Case Studies

Department of Customs and Border Protection Transforms Employee Mobility Workplace boundaries are changing. Today's employees are on the go, creating a new focus on reducing infrastructure costs. Even the nation's capital is getting on board: Since 2013, the U.S. government has mandated that federal agencies maintain their existing leased square footage (called the "Freeze the Footprint" policy) and, where possible, take steps to reduce it to save on rent (one of the biggest expenses at any organization), building materials, energy usage, operational expenses and other costs. Permission for employees to telework is also now part of U.S. law, signed into action with the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. Because of these shifts and directives, the Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency housed within the Department of Homeland Security, had to figure out how to reduce its footprint — with the same number of workers occupying less space — while also allowing employees to work at home seamlessly. As a result of a recent pilot hoteling program using the latest cloud-based software by AgilQuest, telework policies, mobile workplace processes and collaborative workspaces, the CBP has already saved millions of dollars in rent and other costs, while boosting productivity and efficiency among employees. Case Study: Department of Customs and Border Protection Transforms Employee Mobility 01 THE PROBLEM Prior to CBP's first phase of employee mobility transformation in its Office of Administration, the department had limited collaborative space; only managers enjoyed windows; seats were assigned; and paper was everywhere. With nearly 14,000 square feet and 83 individual workstations on two floors — over 200 feet of "usable space" per person — it was tough to envision how it could meet the Department of Homeland Security's internal mandate to reduce "usable space" per person to comply with "Freeze the Footprint" and the Telework Enhancement Act. 200 Feet CASE STUDY

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