Bad Workplace Tech is Driving Employees Back Home

It’s not the commute. It’s not the $20 salad. It’s the tech.

The return to office should be about collaboration, connection, and a better way to work. But for too many employees, the office experience feels like death by a thousand clicks. Outdated systems, endless booking struggles, and disjointed operations make in-office days more frustrating than productive.

Embracing Silent Tech for Better Days in Office

The bar for workplace tech is high, and rightfully so. As Ciara Peter, Robin’s SVP of Product, puts it, “People refuse to do manual tasks. They expect tech to work on their behalf, seamlessly in the background.” When it doesn’t, employees opt out. They stay home.

Here’s the hard truth: bad tech is killing the in-office experience. And companies ignoring this reality will continue to see empty desks. So what’s actually broken about the current office?

1. Booking is a headache: Employees don’t want to spend time fighting for resources. They want to know they’ll have a desk, a meeting room, and the right setup without jumping through hoops.

2. Operations are a mess: Facilities teams are drowning in requests, from AV setup to catering, without a centralized system to manage it all. When workplace managers are stuck firefighting, the employee experience suffers.

3. Data is missing: How many people are actually using the space? What kinds of meetings are happening? Without accurate insights, office planning becomes a guessing game.

The Case for Invisible Tech

The best workplace tech is invisible. It works so well you barely notice it. It removes friction, automates routine tasks, and helps offices run like clockwork. Robin’s AI-powered desk booking does just that, automatically reserving the right space based on employee preferences and past behavior. No extra clicks, no wasted time.

When tech disappears into the background, employees get what they need without the hassle and the office becomes a place people actually want to be.

“People refuse to do manual tasks. They expect tech to work on their behalf, seamlessly in the background.” - Ciara Peter, SVP of Product, Robin

Make The Office Worth The Commute

If companies want people back in the office, they need to start with the experience. That means investing in tech that makes office life easier, not harder. It’s not just about desk booking. It’s about creating a purpose-driven space where collaboration is effortless and operations run smoothly.

Ready to fix the office experience? Explore Robin’s resources and see how seamless workplace tech can transform your hybrid strategy.