LG Energy Solution implements hybrid workplace with Surface Hub and Microsoft 365

LG Energy Solution aims to innovate the way people work, live, and interact to become a trusted and loved company by customers. With its innovative battery solutions and Energy Storage Systems, the company is advancing the transition to renewable energy and popularizing electric vehicles. Its leaders have also developed a long-term plan that envisions creating a greener and more connected work environment. But to turn it into reality, they first had to overcome a few critical barriers.

First, the company’s plants scattered across Asia, America and Europe brought co-working restrictions. The pandemic only heightened the need for digital collaboration as employees had to fully rely on video calls and remote meetings to get work done. LG Energy Solution resolved these concerns with Microsoft Surface Hub with built-in scalability, which provides essential features that power mobility, collaboration, and participation.

Active collaboration beyond borders

"LG Energy Solution formed a 3-free environment strategy—No Cable, No Paper, No Phone—to build an environment where employees could work and communicate with anyone anytime, anywhere," starts Jeremy Yoo, LG Energy Solution's Process Innovation Department Leader. 

Before transitioning to Surface Hub, LG Energy Solutions' teams relied on various equipment to join company meetings. "It was necessary to be familiar with various devices such as projectors, screens, whiteboards, cables, and videoconferencing equipment to collaborate in the existing office environment," explains Yoo. "In particular, remote meetings with a large number of participants took more time to set up because we needed to connect many pieces of equipment in various places," he adds. 

Moreover, video conferencing was possible only in designated spaces with implemented conference systems, and due to data sharing restrictions, call participants relied on printed copies of meeting documents, which led to excessive paper use. With the establishment of 3-free vision, LG Energy Solution created a more comprehensive conference solution.  

Supported by Microsoft, LG Energy Solution’s digital transformation experts designed a unique space for teamwork based on Surface Hub interactive whiteboard. The interactive whiteboard integrates Windows 10, Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, and other apps. Advanced features of Surface Hub include life-sized video screens and precise inking technology. And with its mobile capabilities, Surface Hub enhanced the quality of remote communication and enabled active collaboration.

"We wanted to be able to control all calls and meetings in one solution and simplify the office environment to increase work efficiency and space utilization," describes Jeremy Yoo, Process Innovation Department Leader. “We chose Microsoft Surface Hub over other products since it offered unequaled and unique functions that enabled us to control everything, including whiteboards and video equipment, using one device," he reveals.

Transforming the way teams meet

While adapting to the new work environment, employees still need HDMI cable to connect their PC screens to Surface Hub and write down meeting minutes on the whiteboard. But this task was made easier, thanks to Microsoft's on-site engineering support and a well-designed continuous change management process of LG Energy Solution.

“PC screens can be quickly shared wirelessly through Surface Hub," details Eonseog Song, Information Strategy Professional. "Various Microsoft solutions such as Microsoft 365 and Whiteboard can be used together. 10,000 employees and executives at home and abroad can now collaborate efficiently," he adds. Additionally, Microsoft Teams is hosted on a central server, in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and deployed to individual user devices when needed. The platform offers functions such as Forms, for conducting online surveys, Planner, for schedule management and business allocation, and OneNote, enabling meeting participants to take notes on the go. To share, download, and publish meeting documents effectively, employees use Microsoft 365.

"When the lockdown started, we were able to have an efficient remote work through Microsoft apps," said Song. After introducing a transformative office solution, the collaboration environment that was previously limited to office desktops no longer had space constraints.

Costs down, efficiency up

Apart from unlocking effective teamwork, Surface Hub has brought tangible business benefits to the enterprise. For starters, it simplified the conference setup, reducing the time needed to join the meetings. "Previously, devices connected through HDMI lines," says YunSeong Kang, Process Innovation Planning Professional. "It would take maybe five to 10 minutes to start a meeting due to missing HDMI cable or poor device connection. Currently, since everything is wireless, it is possible to connect within 30 seconds. The new device only needs to find a network, and it is ready immediately." 

Cutting down on the number of devices helps the company reduce power consumption and the environmental footprint of meetings. “With less equipment and cords, our office has become neater and more comfortable,” Song confirms. The shift to the new environment has generated an estimated 15% savings on equipment maintenance costs, paperless and a green office.

The most valuable outcome of the transformation is end-user convenience and satisfaction. “Now, not only executives and employees but also our visiting customers and partners use Surface Hub easily,” reveals Yoo. “They say, ‘It’s an environment I want to introduce to my friends,’ and ‘It’s very useful in my work,’" he recaps.