By Melissa Marsh - 8th July, 2026

Designing the Intelligent Workplace at Flex/26

PLASTARC recently attended Eptura Flex/26 in New York, a conference for workplace, facilities, real estate, and technology leaders focused on the future of work. Across sessions, conversations on workplace strategy, AI, facilities management, and employee experience converged around a central theme: the workplace is evolving into a connected operational ecosystem. Speakers explored how organizations are adapting hybrid work environments through integrated systems, predictive operations, and more human-centered workplace experiences.

The Workplace as an Integrated System

A consistent message throughout Flex/26 was that organizations can no longer rely on fragmented workplace technologies that operate independently of one another. Instead, workplace technologies, facilities management, employee experience, and operational data are increasingly being treated as interconnected systems. This reflects a theme PLASTARC has long explored in conversations around digital workplace infrastructure and the growing need for strategic technology leadership within the built environment, including in “Why Your Building Needs a CTO.”

Discussions around AI reinforced this shift. Rather than replacing workplace teams, AI was framed as an assistive layer capable of reducing complexity, automating repetitive tasks, and surfacing actionable insights from integrated data systems. Speakers from Eptura emphasized that successful AI implementation depends on strong data quality, interoperability, and a reliable “single source of truth.”

Many of these themes echoed ideas previously explored by PLASTARC through research, podcast discussions, and presentations focused on preparing workplace systems and data for AI driven decision making. In a recent Workplace Innovator podcast conversation with Mike Petrusky from Eptura, Melissa Marsh emphasized that organizations must first invest in digitizing building systems, design data, and operational platforms before AI can deliver meaningful value. Similar themes were also explored in the AI Roadmap for Building Experience presentation at Tradeline, which focused on helping organizations move from fragmented systems toward more connected and computationally ready workplace ecosystems.

Employee Experience Beyond Amenities

Alongside operational discussions, Flex/26 strongly emphasized the human side of workplace strategy. Speakers described a growing shift from creating “impressive experiences” to designing “intentional hospitality,” where clarity, comfort, and ease of use become central to workplace performance.

A fireside chat with Jeff Peel from AIG explored the operational realities of hybrid workplace management, including desk reservation friction, occupancy challenges, and balancing employee experience with real estate efficiency. Additional conversations about workplace communication and adoption strategies emerged during a fireside chat with Cameron Gagne from Embrava, where the speakers discussed behavioral challenges in hybrid work environments and the importance of designing systems that employees can intuitively adopt.

A workplace hospitality discussion featuring Jessica Purwin from Jefferies reinforced the growing expectation that offices must provide seamless, intentional experiences employees actively want to use rather than spaces employees simply return to out of obligation.

AI, Data & Predictive Operations

AI and predictive operations emerged as another major theme throughout the event. Facilities and asset management discussions focused heavily on the shift from reactive maintenance toward predictive operational models powered by integrated workplace data.

Several roadmap discussions outlined a three-year vision for connected workplace platforms. Speakers from Eptura highlighted plans to expand AI-assisted workflows, predictive maintenance, and integrated operational dashboards across workplace systems. Discussions also referenced platform integrations with ARCHIBUS, while demonstrations featuring Serraview showcased AI-supported scenario planning and workplace visualization tools. These capabilities align with broader efforts around agile workplace planning and activity-based working, where workplace data helps inform both operational and employee experience decisions.

Spatial Intelligence & the Future Workplace

A fireside chat with Ege Akpinar, CEO of Pointr, highlighted the growing importance of spatial intelligence, live mapping, and connected workplace infrastructure. Indoor mapping technologies were presented not simply as wayfinding tools, but as operational platforms capable of supporting room booking, visitor management, workplace coordination, and real time navigation.

Speakers compared these systems to consumer technologies like Google Maps and Uber, reinforcing growing expectations for seamless workplace experiences and adaptive environments where operational systems, employee experience, and live data continuously interact.

Closing & Outlook

The final sessions of Flex/26 reinforced three core ideas that surfaced throughout the day: organizations must move from reactive to predictive operations, invest in data quality and integrations, and prioritize employee experience to drive adoption.

Short term strategies focused on employee centered pilots, integrated mapping systems, and reducing operational friction around room booking, navigation, and maintenance routing. Looking ahead, speakers anticipated increasingly intelligent workplace ecosystems supported by AI agents, live operational maps, and connected digital infrastructure embedded across devices and environments.

As organizations invest in increasingly intelligent workplace technologies, success will depend not only on the capabilities of AI itself, but on the quality of the data, systems, and human experiences that support it. The conversations at Flex/26 reinforced the importance of approaching workplace transformation holistically, aligning technology, operations, and employee experience to create workplaces that are both high-performing and human-centered.