THE ANALYTICS OF EXPERIENCE

Sanjay Gulati, Co-Managing Director and Principal at Gensler, delves into how data and human insight are converging to shape a new era of workplace design-where measurable experience, adaptability, and innovation drive the future of work.

- Hetal Oswal

In an era where every square foot of workspace is being redefined by data, hybrid dynamics, and shifting employee expectations, Gensler stands at the intersection of design and intelligence.

Leading this dialogue in India, Sanjay Gulati, Co-Managing Director and Principal at Gensler, brings over three decades of experience in transforming workplaces into adaptive ecosystems that balance human experience with measurable performance. In this conversation, he discusses how “consumption analytics” is revolutionising workplace design, why data must be balanced with empathy, and how technology—from sensors to Al—is shaping the offices of the future.

From your experience spanning over three decades, how do you see “consumption analytics” reshaping the way organisation’s measure and optimise workplace performance in the hybrid era?

Gensler has studied workplace design for nearly 60 years, linking it to business performance. In 2017, we shifted our focus to design impact on human experience. The 2020 pandemic accelerated hybrid work, leading us to reimagine and pilot new workplace concepts.

Hybrid workstyles, new technologies, and shifting worker expectations continue to transform the workplace. Our Post-Occupancy Evaluation study insights help leaders measure office space performance, enabling them to plan confidently for the future.

Speaking of the POE implications- In one of our confidential life science projects, we followed a systematic approach spanning from pre-concept development through post project occupancy. Today, the project holds an impressive score of 70+ on the Leesman survey, which shows that the data collected has been effectively implemented through design.