Microsoft’s research focuses on identifying the key obstacles to greater productivity, then developing solutions within its product offerings to address these challenges. Following these enhancements, the company measures the impact of its improvements on overall productivity. 

Gallup's survey revealed alarming figures, showing that only 23% of employees are engaged at work, with the UK averaging just 10% engagement. So, what’s the impact of strong employee engagement?

Microsoft’s research tracked companies with high engagement levels (70%+) and compared them to those with low engagement. The results were striking: a mere 1% increase in employee engagement translated to a $46,511 increase in company valuation per employee, demonstrating the direct financial value of engagement and reinforcing Microsoft’s performance equation.

When exploring initiatives to boost employee engagement, PwC's collaboration with Münster University in Germany stands out. Their study compared the outcomes of 2D communication via Zoom and Teams with 3D experiences using Microsoft Mesh and Meta Quest headsets.

The results were impressive:
- A 58% increase in team closeness and bonding, which research identifies as the top driver of employee engagement
- A 32% improvement in problem-solving effectiveness
- A 28% rise in intensive participation
- A 25% boost in both the ability to visualise and adjust plans, as well as planning activities
- A 16% improvement in communication
- A 15% increase in personal comfort during meetings

For companies looking to enhance performance, these figures highlight the clear benefits of immersive technologies.

Immersive meetings offer the ability to meet in 3D through Microsoft Teams, significantly reducing the need for commuting by allowing participants to virtually "teleport" into meetings. This opens the door to creating custom-designed meeting rooms in Microsoft Mesh—at a cost, including the headset, that’s lower than a season rail ticket.

As a CFO, you might reasonably ask: why maintain costly meeting rooms in expensive cities when we can "teleport" into any meeting? By rethinking office space, for every 10-person meeting room you close or sublet, you could save enough to cover the cost of 200 headsets annually, providing access to 3D virtual meeting rooms.

You have the option to purchase meeting rooms and headsets individually or in bundled packages. For example, the payback period on a 5-headset, 5-room bundle would be just 57 days if you closed or sublet a 5-person meeting room in London. While costs will vary by city and room size, this serves as a strong indicative example of potential savings.

Microsoft's studies of S&P 500 companies reveal that a 1% increase in employee engagement results in a $46,511 boost in company value per employee. If you were to deploy 200 headsets and raise employee engagement by just 1%, the financial impact could be substantial.

Your CFO can drive this transformation in five key ways:

1. Commuting costs: Whether daily or occasional, commuting impacts productivity and incurs significant travel expenses—eliminating these offers substantial savings.

2. Meeting space optimisation: Physical meeting rooms can be repurposed or closed, further reducing overhead.

These lead to two clear ROIs: reduced commuting/travel expenses and meeting room cost savings.

Additionally, potential tax credits from carbon efficiency should be evaluated.

We recommend exploring our solution—bespoke Microsoft Mesh rooms and Meta Quest headsets—for its strong ROI. The benefits of moving to immersive meetings are transformative:

• Human impact: Engagement and productivity increase dramatically.
• Technology impact: Remote and hybrid workers benefit immediately.

This shift will elevate your entire organisation. Would you like a demonstration?