RICOH-EUROPE

A recent report by Tech Nation¹ shows that three-quarters of successful digital companies surveyed work within a close network of entrepreneurs with whom they share ideas. This spread of vibrant tech clusters around the UK, such as Tech City in East London and Silicon Beach in Bournemouth, are part of a new trend of working that replicates the genius of 1940s Silicon Valley, whereby academics from Stanford University realised that like-minded people working in close proximity will feed off each other’s ideas.

As part of a series of interviews conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit on ‘The Future of Work’ , sponsored by Ricoh Europe , Graham McClements architect at BDP suggests that this is because environments that appear creative and support creativity are the ones that people aspire to be part of and are therefore more likely to be successful.

With computers increasingly able to take over mundane or laborious work tasks, this type of agglomeration – whereby people and organisations surround themselves with similar individuals and businesses – will enable people to work in more creative ways that will drive a company’s productivity.

Mr McClements’ view is that despite the increasingly automated nature of work, creativity leading to innovation will become a key currency in the business world, McClements also says that there is growing recognition that whatever technology they have at their fingertips, people still need social engagement to do their best work.

In partnership with advancing technology, people still form the centre of the workplace. Work remains a major aspect of life, providing not only a living but also a source of structure and a connection to others. As more organisations commit resources to transforming into digital businesses , employers are also realising that not only are processes changing, but also fundamental issues as to where and how we want to work.

These clusters or ‘sweet spots’ of expertise – whether they’re areas focused on scientific research, communications technology, finance or something else – also depend on office buildings that can evolve in response to the social trend.

“People are looking for authentic environments where there is a sense of vibrancy and the possibility of spontaneous encounters,” McClements says. “The building itself might be mixed use, with cafes and shops, and there will be a range of work settings, with less emphasis on the traditional desk and more on different kinds of spaces and collaborative areas.”

In another interview from the series, Henrich Greve, professor of entrepreneurship, INSEAD, takes a similar view. Professor Greve believes that an important trend in the future will be people working in networks, interacting with professionals from other organisations to mix knowledge spheres and blend industries.

“Firms need new knowledge so they are increasingly turning to collaborations and working with partners with different expertise at all stages to make sure that things work,” Professor Greve says. “A perfect example of this is the iPhone. Think of all the industries that are inside that.”

Both interviews make clear that the larger environment, such as the architecture of the city as well as the immediate environment of the structure and layout of the office will have to adapt to enable people to succeed in these new ways of working. And in an ideal world, technology will underpin this success.

We will continue to see more organisations agglomerate and partner with similar organisations as they realise how this helps to create efficient workplaces and ensure a culture of technology-led innovation . At Ricoh, we are on this journey with our own customers; encouraging them to not only physically adapt to the changing needs of the modern business, but to transform their processes and infrastructure to suit this new working environment.

-ends-

| About Ricoh |

Ricoh is a global technology company specializing in office imaging equipment, production print solutions, document management systems and IT services. Headquartered in Tokyo, Ricoh Group operates in about 200 countries and regions. In the financial year ending March 2014, Ricoh Group had worldwide sales of 2,195 billion yen based on the IFRS accounting standard (approx. 21.3 billion USD).

The majority of the company's revenue comes from products, solutions and services that improve the interaction between people and information. Ricoh also produces award-winning digital cameras and specialized industrial products. It is known for the quality of its technology, the exceptional standard of its customer service and sustainability initiatives. Under its corporate tagline, imagine. change. Ricoh helps companies transform the way they work and harness the collective imagination of their employees. For further information, please visit www.ricoh-europe.com .

¹ http://www.techcityuk.com/technation/

Contact:

Ricoh Europe PLC
Kirstie Stevens / Jack Gibson
Tel: +44 (0) 203 033 3632 / +44 (0) 203 033 3766
E-mail: press@ricoh-europe.com
Homepage: www.ricoh-europe.com
Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ricoheurope
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ricoheurope
Visit the Ricoh media centre at: www.ricoh-europe.com/press

Link:

ClickThru