Office Depot has made a new — and unusual — move that reflects its increased emphasis on business services.
The retailer announced Monday that it is testing its first-ever co-working space, in its new store in Los Gatos, Calif. The space will combine the company’s current suite of products and services along with workspace for small business owners, remote workers and others.
The co-working space is part of the company’s expansion of its Workonomy platform which offers comprehensive business services, enhanced with “human touch” expertise, to small- to medium-sized businesses. (Office Depot’s BizBox services have evolved into the broader Workonomy portfolio and platform.)
“We are relentlessly committed to helping small- to medium-sized businesses succeed with a consistent and tailored customer experience through Workonomy,” said Gerry Smith, chief executive officer for Office Depot. “With nearly six million SMBs within three miles of our stores, Office Depot’s Workonomy solutions and experts have never been more accessible.”
The new Workonomy resources offer customers enhanced tools and services along with access to in-person advisors and technical support. In addition to the co-working pilot, these include:
• Tech services kiosks will be installed in 141 stores across Florida, Georgia and Texas by end of August. The kiosks are a new tool that will serve as a dedicated in-store destination to offer direct, on-demand access to Office Depot’s technology experts, who offer nationwide installations and consultation support in home or office and remote support options.
• Self-service print & copy kiosks will be rolled out to over 1,000 stores across the country by the end of August. The kiosks, currently in select stores, give customers options for printing and scanning to and from multiple sources, access to email and cloud storage, and also allow them to pay for products and services at their convenience.
• Pack & ship capabilities online and in-store allow customers to generate shipping labels on the company’s web site and drop off shipments at any Office Depot or OfficeMax location, or the carrier drop off location.
• Investments in skilled team members and training programs from existing employees. The investment includes 6,000 certified technicians nationwide for home or office installations and consultations, and offering additional training to small business field sales teams, called business pros, who can now offer complete solutions of business services, products and technology.
“With our comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions, and thousands of experts and approximately 1,400 locations, Workonomy provides holistic services for businesses at any stage to help them succeed and grow,” said Janet Schijns, executive VP, chief services and solutions officer for Office Depot.