ensuring that all participants – whether in-room or remote – have equal access to visual content is crucial. Logitech Scribe addresses this need by seamlessly integrating whiteboard content into video meetings, enhancing the collaborative experience.

Designed for platforms like Microsoft Teams Rooms, Zoom Rooms and Google Meet Rooms, Scribe utilises AI to enhance whiteboard visuals. Its features include presenter removal, content enhancement and sticky note detection, ensuring clarity for all participants.

Logitech Scribe exemplifies how thoughtful integration of technology can bridge the gap between in-person and remote collaboration, fostering a more inclusive and effective meeting environment.

Logitech Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini

As hybrid work continues to reshape the modern workplace, meeting room technology is evolving to keep pace. Logitech’s Rally Bar and Rally Bar Mini offer a streamlined approach to video collaboration, with solutions suited to different room sizes but built on the same core principles: simplicity, scalability and high-quality performance.

The Rally Bar Mini is designed for small rooms and huddle spaces, delivering clear audio and video in a compact form. Features like motorised pan and tilt, AI-driven framing and clean cable management help minimise setup friction and maximise usability.

·For larger spaces, the Rally Bar brings added power with a more robust lens system, enhanced microphones and cinema-grade speakers. Both models can run conferencing applications directly on the device or connect via PC or Mac, and they integrate with Logitech Sync for remote monitoring and management at scale.

Logitech Tap

Consistency and ease of use are key to making hybrid collaboration work across a range of meeting spaces – Logitech Tap helps deliver both. As a touch controller for video conferencing, Tap provides a unified interface for joining meetings, sharing content and managing calls – designed to work across platforms and room types.

With a 10.1-inch touchscreen, a low-profile design and flexible mounting options, Tap fits naturally into a wide variety of meeting room layouts. It supports one-touch join, calendar integration and content sharing via HDMI or wirelessly, depending on the conferencing solution in use. Features like silent operation and a motion sensor for always-on readiness further support a smooth, intuitive meeting experience.

Tap is more than just a control panel – it’s a central part of building a consistent, user-friendly collaboration environment at scale.