The hidden value of a Nespresso Professional Coffee machine: A cultural transformation at Rio Tinto’s Australian office

Workplaces around the world are looking for an edge on improving office culture. At Rio Tinto’s Brisbane headquarters, the water cooler has been replaced by a Nespresso Professional Coffee machine and the business is reaping the benefits.

Being able to promote employee connections centrally within their work environment created countless opportunities for organic collaboration and connectivity. While this is undoubtably positive from a social perspective, the benefits from a productivity perspective are also tangible.

A face-to- face request is 34 times more successful than an email* a significant number when you consider the scale of Rio Tinto’s workforce.

With the Nespresso Professional machine facilitating new connections and improving relationships, Rio Tinto are only scratching the surface of what is possible.

*Vanessa K Bohns, Harvard Business review 2017 (https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-face-to-face-request-is-34-times-more-successful-than-an-email)