Attendees who managed to secure a place were able to choose their deep dive track in advance to tailor the event to the topics relevant to them and their specific requirements. The sessions were designed to deliver the depth needed while offering practical insights and inspiration. While some organisations are dead set on setting up intelligent meeting rooms, others are on the hunt for the best MDM tool for efficient device management.
Everyone has a different vision of the perfect workplace, which is why this event was so important. On a sunny day at the KNVB Campus, technology, people and design came together.
Digital empathy
The physical and digital workplace are both important, but we don’t yet inhabit the digital world. We don’t work together enough. Keynote speaker Kristian Esser demonstrates how online communities foster connection, knowledge sharing and collaboration when we use them consciously and in a targeted manner. Digital empathy in this context is therefore a key skill.
One-size-fits all for devices is outdated
A good workplace should be suitable for all types of users. Personas aren’t just marketing speak, but real tools to shape efficient workstation use. One-size-fits all for devices simply doesn’t work any more.
The magic of connections
In Georges Hilaul’s keynote, visitors discovered how you can establish a real connection—with yourself, colleagues, and the environment. His interactive conclusion proved that connection goes far beyond technology and content. The magic lies in real attention, wonder and human interaction.
Taking responsibility for AI
AI has become indispensable for companies, but it requires conscious use with regulations and data security. Microsoft Copilot and other tools offer an array of options but the responsibility rests on the user and the organisation. Without a framework, the danger of shadow IT quickly arises, which is something to avoid at all costs.
Hybrid meetings with a smile
Employees should be met with a smile everywhere they work. A good AV setup and intelligent AI apps enhance the user experience and minimise frustration. Technology remains a tool, however, for a better connection facilitating more successful collaboration.
“A Copilot licence is not the end goal, but the starting point. The true power of AI lies in what you do with it.”
In the session it became clear how quickly AI tools are developing and the effects they have on the workplace. When Axel asked who uses AI in their work, almost everyone put their hand up. “We are all IT people of course,” he said with a wink. 75% of employees use AI—often without formal regulations or approval. Tim emphasised how important clear regulations are. “If you do nothing, workers will just use any old AI any way they want. Then you get shadow IT.”
Tim also showed that AI tools still often get it wrong. To get better responses, you need to ask more detailed questions. Tim and Axel discussed how to use tools like Microsoft Copilot securely and the features of the latest Copilot agents. The participants got practical tips on how to write good prompts. And the key takeaway? AI is a useful copilot that can help you be more efficient, but you remain in charge!
“Don’t just think about replacing, but also modernising.”
How can we make physical workplaces really productive and pleasant to be in? The statement “personas are just marketing talk” initiated a lively discussion. One-size-fits all hasn’t worked in practice—and more and more companies are deciding to pursue a personalised approach. Thijs emphasised that the cloud is not the only solution—powerful AI applications can also run on devices. It’s therefore important to start thinking about the right device type (and chip) for the right user now.
Endpoint security was also raised. Thijs made the point that it’s not enough to rely on software alone: “Criminals are getting ever cleverer, and our security strategies need to keep pace. Are you going to replace devices? Then think about modernising them, make conscious decisions, test them and think ahead.”
“Meeting should be efficient, but also enjoyable, right?”
Onno joked: “Efficiency is laziness for intelligent people.” Laughter in the room, but acknowledgement too that efficiency is often what’s required when it comes to intelligent working and meetings. In this session, the guests were taken on a journey to the world of hybrid conference rooms. With increasing emphasis on “back to the office”, the need for intelligent meeting rooms is higher than ever, although each employer is taking a different approach to what extent their workers need to return. A good hybrid meeting room needs more than just technology. It’s about the employee experience, including the colleagues joining remotely.
AI is playing a bigger role in meeting rooms too—from automated transcriptions and face recognition to intelligent freeing up of vacant booked rooms. The message of the session was clear—technology can achieve a lot, but the bottom line is more intelligent and stronger human collaboration.
“There are so many MDM tools... which are you opting for?”
How can you intelligently and efficiently manage devices? In this session, Michel and Ronald took a deep dive into this behind-the-scenes aspect of the workplace. With so many MDM tools on the market—from Microsoft Intune to Jamf—there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Michel: “It depends on your devices, your security regulations and your company’s needs.” The latest political tensions were also mentioned—many MDM vendors are US-based and thus subject to US law despite the data being saved in European data centres.
The session gave participants insights into how they can use MDM to automate things like application management, Wi-Fi settings, and compliance without extra work for their employees. The bottom line: 80% is done by the tech, the other 20% has to be manually set.
Whether you were at the event or not, you’d probably like to know more about the topics covered! Read more about using AI responsibly and discover the value of intelligent meetings.
See how ARP can support your company in making its physical workplace really productive or find out about the range of MDM solutions ARP offers.