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Discover how we never settle for the status quo when it comes to creating real estate solutions for our clients.
Avaya - In It Together
01 The Opportunity
Since 2005, Cushman & Wakefield has enjoyed a close partnership with Unilever. Starting with Transaction Management in North America, the relationship has evolved to Transaction Management and Lease Administration on a global basis with Project Management, Strategic Consulting and Facilities Management services playing an increasingly larger role in more recent years.
A multi-faceted project that raised the bar for future projects was the redesign of Unilever’s North American headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. With more than 1,700 employees spread across five locations and separate aging buildings totaling 750,000 sf, Unilever needed an innovative solution to foster a more unified and collaborative culture, while simultaneously eliminating cost-prohibitive inefficiencies. The company simply had too much space and needed to adopt a more global and agile way of working – especially to attract and retain top talent. They also wanted to create a stronger identity for Unilever in North America.
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02 The Solution
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03 The Results
Working together, we were able to not only to ensure uninterrupted real estate services, but to deliver a portfolio strategy that was aligned to Avaya’s restructuring objectives.
Initially, we spent a lot of time on operational tactics, which included coordinating resources and migrating technology from various departments and systems, then consolidating into a single repository. This allowed us easy access to the business drivers of the decision process. Leveraging site data, headcount numbers, site location analysis and a plethora of other information was fundamental in underpinning confident decision making to significantly reduce Avaya’s portfolio.
Workplace redesign was a top priority for Avaya - essential to attracting top talent and demonstrating Avaya’s culture, tools and capabilities to their clients. The new space has sophisticated designs and amenities, flexible workspaces, enhanced digital tools, and of course, incorporates Avaya’s latest phone and video conferencing solutions.
Due to the success of this assignment, Cushman & Wakefield received the “2018 Best Outsource Services Provider” at Avaya’s Supplier Days event held in Singapore.
TESTIMONIAL
"Avaya and Cushman & Wakefield both approached problems with a ‘can-do’ attitude and earned trust from one another through open communication, process adaptation, compliance and lateral thinking. As a team, we effectively transitioned from what initially started as a restructuring period to a new chapter, approaching challenges and remaining strategically aligned to ensure financial success. Avaya’s CRE campaign, The Excitement is Building, is reflective of all the hard work and progress we have made and will continue to make in the future."
Hamish Clarke
Director of Global Real Estate
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