The challenge
Flexible working is the norm in tech. Hoteling and flexible seating reduced Microsoft's office footprint and improved engagement, but they also created storage and security headaches for staff rotating in and out of offices. The Seattle headquarters had relied on mechanical lockers in its Azure smart spaces, alongside cubbies and combination-locked units, and they didn't fit the bill: lost master keys, scrambled combinations and limited options meant delays, replacement costs and frustration for staff and the Work Area Management team. Dave Muench, Principal Program Manager of the Secure Work Area Infrastructure and Foundations Team, approached eLocker for a smarter solution that met Microsoft's stringent security and storage requirements. The building carried higher traffic and more stringent security requirements than other offices, and because employees had no dedicated desks the team needed a localised, secure space to store items.
The eLocker difference
eLocker met the project team, visited the premises and worked closely with Microsoft to meet its unique firmware and security requirements. The result was a bespoke, keyless, transparent smart locker system built around three things: flexibility, so staff secure their belongings whenever they book a desk, with no key or combination; transparency, with secure see-through lockers that remove confusion and add visibility for the security teams; and aesthetics, with lit lockers and innovations like laptop charging ports and smart-card access. The work also met the team's four guiding pillars of security, accountability, efficiency and functionality. By the end of the project, the HQ had more than 1,500 smart lockers.
The result
eLocker cut locker management time for maintenance staff and employees by replacing manual handling with an automated, keyless, shared storage system, while giving the office a high-tech look in line with Microsoft's brand. It also removed most of the human errors that had been causing frustration, such as staff entering a combination on the wrong locker and locking someone else out. The reviews from employees have been strong, and the lockers have become part of the workplace experience, with new hires and visitors often shown the locker room on a tour of the office.
Commercial outcome
Keyless access removes lock changes, key replacement and admin across 2,000+ lockers
The commercial case at this scale is the recurring cost that keyless removes. Lost master keys, scrambled combinations and the lock changes, replacements and Work Area Management admin that followed all disappear when access is keyless and self-service, freeing the team to support flexible working rather than chase keys.
That recurring spend, multiplied across more than 2,000 lockers, is the uplift, quantified in the value validation report for this deployment.
“Our workforce loves eLocker. I'd love to have relationships with all of our partners like we have with eLocker. We were able to build trust and develop a great working relationship throughout this project.”
“Our workforce loves it. eLocker is a cut above standard lockers. They light up and come with innovations most staff have never seen before, like charging ports for laptops and smart cards. It's an extension of our office and really provides a wow factor for customers and staff. Any tour of Microsoft starts in the locker room now.”
