What is the 'Winning Office' Executives Should Choose in the AI Era? Part 1: AI-Driven Management Strategies and the "True Purpose" of the Office The rapid evolution of AI is drastically shifting the role of the office from a mere "workspace" to a "creative hub." This report explores the new era of work and the emerging trends in strategic office design for management professionals and executives based in Vietnam. Why Redefining the Office Is Now Critical In recent years, "Work Style Reform" and "AI Utilization" have been accelerating globally. The advent of Generative AI, in particular, is fundamentally overturning our traditional definitions of "work." Historically, the office was a factory for gathering information, creating documents, and managing data. However, as AI takes over routine tasks and data processing, we must ask: What is the true value of bringing people together in a physical space? For business leaders steering companies in Vietnam, the upcoming challenges of a shrinking workforce and shifting labor attitudes are becoming increasingly palpable. With a projected decline in the working-age population, improving labor productivity through AI is no longer optional—it is a core management challenge. In the AI era, the office is evolving from a "low-cost box" into a "strategic investment" that directly dictates a company's competitive edge. This three-part series explores the future of office design from the perspective of coexisting with AI. Separating AI "Tasks" from Human "Creativity" The conclusion is clear: office work is bifurcating into "tasks for AI" and "tasks for humans." Routine operations such as data entry, aggregation, and minutes-taking are already being automated. AI now assists in drafting emails and summarizing meetings. As a result, the value demanded from employees is shifting toward Decision-Making, Creativity, and Emotionally Intelligent Communication. While AI provides logical answers and rapid inferences, humans must judge the "context"—the "Why" behind the choices. Consequently, we predict that offices in Vietnam will transition from efficient workspaces to "Co-creation Hubs," where stakeholders engage in high-level dialogue to drive innovation. Boosting Engagement: Creating a "Destination" Office Paradoxically, as AI becomes more prevalent and remote work more feasible, the value of a compelling "Physical Office" increases. In an era where you can work from anywhere, companies must provide an office where people want to go. Particularly in a high-turnover market like Vietnam, a superior office environment serves as a powerful magnet for attracting and retaining top talent. Strategic investments in the "Five Senses"—ergonomic chairs, optimized lighting, air purification, curated background music, refresh spaces, scents, premium coffee, and spaces for personal connection—will make employees feel, "I want to work here." These office resources are becoming essential assets for surviving and winning in the AI era.   [caption id="attachment_566" align="alignleft" width="1200"] RAKUS Vietnam’s Second Office: Infusing the luxury of a hotel lounge into the refresh area, creating a strategic experimental space that intentionally merges employee engagement with corporate branding.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_753" align="alignnone" width="1200"] CRAFTEC’s new office features premium Japanese ergonomic seating, including UCHIDA’s AJ2 and ITOKI’s ACT chairs. The workspace is designed with ambient environmental music and a circadian lighting system that aligns with the human biological clock. Equipped with air purifiers featuring the same filtration performance as those used in Airbus aircraft, we are actively experimenting to create the ultimate office environment where our Vietnamese team can thrive and achieve their best performance.[/caption]   The office will increasingly serve as a vital engine for cultivating corporate culture. In the AI era, the office is evolving into a 'strategic engine for cultivating corporate culture.' The goal is to reinvest the time saved through AI-driven efficiency into meaningful face-to-face dialogue and team communication within the workspace. Looking ahead, offices will be expected to upgrade as systems that facilitate this human connection. In our next installment, we will provide a detailed forecast on how office layouts and functions will specifically transform to meet these new demands.

The "Winning Office" for Executives in the AI Era? Vol. 2: How AI is Revolutionizing Office Layouts AI Transforms More Than Just Software When people hear "AI implementation," they often assume it's limited to software or PC-based tasks. However, the rise of AI is bringing fundamental changes to the physical "hardware" of the office. From document volume and desk arrangements to the very nature of meeting rooms- everything is being optimized in tandem with AI integration. In this article, we predict the specific trends in how AI will reshape the modern office. Turning Storage into Synergy: Will Vietnam Follow Suit? One of the most certain changes is the drastic reduction in paper documents. Advances in AI-OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology are digitizing everything, including handwritten notes. As accounting invoices and contract management go digital, massive filing cabinets will disappear from the workspace. Note: While this is a global trend, local regulatory nuances in Vietnam mean the transition may follow a unique trajectory. So, what happens to that vacated space? It is being reborn as "lounges" and "cafe spaces" designed to foster employee communication. Rent once paid for storage is being redirected as an investment in deepening human relationships. Furthermore, in the Vietnamese office market—where landlord authority is strong and sudden relocation risks exist—having fewer physical assets increases a company's mobility and agility. Redefining Meetings: Fewer Large Boardrooms, More Focus The concept of the "meeting" itself is evolving. Previously, significant time was spent on information sharing and minute-taking. Now, AI handles real-time translation, summarization, and transcription. Consequently, meetings are shifting from "information sharing hubs" to "pure decision-making and brainstorming forums." As a result, the demand for large, closed-off boardrooms is declining. In their place, "Huddle Spaces" (informal meeting areas) and standing desks within open zones are becoming essential. Additionally, with hybrid work as the new standard, "Private Phone Booths" for concentrated web conferencing are now a must-have. Layouts that emphasize a clear distinction between "collaborative interaction" and "individual focus" will become the mainstream. The Era of AI-Generated Office Layouts Looking ahead, we are entering a future where AI itself designs and optimizes office layouts. By simply inputting data such as employee headcount, department structures, and office attendance rates, AI can automatically generate the most efficient seating arrangements and traffic flow plans. Using IoT sensors to analyze employee movement and congestion, AI will soon provide proactive suggestions, such as: "This area is underutilized; let's convert it into a focus booth." In Japan, "Adaptive Offices"—where AI controls lighting and air conditioning in real-time based on occupancy and task type—are already being introduced. By adopting such data-driven office management in Vietnam, businesses can eliminate wasted space and maximize cost-performance. Flexibility and data utilization will be the keys. The office in the AI era is no longer a 'static box' completed once and forgotten. It is a  dynamic space' that continuously evolves based on employee behavioral data. Abolishing assigned seating to introduce Hot-desking or Activity-Based Working (ABW) is merely the first step. In our next installment, we will explore how Japanese executives in Vietnam should leverage AI and office design from a management perspective to strengthen their organizations.。

Thank you very much for your continued support and patronage.We are pleased to announce that CRAFTEC, a Japanese design and construction company based in Ho Chi Minh City, has officially launched its new website. CRAFTEC offers a wide range of services, including office, factory, and restaurant design and construction, relocation, renovation, and interior work for both commercial and residential spaces.With Japanese-quality expertise and know-how, we strive to create spaces that offer functionality, aesthetic appeal, and comfort. Our new website is optimized for mobile devices, allowing you to browse comfortably anytime. We will regularly share updates on our services, project achievements, and the latest information related to interior design and construction. We will continue to work hard to create better spaces and further improve our services.We sincerely appreciate your continued support and look forward to serving you.