Use Cases

In the evolving hybrid workplace, organizations face key challenges that AI-powered solutions can help address. Below are six common scenarios – from re-engaging employees in the office to optimizing space – where data-driven insights and smart technology drive better outcomes:

• Increase In-Office Attendance: In-office attendance has become a major focus as employers encourage hybrid workers to return more regularly. Over a third of companies have raised on-site expectations, and 68% now mandate a certain number of in-office days, up 7% from last yearjll.com. Clear hybrid structures and compelling data-driven reasons to come in (e.g. purposeful collaboration days or events) can significantly boost attendance and reinvigorate office culturejll.comjll.com. (Learn more about strategies to increase office attendance.)

• Improve Productivity & Performance: Empowering employees with the right hybrid strategy and technology can boost productivity. Research confirms that well-structured hybrid schedules have no negative impact on output or promotions and even increase retention ratesnews.stanford.edunews.stanford.edu. Meanwhile, 80% of workers are now experimenting with AI tools to streamline tasks, reflecting how AI-driven solutions can further enhance performance by automating routine work and reducing daily frictionresources.owllabs.com. (Learn more about improving productivity in hybrid work.)

• Optimize Office Space Utilization: Today’s workplaces aim to do more with less space through data-driven optimization. Global office utilization has inched up to 54% (from 49% in 2024) as companies reimagine how they use spacejll.com. However, only 7% of organizations rate their utilization data collection as “excellent,” revealing a need for better analyticsjll.com. AI-powered occupancy sensors and predictive tools can fill this gap by monitoring real-time usage and even forecasting peak attendance to optimize layouts, ensuring every square foot is used efficientlyfmsystems.com. (Learn more about optimizing office space.)

• Improve Employee Experience: Elevating the employee experience is critical for morale and retention. Leading organizations now balance efficiency with human-centric design – adding private focus booths, collaboration areas, and wellness rooms – to create “experience-rich” workplaces that magnetically attract and engage staffjll.comjll.com. Incorporating AI into the workplace can further personalize comfort (adjusting lighting, climate, etc. to individual preferences) and provide flexible support, making the office more responsive to employees’ needs and boosting overall well-beingfmsystems.com. (Learn more about enhancing the employee experience.)

• Space Planning / Right-Sizing: As work patterns shift, companies are rethinking how much office space they truly need. Rather than blunt cost-cutting, 73% of firms are strategically focusing on portfolio optimization – essentially “right-sizing” their workspace to match actual usage and business needsjll.com. Many are leveraging occupancy data (78% now use formal occupancy planning servicesjll.com) to guide these decisions, ensuring they provide enough room for collaboration and focus without wasting space. AI-driven scenario planning can also help model different space requirements, aligning real estate footprints with evolving hybrid work demand. (Learn more about effective space planning and right-sizing.)

• Hybrid Policy Design: Designing a hybrid work policy is a delicate balancing act between company structure and employee flexibility. Nearly half of organizations now mandate specific in-office days – about double the share from 2023 – as leaders seek consistency to drive teamwork and culturejll.com. At the same time, employees highly value flexibility in when they work, pushing back for control over their schedules even as more office days are requiredresources.owllabs.com. Data and AI-driven insights into attendance patterns and employee preferences can inform hybrid policies that reconcile these needs – combining clear structure with the autonomy and work-life balance that modern employees expect. (Learn more about designing effective hybrid work policies.)