IT Brief New Zealand - Technology news for CIOs & IT decision-makers
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Transforming MYOB unveils new $1.4m Auckland office
Wed, 7th May 2014
FYI, this story is more than a year old

The transformation of New Zealand accounting software provider MYOB continues apace with the official opening of its Auckland office last week.

Located in Mt Eden, the office was previously the home of BankLink, which MYOB acquired in May last year, bringing the total number of Auckland-based staff to around 200, making it the second largest office for MYOB after the company’s headquarters in Melbourne.

“When we acquired BankLink in May last year, there was no question we would want to combine our teams in one place," says Tim Reed, CEO, MYOB.

"I am delighted with this new space which reflects the fun, friendly and dynamic culture of our company.

“We’ve adopted the ‘lean start up’ or ‘agile’ way of doing things and that requires a greater emphasis on flexibility and team work.

"In the new Auckland office this approach is reflected in the open plan workspaces and features such as the ‘agile walls’ that allow development teams to be creative and discuss ideas.

"The multiple TV screens and web-cams assist collaboration with their peers in other parts of New Zealand and Australia in a real-time environment.”

The office was designed by Yellow6 and lead designer Suzanne Miller says a key aspect of the design was to bring together the MYOB and BankLink cultures in one space.

“We broke down the physical barriers that had been closing people off from each other and created a totally open plan community,” Miller says.

Reed says the Auckland office is another example of MYOB’s commitment to the New Zealand market.

Of the approximately 300 staff employed in Auckland and Christchurch, a third are involved in software development, as part of the more than AU$35 million that MYOB invests in R&D every year.

Interesting facts about the new MYOB office:

• $1.4 million is the cost of fit-out

• 38 television monitors

• 10 agile interface locations

• 33 different floor finishes (each carpet tile was modelled in 3D for the visuals)

• 17 different wall finishes

• 11 months to complete