With the acceleration of digital transformation in the banking industry, while the number of branches decreases, the expectations of customers using banking services have also changed. Especially with the pandemic, digital solutions like mobile banking have allowed customers to perform all their banking transactions without visiting a branch. Post-pandemic, digital banking solutions will undoubtedly continue to make customers' lives easier, but branches remain an essential part of banking.

It wouldn't be wrong to say that the value of face-to-face communication is better understood after a challenging period. Although the majority of customers have shifted to branchless banking solutions in banking, a significant portion still continues to use branches. In these days when branches no longer host crowds like before, branch designs where customers feel more comfortable, safer, and more convenient are gaining importance.

Due to the pandemic, areas with less physical contact have become preferred. Therefore, it can be said that bank branches need to be designed more spaciously. In common areas and waiting sections of branches, customers should be able to wait on furniture designed with home comfort in mind, without being in close contact with others.

Comfortable furniture for both customers and employees

We can say that there is now a trend towards simplification in bank branches. Lighter-colored furniture, brighter spaces with natural light, and of course, more comfortable... These are not just adjustments and changes for customers. Employees who couldn’t fully switch to remote working models due to their job’s nature during the pandemic, but who had to adapt more quickly to the hybrid working model compared to other corporate structures, must prioritize their comfort and safety.

Ergonomic desks and office chairs, among other office furniture for branch employees, should be suitable for post-pandemic conditions, focusing on their health, and providing a comfortable and safe environment, minimizing close contact with customers.

Ergonomics and simplicity are now inseparable

During the pandemic, we all experienced that we don't need more than necessary. Although the minimalism trend is not very new, its importance was better understood during the period we had to spend at home. Minimalism is not just a trend for homes, of course. In bank branches, too, simpler, eye-friendly, but most importantly, minimalist furniture usage has started to be preferred more with the decrease in the number of customers visiting the branches. With digitalization, it can even be said that simplification in branches has become a necessity.

More practical, modular, and multipurpose office furniture that can be arranged to meet the needs of both branch employees and customers could be a solution to the need for simplicity. The use of environmentally friendly materials is also of separate importance here, as we all openly observed during the pandemic that humans cause the most significant harm to nature. Every production and design that allows nature to regenerate without harming it has become more important than anything else moving forward.

In summary, concepts like simplicity, comfort, ergonomics, and respect for the environment are indispensable in the design and production of all kinds of office furniture, regardless of the sector. Whether in a bank branch or in corporate office spaces, the priority is now to look after the health of employees and customers.