In the realm of innovative workplace culture, Planning Center stands out for its commitment to an exceptional employee experience. As a company that truly understands the importance of a great workplace environment, Planning Center has cultivated a unique model that blends remote flexibility with in-person collaboration. Their dedication to ensuring that every employee feels valued and supported is evident in their numerous initiatives. One piece of this puzzle? Joan Workplace.
Topher Ohlin, IT Admin at Planning Center, took the time to schedule an early morning transatlantic call with our team to share just how much their company has embraced and benefited from Joan Workplace.
Planning Center’s unique work model
Planning Center offers a suite of tools that help churches manage information, coordinate events, and connect with their congregations. Although the company has always been remote-first, they don't let physical distance diminish their team spirit. Instead, they nurture a vibrant sense of camaraderie through optional quarterly gatherings at their San Diego office.
“My career (sic: as a remote IT administrator) is a testament that there’s really no good argument against having some level of flexibility with most work,” Ohlin reflects.
On a typical day, their office hosts around two dozen people, but it can accommodate up to 150 when everyone’s in town. When not in use, the office is rented out to charities, and they’re also exploring the idea of offering their space to other companies, showcasing their unique work model and making it available for rental.
Creating a joyful workplace experience
Planning Center’s office is designed to enhance both productivity and well-being. It features various workspaces, from small phone booths and breastfeeding rooms to large conference areas and break rooms complete with video games and pool tables.
“We do all these things because we love to collaborate and work together. I love sitting across from people that I don't normally get to talk to in my day-to-day work, and there is something very real about that physical collaboration.”
They ensure seamless connection between remote and in-office teams by investing in top-tier infrastructure. With high-quality cameras, acoustics, and microphones in their meeting spaces, remote employees feel as though they’re right there in the room, making virtual meetings feel truly connected.
The meeting room scheduling mess
With their quarterly meetups, you can imagine the scramble for meeting rooms. The high demand for office spaces turned into a scheduling nightmare. Google Calendar and Workspaces were more trouble than they were worth, filled with glitches and confusion. When they expanded, and added six new conference rooms, the chaos only intensified.
People started ignoring the booking system altogether and set up wherever they could find space. It became glaringly obvious that a better solution was essential to keep things running smoothly during these peak times.
“It was right after the first time we were all together, and we said there needs to be a solution in place. We need to find something to codify this,” Ohlin reflected.
From Reddit to reality
Ohlin's search for a solution came down to two key requirements:
- Aesthetics: The CEO emphasized that the solution must be sleek and fit seamlessly with their office’s high-end design. They wanted something stylish and sophisticated, avoiding any bulky or unsightly installations.
- Ease of use: Ohlin needed a solution that was intuitive and low-maintenance, requiring minimal setup and no extensive training for users.
His search for a solution led him to Joan. After a serendipitous find in a Reddit thread filled with IT memes, he was intrigued by the mention of Joan as a potential solution.
“It was exactly what I was looking for,” he recalls. Joan’s clean design and intuitive usability matched their high standards and aesthetic requirements.
“I needed something nice, sleek, made of glass and metal,” and Joan delivered on all fronts. “I didn’t want anything with a plastic screen,” he emphasizes, highlighting Joan’s elegant and functional design as key factors in his decision.
Because the quarterly meetup was approaching rapidly, Ohlin drove to a reseller in LA to pick up the Joan devices personally.
Joan’s instant impact
Joan quickly became a favorite at Planning Center for several reasons. First, its intuitive usability meant that employees could start using it immediately without any training. “My colleagues started using it right away. I didn’t have to tell anybody how to use it,” Ohlin describes.
Second, Joan’s wire-free design were a game-changer. “I don’t have to keep track of where these devices came from before everyone comes into the office. I just run around, grab them all in my bucket, charge them for a couple of hours, and then put them back up wherever I want, and it all just works. It’s very seamless; they feel great to use and work flawlessly,” Ohlin explains, appreciating how the Smart Magnet feature allowed for easy installation and relocation.
Overall, Joan significantly enhanced their workplace experience by streamlining room reservations and ensuring that remote and in-office employees could seamlessly connect.
Joan makes a workplace thrive
As Planning Center continues to grow, Joan has become an essential part of their office management strategy. “We’re super excited and I’ve got a stash of them still,” Ohlin says, reflecting on the impact Joan has had on their workspace. He has become a passionate advocate for the product, even joking about putting a Joan outside his home office so his family can see when he’s busy with meetings and when he’s available.
Joan has proven to be more than just a tool; it’s an integral part of Planning Center’s commitment to creating a collaborative and supportive work environment. For Ohlin and his team, it’s clear that Joan is not just a solution but a significant enhancement to their workplace experience.
Contact us to discover how Joan can streamline your office management.