Some applications to explore
Bring everything together on an Employee Experience Platform
Everything comes together on such a platform. It is a place where colleagues can meet, and all the information is there. Microsoft Viva is a good example of such a platform. It uses AI to show individual users the right information, so no time is lost plowing through dozens of documents. It also makes recommendations based on employee data. For example, it suggests the optimal time to answer emails to minimize any disruption. It has dashboards for managers showing things like the stress levels of their employees. The platform also has a personal development area. This allows you to keep track of the skills you still want to learn and the training courses you have already taken.
Build a virtual office, conference, etc.
You can use all kinds of platforms to design or simulate virtual places. This often encourages spontaneous meetings. Microsoft Teams has recently introduced The Watercooler Bot. This tool helps you to set up short meetings, and the bot chooses which colleagues to invite. Microsoft aims to simulate casual meetings by the water cooler or coffee machine this way. You don't know who you will meet there, but it is an excellent way to start an interesting or personal conversation.
You can also simulate physical spaces such as an office building. We have built a virtual version of our Kontich office in Gather. You can hang up posters with company information, set up a games room, or position desks in places with lower noise levels for maximum concentration. You can design such a space entirely based on your own wishes and needs.
Platforms such as Pine and Virbela focus on organizing online events. They each offer a different interface. One allows you to visit virtual stands, while the other invites you to walk around in a 3D environment as an avatar and meet other attendees.