The world of work is always evolving, with technology being one of the biggest drivers for this. SafetyCulture has been at the forefront of such advances over the past two decades – mainly through its app-based, fully-customisable software, which digitises all aspects of business operations and is deployed globally across industries as diverse as construction, aviation and retail. Key to this is the understanding that it’s people that make up a business, not an improvement methodology or organisational goals. As the name suggests, culture is paramount to SafetyCulture’s being. So much so, that the striking features and benefits of the company’s new AU$38m HQ in Sydney made the morning TV news. Director of Workplace Experience and Community, Keyna Fryer, and audio visual specialist, Corey Beckman, explain why…

In a nutshell, what does SafetyCulture do?

Keyna Fryer: We’re an operations platform designed for frontline workers. So, it’s improving their processes and embedding safety into everything they do, while making sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

What does office culture mean to a Director of Workplace Experience and Community?

KF: A huge part of what I do is culture. We’ve got a very unique culture here and we really wanted to preserve,  protect and build upon it. Opening our new office in Sydney was a great opportunity to take stock of our culture and make any changes.

The new office space looks one part playground, one part city rooftop bar. Tell us the thinking behind it. 

KF: From the beginning, it was important we had a space that felt like us. A space that reflects who we are, what our values are and how we operate. A big part of that is having a creative and fun space, somewhere in which people can be creatively inspired to do their best work.

The Neat Devices were super easy to set up… With Neat Bar, you turn it on and it just works. 

Corey Beckman

Having opened the new building in 2022, the planning would have taken place as the world shifted to remote and hybrid working. How did this influence the build?

KF: I think it caused us to reframe a little, although we were already working towards a hybrid model, because our people were telling us that’s what they preferred. It was about making sure each space was enabled for that flexibility, and that the building overall worked as a place of creativity, inspiration and collaboration.

How do you manage hybrid working at SafetyCulture?

KF: It’s down to individuals and what works for their teams and managers. We find most people work a minimum of three days in the office, which is pretty good for the tech sector where people can effectively work remotely. I think that’s a credit to the culture, but also the building. People really like being here. I loved working from home but now, I find I’m here most days, because I simply prefer to be in the office.

Our chief legal officer said, ‘I didn’t expect it to be as seamless as it was, but it just worked,’ and we heard that from a lot of people. I think for us, that’s the best possible feedback you can get.

Keyna Fryer

You shifted to Zoom in 2021 and that led you to Neat. How easy were the Neat devices to get up and running?

CB: The Neat Devices were super easy to set up. They’re night and day compared to what we had before. Prior to working at SafetyCulture, I’d been using a Mac Mini and a soundbar with a camera built into it and some table mics. When something went wrong, there were a lot more fail points. With Neat Bar, you turn it on and it just works. 

KF: I’m not a tech person and I find the system so easy to use. Plus, the feedback we got from day one was great. Our chief legal officer said, ‘I didn’t expect it to be as seamless as it was, but it just worked,’ and we heard that from a lot of people. I think for us, that’s the best possible feedback you can get.

Have you noticed any other benefits since moving to Neat devices?

KF: I love Neat Frame. They’ve been fantastic for us, in fact we purchased our Neat Frames the moment they launched in our country. Historically, people would book out a four-person room just to have a one-person call. We put Neat Frames in all the one and two-person rooms, making our small focus spaces bookable Zoom Rooms. We’re now seeing those rooms being used as they should be. So, it’s freeing up our larger rooms. I think they’ve been absolutely fantastic from a hybrid perspective.

CB: It’s not just the functionality that works, the devices also look great from a design perspective. They’re sleek and they don’t take up a lot of space in a room. If you install one above a TV, it looks like it belongs there. They simply meld in.

SafetyCulture is currently running Zoom through Neat Bar, Neat Pad, Neat Board and Neat Frame.

Visit neat.no/devices to find out more about these devices.