ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Global facilities services business ISS is joining forces with Microsoft to reimagine flexible work powered by AI solutions. By combining the data and insights from Microsoft Places, Microsoft's connected workplace app, with the ISS Workplace App and ISS's operational capabilities delivered through its 350,000 employees worldwide, ISS will boost its tech-powered operations.

Microsoft Places is a newly launched AI-powered connected workplace app with feature integration across Microsoft 365. It allows coworkers to coordinate in-person connection and provides a comprehensive view of how people are using the physical workplace, helping businesses manage their workplace. ISS has been selected as a partner.

Places will allow remote and hybrid employees to easily coordinate schedules and locations to take advantage of valuable in-person collaboration while also enabling managers to gain insights into how the physical workplace is being used for smarter scheduling and resource management.

Together, ISS and Microsoft will explore how employers can elevate the workplace experience through the data exchange between the ISS Workplace App and Microsoft Places. This interplay will help to explore the personal work preferences of in-office, roaming and remote employees, which can be used to develop more productive and engaging in-office company cultures that best fit employee needs.

"We know that while adjusting to the reality of hybrid work, many employers struggle with transforming workplaces into environments that drive collaboration, connection, and convenience," said Markus Sontheimer, group chief information & digital officer at ISS headquarters in Denmark.

"In teaming up with Microsoft, we are uniquely positioned to help our customers shape the world of work though technology that powers places that engage and energise people."