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corporAte moves

Customised to meet specific business needs, these new work spaces aim to boost functionality, productivity as well as corporate branding
Nazia Khan

With the adage 'Don't judge a book by its cover' no longer valid in a world increasingly aware of the need to present the right image, first impressions are vital. While this holds true for everything, growing businesses in particular, just cannot afford to take a lackadaisical attitude on appearances and, consequently, first impressions . Increasingly, businesses are accepting that their corporate office equals their corporate image. What is interesting to see in Oman is that companies moving into their new offices are planning and adapting to build something unique to them. No blind copying here, what you see instead is a pre-mium on customisation.

An auditorium to undertake a finance company's training needs at its offices itself; hand painted tiles to highlight the options a building contractor's office offers; a mini fridge in the boardroom of a distributorship business for those long meetings; a fingerprint-based security system to meet extra confidentiality needs at an auditing firm; a company logo atop a building, a stone's throw away from its stores, for a poultry business – it is all there. In many instances, the opinions of staff members were gathered in the initial stages of planning, to make way for a new place that reflected the collective needs and wishes of the company.

Work does rule the list of activities at the office, but there is also room for ‘soft areas’, libraries, and prayer rooms. Employers are realising that the understanding they demonstrate towards employee concerns is what will keep them happy at work. Balancing the work element with the fun element can only help in improving satisfaction at the workplace. And providing offices with spectacular views doesn't hurt either.

Though it might seem that way on cursory observation, moving into a new office is not a mere cosmetic exercise. It goes much deeper, involving a company's past and keeping in mind its future. Deciding how much of the old to ring out and how much of the new to ring in takes time and consensus, just as the final moving itself takes a smooth team effort to ensure that the business is least affected. But it can be done, as these moves will show. A new office is a new start, and more often than not, it brings freshness to employees and operations. And though it might not always be possible to measure it quantitatively, the quality of work and business does improve.

Light with a view

Al Qandeel Real Estate Services and Building Contractors, Shatti
Earlier location: Darsait

Reason for change: Explains chairman Mustafa Ali Mohammed, "We decided to move to a new office because our business is expanding and our staff strength is growing. With the real estate scene booming, and with us working on several new projects, we anticipate a greater demand for our services. The new place demonstrates that we are looking forward to this."

Transit track: It took almost a year for the whole office to shift to the new premises

In the new space

Classy and functional, this three-storeyed office building in the heart of Shatti has dedicated areas for different departments on each floor, designed as per the company's requirements. The ground floor houses the reception area, property purchase and sale departments, as well as the projects department. Informs general manager Vilas Kelshikar, "The design focus in our office is on customer service. In the projects area for instance, we have kept the ambience very exclusive." A series of lights under the floor, giving a twist to the concept of backlighting, make the area stand out brightly. The chairman's office has an outer waiting area and an informal division of personal and professional space inside. Latest office equipment and gadgets in the traditionally up inner alcove here make for an even combination of business and pleasure.

Staffspeak on USP

Pointing to the panoramic view of Shatti from his office, Qasim Rashid al Balushi, property development manager, says, "If I am ever tense about anything, all I have to do is look out of the window and I forget my problems."

Lasting impression

The combination of the traditional and the modern. The curvy but minimalist staircase offers views of all that's new in Al Qandeel's offerings to its clients.

Function junction

Matrah Cold Stores Azaiba
Earlier location: Matrah

Reason for change: Says Dominic Myers, general manager, Matrah Cold Stores (MCS), "If you managed to make it to our earlier office, all credit to you." Perception is as important in the distribution business as it is in any other. And moving from that old office, which had severe constraints of space, among other issues, had been in the works a long time. says Sharad Krishnamoorthy, financial controller, MCS, "This was, in fact, our third 'new office' plan. We had two aborted ones earlier." It was planned that as many Towell companies as possible would be housed together in the new building at Azaiba, and MCS got the space it wanted.

Transit track: The actual move happened over two days with zero downtime on operations.

In the new space

Logical flow dominates the design at this office, which accommodates divisions such as general agencies, beverages, retail, and lubricants. Product pride is evident all over, with lit displays showcasing the brands that MCS is associated with. The plants dotting the corridors add vitality to the look of this office. The design of the new MCS premises was developed in-house by a team comprising

Krishnamoorthy, retail manager Ahmed
Abbas, IT manager Shanawaz K K, and finance manager, central and retail finance, Krishna Poojary. Their collective brainstorming has led to a finished space that makes room for everything from the emerald-shaped table in the boardroom to cubbies for the mail at the entrance to the finance department. The team has also left space for future expansion.

Staffspeak on USP

Says finance manager Krishna Poojary, "This is a very cohesive office, with a lot of unity to the design. It makes work and interactions very easy.”

Lasting impression

The sheer functionality of this office, peppered generously with human touches, is hard to beat. No drabness here, everything looks and works efficiently.

The perks of being Ernst

Ernst & Young (E&Y) Qurm
Earlier location: Ruwi

Reason for change: E&Y's growth needed space – and its new offices, spread across 2800sqmt and two floors in the heart of the city offer it just that. Says business community training manager Rebecca Blake, "At first, our business advisory services had three people. Now, we have 20 people there. In all, there are almost 190 people working with E&Y here, and we have the space in this office for further growth." In a micro sense, the office is still a work in progress. Plans and arrangements to add more elements and fine-tune new features, including a 'soft area' where employees can relax, are still on.

Transit track: The move, once the premises were ready, took four days.

In the new space

From the audit and tax departments to the business risk services, from the partners’ offices and dedicated prayer and training rooms to the filing room, everything follows systems and adheres to a basic style at E&Y. Throughout, the managers’ offices are on the outsides, while the rest of the staff occupy the centre of the floors. There is a healthy sea of desks wherever you look but the sense of space looms large, and there is no feeling of being crowded. The confidential nature of E&Y's business means there's state-of-the-art finger-printing technology at entrances for added security. But it's not all work here. Three pantries, each equipped with machines that dispense everything from hot chocolate to Lipton tea to café au lait, explain why breaks are extra comfortable for the staffers.

Staffspeak on USP

Ahmed Amor Al Esry, executive manager, assurance and advisory services, "This is a very prestigious location and the profile of the firm has gone up after we moved here. Our clients really like it and we have got a lot of positive feedback from them.”

Lasting impression

Style rules this office. Even the lifts leading to the premises have full-length mirrors.

Lasting impression

Style rules this office. Even the lifts leading to the premises have full-length mirrors.

On the money

United Finance Company Wattayah
Earlier location: Wattayah

Reason for change: As their business grew, United Finance Company (UFC) wanted a building of its own. Two years ago, a plot was purchased to develop premises where a more integrated workflow could be achieved. A few months ago, the plans on the drawing board evolved into a real office. Says CEO, Raghavan Murti, "We wanted a place that would reflect our corporate image." The new office was located in Wattayah itself because, as Murti explains it, "We wanted to be on the 'car street', close to all the auto showrooms in this area."

Transit track: UFC shifted from the old office to the new one in three days.

In the new space

Professional consultants were hired for the new premises, and their initial plans were forwarded to everyone at UFC so that staff could come up with inputs to make their new office work better. So there's a dining hall that can seat 50 people, and also on the cards is a library. Both these features came into the picture from staff suggestions. The wi-fi enabled auditorium, built to seat 79 people, is the CEO's dream. "We needed it because developing manpower is key to the service industry." Customer service sections are what you will find on the ground floor, while the management offices and the boardroom are on the fourth floor. Murti says that there's been an almost instant improvement in business since they moved into the new premises. "Actually, the quality of business has improved."

Staffspeak on USP

Says S Shiv Kumar, chief lending officer, United Finance, "Areas earmarked for customers and staff ensure that our interaction is smooth. We can serve our customers much better now.”

Lasting impression

Intelligent customisation for its needs marks this office. And the 'dumb waiter' is testament to this. This is actually a trade nickname for a small lift that transports required material between floors. At UFC, the waiter connects the secure back office in the basement with the customer-frequented ground floor service section. Cheques, files and other documents move smoothly through the connection.

The chic in chicken

A'Saffa Poultry Farms Azaiba
Earlier location: Ruwi

Reason for change: "Three reasons," explains CEO Dr Nasser al Mauly. "Our earlier office was small, the traffic congestion in Ruwi and our stores are close to our new office." The CEO thinks the new location is a lot more convenient for staff as well as customers. "It is close to the airport." And though the company occupies about 65 per cent of one floor in their new premises, a lot of people think of the entire building as the 'A'Saffa building.' The A'Saffa logo perched atop the building is the reason for that. Adds Dr Mauly, "So the new office is also a good advertisement for us."

Transit track: The move took them just three days thanks to a PRO who co-ordinated it.

In the new space

The new office decorated in the company colours was tailor-made as per A'Saffa's needs. Compact as it is, a lot of elements fit neatly into the office. Close to the offices of the CEO and the CFO, is the boardroom. Following this are the finance department and the marketing department, divided by cubicles. The pantry is snug in a corner next to the latter, which also houses a smaller table for departmental meetings. The uniformity that prevails in the office, in terms of the logo colours being used everywhere, is absent in just one office. CFO Muhammad Rafique Chaudhry smiles as he talks about his office, which has black-coloured furniture, "I was looking for something...not green." Chaudhry has the CEO's approval for this colour deviation. "Finances should be in the black, so is our finance man."

Staffspeak on USP

For Hamdoon al Harthy, assistant manager, logistics and export sales, the stores being right behind the office, make the business communication and documentation processes much easier than they were earlier. "My work has become a lot more convenient now."

Lasting impression

Maybe it's the combination of the chicken that they sell and the green colour, but freshness is what you experience in this office. Nothing too loud, overdone or screaming for attention. Basics with added individuality is what's at work here.