Building an enterprise SaaS platform to manage hybrid workspace arrangements
Our client, Xwork, is a SaaS platform revolutionizing the way corporations manage their workspaces. Xwork enables companies to implement hybrid work arrangements for their staff, moving beyond the traditional office paradigm and embracing a new model based on the 3 H's: Home, Hub, and Headquarter. We've been involved in Xwork's development from its inception, collaborating on the product strategy and taking ownership of the product development operations. This case study highlights our journey and the approach we've taken along the way.
Challenge
Xwork brings together various business functions involved in defining and implementing workplace policies. Our challenge was to unify these diverse perspectives into a seamless workflow, providing a user-friendly experience for companies, employees, and coworking spaces.
Solution
We designed and built a comprehensive SaaS platform from scratch in under six months. This platform integrates with existing HR and ERP systems and seamlessly connects with the workspace management systems of coworking locations.
Approach
We established a collaborative model with the Xwork team, where they focused on the business aspects while we took ownership of the product development process, maintaining regular communication and alignment. We assembled a small but highly effective product team to continuously build and release new features.
Thierry Janssen
CEO & Co-founder at Xwork
"I scanned many possible software development partners before entering into a cooperation with Panenco. My number 1 criterion was to find a multidisciplinary team of experts that could handle the various needs of such a project, which Panenco has provided. Next, as a cherry on the cake, what stood out to me was the entrepreneurial vibe you get as soon as you set foot into their doors in the Leuven office."
Defining the functional and architectural specifications for a smooth user experience connecting to WMS
We collaborated with the Xwork team to refine their value proposition into a well-defined product with clear functional requirements and an engaging user experience. We analyzed the core problem statement from the perspective of various user personas to create an ambitious plan for a minimum lovable product.
Design track:
We meticulously mapped the entire functional wishlist into interactive user flows and conducted thorough testing with the prospective user audience.
Architectural track:
Xwork integrates with various Workspace Management Systems (WMS) and company ERP systems. To accommodate this, we designed an open architecture that seamlessly connects all the different components.
Organising a highly effective product development process
When defining the architecture for Xwork, we recognized the need for an open system capable of integrating with various existing workplace management systems. To ensure a reliable experience for employees who rely on Xwork daily to book their workspaces, the system requires robust uptime guarantees. Given the strong dependencies on the workspace management systems of coworking spaces, we implemented comprehensive monitoring tools to detect anomalies and swiftly address any booking issues that may arise.
Giving the platform the operational foundations to grow
Upon initial launch of the platform, a 6-week trial was done with 10 Belgian companies where we actively gathered feedback from users and performed technical fine-tuning. There was a clear validation of the concept and the platform functionality, which gave the necessary confidence to start preparing a broader commercial rollout. Xwork is currently onboarding large corporate clients, as they are fully committed to driving significant change in this industry! We keep assisting the Xwork team with setting up the proper tooling, documentation and security guarantees to mature the platform and support customers in the best way possible.
"Xwork is a paradigm shift in the orchestration of hybrid work. We gladly embarked on this mission together with the Xwork team to shape and build this product. We wish the whole Xwork team the very best of luck as they further expand across Europe. We'll be happy to keep supporting you in every way possible."
Leslie Jobse
Engineering manager