Global Credit and Asset Management Firm — Returning to the Office with Confidence

The Challenge:

A large financial services firm, with hundreds of employees across the U.S. and Europe, was facing a complex challenge: bringing its workforce back into the office after a period of remote work. The firm had over 200,000 square feet of office space to manage, along with hybrid working policies, social distancing guidelines, and a desire to ensure employees felt safe and supported.

While the firm already had several systems in place — accounting software and specialized lease administration tools — they quickly ran into limitations. These tools could handle individual tasks, but they weren’t connected, and none of them addressed floor mapping, moves, or space management. The result was fragmented workflows, inefficiencies, and growing uncertainty about how to use their space effectively in a hybrid work environment.

Adding to the challenge was the broader question: with hybrid work here to stay, how much office space was actually needed? Lease adjustments, reconfigurations, and ongoing moves were inevitable. The firm needed a solution that could manage everything in one place, from planning moves to adjusting seating arrangements, all while keeping employees safe and productive.

The Journey with Accordant:

After evaluating their options, the firm implemented Accordant. Almost immediately, the platform became the central hub for coordinating their return-to-office strategy.

• Hybrid Work Made Simple: Tools like the shift manager allowed the team to organize schedules efficiently, ensuring everyone had office time while adhering to health guidelines. Employees felt safe, supported, and confident coming into work.
• Seamless Space Management: Once staff returned, the moves module became indispensable for rearranging teams, optimizing floor layouts, and planning future changes. Even small moves were managed smoothly, eliminating confusion and wasted effort.
• Booking Flexibility: To enhance hybrid work, the firm explored Accordant’s booking module, allowing employees to reserve desks or spaces from desktop or mobile. Adoption was rapid, even among staff less familiar with technology, and engagement increased, particularly in larger office sites.

The Transformation:

What could have been a stressful, error-prone process became organized, predictable, and efficient. Employees experienced clarity and confidence, while facilities teams gained visibility and control over their entire space. The platform allowed the firm to respond quickly to changing circumstances and make informed decisions about space utilization and leasing.

Today, the firm continues to rely on Accordant for ongoing space planning, moves, and hybrid work management. Looking ahead, they are exploring additional modules to unlock even more potential, fully leveraging the platform to make their spaces flexible, productive, and employee-friendly.

“Accordant gave us exactly what we needed to manage the return to office — it fit perfectly into our processes and became an essential tool for our team.” — Facilities Leadership

Why This Matters:

Returning to the office after a period of remote work is one of the most complex operational challenges a company can face. With Accordant, this firm turned uncertainty into confidence, fragmented systems into a single source of truth, and a potentially stressful transition into a smooth, safe, and strategic process.