Cheers!

*All recipes can be made as mocktails by excluding alcohol and adding extra Bevi water or juice.

Coconut Cranberry Holiday Fizz

Ingredients

• Bevi Coconut Bubbly water
• 1 cup cranberry juice
• 1 cup white rum* (or coconut rum for extra flavor)
• 2 tbsp simple syrup (optional)
• Fresh cranberries & coconut flakes for garnish
• A few sprigs of fresh mint
• Ice

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine cranberry juice, rum, and simple syrup. Fill the pitcher with ice, add Bevi Coconut Water and stir gently. Fill the pitcher with ice and garnish with fresh cranberries, coconut flakes, and mint. Serve chilled.

Pomegranate Blueberry Sparkler

Ingredients

• Bevi Pomegranate Blueberry Bubbly water
• 1 cup vodka*
• 1/2 cup pomegranate juice
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• Fresh pomegranate seeds and blueberries for garnish
• Ice

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine vodka, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and ice. Add Bevi Pomegranate Blueberry Bubbly water and stir gently. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and fresh blueberries and serve chilled.

Lime Mint Mojito Cooler

Ingredients

• Bevi Lime Mint Bubbly water
• 1 cup white rum*
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 tbsp simple syrup (optional)
• Lime wedges and mint sprigs for garnish
• Ice

Directions

In a large pitcher, muddle the fresh mint leaves with lime juice and simple syrup. Add rum and stir. Fill the pitcher with ice and add Bevi Lime Mint Bubbly water, stir gently and garnish with lime wedges and mint sprigs. Serve chilled.

Peach Mango Holiday Punch

Ingredients

• Bevi Peach Mango Bubbly water
• 1 cup spiced rum*
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup grenadine
• Orange slices & cinnamon sticks for garnish
• Ice

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine spiced rum, orange juice, grenadine, ice, Bevi Peach Mango Bubbly water and stir. Garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks and serve chilled.

Blood Orange Cranberry Spritz

Ingredients

• Bevi Blood Orange Bubbly water
• 1 cup gin*
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice
• 1 tbsp orange liqueur (optional)*
• Orange slices and fresh cranberries for garnish
• Ice

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine gin, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, ice, Bevi Blood Orange Bubbly water and stir. Garnish with orange slices and fresh cranberries and serve chilled.

Blackberry Lime Christmas Breeze

Ingredients

• Bevi Blackberry Lime Bubbly water
• 1 cup tequila*
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup agave syrup
• Blackberries and lime slices for garnish
• Ice

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine tequila, lime juice, agave syrup, ice, and stir. Pour in Bevi Blackberry Lime Bubbly water and stir gently. Garnish with blackberries and lime slices and serve chilled.

Cucumber Mint Holiday Refresher

Ingredients

• Bevi Cucumber Bubbly water
• 1 cup gin*
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1/2 cup cucumber juice or fresh cucumber slices, muddled.
• Cucumber slices and mint sprigs for garnish
• Ice

Directions

In a larger pitcher, combine gin, cucumber juice (or muddled cucumber), lime juice, ice, and stir. Add in Bevi Cucumber Bubbly water and stir gently. Garnish with cucumber slices and mint sprigs and serve chilled.

The post 7 Festive Cocktails For Your Next Office Holiday Party appeared first on Bevi.

Before Starry Soda: The Household Names of Lemon-Lime Soda

Lemon-lime soda first bubbled up in the early 20th century. In 1929, Charles Leiper Grigg introduced what we now know as 7UP. Back then, it had a different name—Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda—and it didn’t take long for 7UP to become a hit. Despite the tough times of the Great Depression, people embraced its refreshing taste, offering a simple pleasure during a difficult era.

7UP’s success set the stage for more competition. In 1961, Coca-Cola introduced Sprite, aiming to capture the lemon-lime market. With its crisp taste and vibrant branding, Sprite quickly gained a loyal following. Both 7UP and Sprite became household names, each offering a slightly different take on the classic lemon-lime formula.

Next Chapter: Starry Soda Joins the Fray

For years, PepsiCo tried to compete in the lemon-lime space with Sierra Mist. In 2023, they decided it was time for a change and launched Starry. With a new, crisper flavor and bold marketing aimed at younger consumers, Starry aims to disrupt the established players. PepsiCo made a splash by debuting Starry during the Super Bowl with a commercial featuring popular artist Ice Spice, with follow up advertisements featuring the likes of other popular celebrities and athletes. It’s clear that Starry is positioning itself as a modern and energetic choice in a crowded market.

Starry Soda Wants in on That Pop Culture Fizz

Lemon-lime sodas have always had a knack for staying relevant. In the ’90s, 7UP introduced “Cool Spot,” a fun, animated mascot that appeared in video games and ads. Meanwhile, Sprite leaned into urban culture with its iconic “Obey Your Thirst” campaign, featuring major hip-hop artists and a message of authenticity that resonated with fans.

Today, Starry continues this tradition, tying itself to modern pop culture through social media and influencer collaborations. It’s a reminder that soda is more than just a drink—it’s part of our shared cultural experience.

The Future of Lemon-Lime Sodas: Will Starry Survive and Thrive?

From the early days of 7UP to the bold entrance of Starry, the lemon-lime soda market has seen constant evolution. Each brand brings its own spin, but they all share one mission: to deliver a refreshing, zesty experience. Whether you’re a long-time fan of 7UP or Sprite, or curious to try Starry, one thing’s for sure—the lemon-lime fizz isn’t going anywhere.

The post History of Starry Soda & Other Lemon-Lime Alternatives appeared first on Bevi.

Statement from Bevi Co-founder & CEO, Sean Grundy

A few months into the pandemic, people began seriously questioning whether remote work would last forever. Some proclaimed that people would never go back to offices, citing employee preferences and productivity increases based on remote work in 2020. Remote work also brought tangible benefits to employers, such as the ability to recruit talent nationally or even globally, not to mention cost savings on office space.

Others observed that while individual jobs could be performed well remotely, companies as a whole were becoming less dynamic and more siloed. Employees were feeling disconnected from their peers, leading to a decline in collaboration and a reduction in institutional knowledge which would negatively impact performance. Although fully remote work policies brought tangible benefits to employees and to companies, they also brought new problems (and new vocabulary) like “Zoom fatigue,” “job stacking,” and “quiet quitting.”

Already, in 2020, many companies suggested hybrid work as part of the Goldilocks scenario. Companies could balance the efficiency and employee satisfaction that come from working from home sometimes, with the better communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing that come from working in person. While some companies continued to espouse fully remote work or 5 days a week in person, the majority of companies looked to hybrid work as the answer. Debates raged between employers and employees and between pundits over what hybrid work would look like and whether it would succeed or fail.

Since 2015, Bevi has been building a database of workplace attendance by region and by industry. This gives us a unique view of office life throughout the pandemic and its aftermath. While the RTO debate raged over the past four years, the actual level of workplace attendance has gradually – but consistently and unmistakably – risen. In 2023 we had assumed we were finally near an equilibrium in hybrid work, with people coming to the office ~2.7 days per week, but in fact, we’ve seen workplace attendance increase even more in 2024, to an average of over 3.0 days per week (and still climbing).

Although hybrid work has taken root, in 2024 it is gradually resembling more and more of a 5-day work week, with attendance increasing on Mondays and Fridays relative to 2023 (though still comparatively light on those days relative to 2019). That said, the traditional 9-5 workday does appear to have gone away; although on average employees commute fewer days per week, our data shows that when they do go into the office, they work longer and fewer standard hours.

I’m excited to see how hybrid work continues to evolve, but one thing is clear from the data: most companies see significant value in spending time together in person.

Findings in this report:

1. Return to office trends may exceed 2023 predictions
2. We’re seeing more in-person attendance for all industries—except one
3. Los Angeles and Boston are leading the return to the office
4. Tuesday is still the busiest day in the office after the pandemic
5. The shift away from 9-to-5 workdays continues
6. What’s Powering AI? More Consistent Time in the Office Than Other Tech Companies

1. Return to office trends may exceed 2023 predictions

Ahead of previous predictions. At the start of 2024, Bevi predicted that office attendance would reach 64% of its pre-pandemic level by the end of this year. Data shows we are nearing that prediction, currently trending at 62% of average 2019 in-office attendance, as of July 2024. 

What’s next? Office attendance will continue to bounce back this year, outpacing our previous expectations given dispense data trends from our internet-connected water coolers. While we initially forecasted 9% growth in office attendance from last year to this year, we now anticipate surpassing that by 5 percentage points, reaching 69% of pre-pandemic attendance by the end of 2024.

Behind the numbers. Our projection came from looking closely at aggregate usage data from our Smart Water Coolers®, which are found in thousands of offices across all 50 states. We estimate office attendance by tracking water consumption, which tends to mirror time spent by employees in the office. By aligning each month’s data with the corresponding month in 2019, we account for drinking habits in a consistent, seasonal way. This method allows us to accurately gauge shifts in office attendance since the pandemic, focusing on overall trends while ensuring individual company data remains confidential.

2. We’re seeing more in-person attendance for all industries—except one

Slow but steady. Out of the five industries we tracked, four saw increases in office attendance this year compared to last. Some industries experienced significant gains, with the technology sector showing an 11 percentage point spike. 

Of note: now, all major industries are at more than half of 2019 pre-pandemic attendance levels. 

One, and only one sector—arts, entertainment, and recreation—saw no difference in office attendance between this year and last, indicating that they may have found a new equilibrium with attendance three days per week. 

Importantly, no industry is seeing less in-person attendance in 2024 than they saw in 2023—and almost all of them are seeing significantly more.

3. Los Angeles and Boston are leading the return to the office

I’m goin’ through changes. Los Angeles is seeing a rise in office attendance for multiple reasons, including California’s new hybrid work policy for state employees, which requires over 240,000 workers across the Golden State to now be in the office at least two days a week. (It’s a push that should help to bolster local economies, but not everyone is happy about it.) This jump continues a trend from October of 2020 when Los Angeles employees began to trickle back into the office even as remote work dominated.

Busy in Beantown. Boston continues to outpace New York City, San Francisco, and Chicago in office attendance. This trend is supported by other foot traffic data and highlights Boston’s success in integrating in-person collaboration with effective hybrid work strategies, according to the Boston Business Journal. 

Boston stands out in adapting to the future of work due to its many mixed-use developments, which have been a key focus of the city’s urban planning for over a decade. Neighborhoods such as Back Bay, Seaport, Charlestown, and South Boston blend residential, dining, and retail spaces, creating the opportunity for work-life balance close to where people actually work.

4. Tuesday is still the busiest day in the office after the pandemic

Same coordinates but a different place. We’re getting closer to pre-pandemic office attendance levels, but the workweek definitely looks different for almost everyone. While attendance is increasing on Mondays and Fridays, the middle stretch of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday is still the most popular time for employees to be in the office.

Companies are still experimenting with mandates as a way to better balance how full the office is over the course of the week. Deutsche Bank, for example, now requires employees to be in the office on Fridays and Mondays as part of their time in-office. 

While Mondays are making a comeback, Fridays still pose a challenge for getting people back to their desks. In early 2024, Friday attendance saw the smallest increase compared to last year. For many, Fridays have now been solidified as a relaxed, low-key day—a chance to ease into the weekend by working at their own pace, often from the comfort of their own home.

5. The shift away from 9-to-5 workdays continues

Traditional workdays are yesterday’s vibe. Although overall office attendance has increased since 2023, our adherence to the traditional 9-to-5 schedule has continued to decline. In 2024, 20% of office attendance occurs outside of these standard hours, compared to just 13% pre-pandemic.

This change marks the start of a shift away from the rigid 9-to-5 work schedule. As employees adapt to hybrid work—and gradually return to the office more frequently—the timing of when people actually show up will be different from pre-pandemic times.

With hybrid work, there’s more flexibility to manage everyday life, whether it’s avoiding rush hour, handling family duties, running errands, or making use of the office during quieter evening hours.

For many employees, this will mean showing up to the office later. Over half of adults naturally go to bed after midnight, so a standard workday was something always out of sync with many people’s internal clocks. Now, they can work when they’re most focused and inspired, leading to better quality work and less burnout. That’s a win-win for employers and their employees, and a key reason to believe the amount of work happening outside of traditional hours will go up another two or three percentage points in 2025.

6. What’s Powering AI? More Consistent Time in the Office Than Other Tech Companies

Office attendance at AI companies generally follows similar patterns to other tech firms, but AI workers show a more balanced presence throughout the week, with higher attendance on Mondays and Fridays.

Apparently, the most innovative, fastest paced, and highest-tech industry still values old-fashioned in-person work. AI still needs humans!

The post Glass Half Full: A Look at Return-to-Office Trends Halfway Through 2024 appeared first on Bevi.

Love a recipe? Feel free to share a photo with us on social @getbevi.

Clementine Spritz for Two

Raspberry Lemon Spritz

Hugo Spritz

Watermelon Spritz Mocktail

The post Bubbly with Bevi Summer Spritz Series appeared first on Bevi.

It turns out there’s a handy indicator for how much time employees spend in the office: how much water they drink at work. We dug into the data from our nationwide network of internet-connected water coolers, which are spread across thousands of small- to medium-sized businesses and 30% of the Fortune 1000, to understand how return to office is actually going.

How we analyze office attendance

Let’s start by defining how we compare pre- and post-pandemic office attendance. We assume that on average, individuals consume the same amount of water per year from 2019 to 2023. In other words, we assume that the amount of water they drink in the office is an accurate reflection of the time they spent in the office. 

Fluctuation in the use of Bevi machines, therefore, serves as a proxy for fluctuation in office attendance. We compare each month in a given post-pandemic year—2021, 2022, and 2023—to the same month in 2019 (since water consumption isn’t consistent month to month). Through these comparisons, we can see how far office attendance is behind—or ahead, in the surprising case of some major metropolitan areas—pre-pandemic levels for any given month. 

And an important legal note! We only examine and report on aggregate data, grouped by industry, region, or company size. We never share individual company data. Bevi does not sell usage data.

So… what did we find?

1. We’re returning to the office whether we like it or not

In April of 2020, office attendance across industries and cities plummeted to 6% of what was seen the previous year. Since this rapid swing to remote-first work, office attendance has steadily recovered, reaching 24% of its pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021, 49% by the end of 2022, and 56% by the end of 2023. Some experts argued that office attendance at 50% would be the new normal, but our data shows that we’re already above that—and continuing to trend upward.

2. San Francisco is last in return to office (but it’s not as far behind as you think)

From our analysis of nine major U.S. cities, San Francisco trails in post-pandemic office attendance, reaching only 43% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023. The area once known for a bustling tech scene and booming real estate market has seen an exodus of companies and a tumble in commercial building valuations, while a third of its residents work totally remote jobs—the highest rate among all U.S. cities.

3. Dallas and Miami led the charge back to office life

In contrast to their northeastern and western counterparts, southern metropolitan areas, especially those within Florida and Texas, prioritized an “open for business” approach much earlier—and it shows in their office attendance numbers. Dallas saw its in-office attendance surpass pre-pandemic levels by 12 percentage points in 2023, ranking second nationally behind Miami, which saw a 26 point surge.

4. Days in the office are fewer, but longer

Whereas office attendance was more evenly dispersed across the five-day work week before the pandemic, the time employees spent in the office last year condensed around two days in particular: Tuesday and Wednesday.
And a greater portion of in-office hours now take place before 9AM and after 5PM than before the pandemic. This could be a strategy to avoid the commute, and it’s possible people are falling into two camps: starting earlier in order to leave earlier, or coming in later and leaving later. One thing is clear: fewer people are working the traditional eight hours.

5. Wall Street is still intense, but not like old times

Finance companies saw their New York City office attendance surpass the national average this year—a benchmark they also outpaced before the pandemic. For major financial institutions in The Big Apple, return-to-office mandates have been strict, with major players such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock giving ultimatums to their employees to return.

6. Tech saw the biggest jump in 2023

The tech sector is in last place of all industries in terms of return-to-office, with only 46% of pre-pandemic attendance levels in 2023. But the picture is getting brighter: tech has seen a marked surge from 31% in 2020. Denver, which has been a growing hub for tech talent in recent years, really shot up; the fact that its wage growth is outpacing rent has helped the Mile High City attract young, educated, tech-savvy workers to relocate.

7. Mid-sized companies allow for the most remote work

Across industries, mid-sized companies are seeing the lowest in-office attendance, and most flexible working arrangements from their employees. This could be because mid-sized companies exist in a sweet spot between startup “hustle culture” and big company bureaucracy.

Predictions for 2024—and beyond

Nationally, year-over-year workplace attendance will gradually increase to 62 to 64% in 2024. Companies will continue to offer flexibility, but will promote RTO to ensure that people in different departments stay connected to each other and that new people are learning.

The vague term “hybrid” will break into more specific definitions as companies figure out what works for them. More companies will label themselves either “remote first” or “office first.” These labels will serve as beacons to attract like-minded employees. Recent college grads will primarily seek “office first” jobs in an effort to absorb more knowledge and jumpstart their careers. 

Long-term, the threat of being displaced by lower-cost alternatives—from workers in countries with lower GDP to AI bots interfacing with ChatGPT—will lead to more in-person attendance. Personal relationships will become an important differentiator in getting work done more effectively than AI, or than a fellow human on the other side of the world, could. This will prompt people to dust off their soft skills and their business socks and prioritize working together in person again!

The post What Water Coolers can Tell us About Return to Office appeared first on Bevi.

1. Offices are getting smaller, but nicer

Offices are shrinking, continuing a trend from the past decade but accelerating even more now that nearly 74% of companies offer hybrid arrangements.

Did you know?

In the next three years, half of the largest international employers are planning to shrink their workspaces. By the middle of 2023, for the first time since 2000, there was less new office space built in the U.S. than torn down or repurposed, breaking ground on 5 million square feet and closing out 14.7 million square feet.

Compact but powerful office spaces

But while offices are getting smaller, they’re also getting mightier. The traditional open concept is giving way to innovative, inviting layouts that enhance collaboration, efficiency, and comfort even with a tighter footprint. This change in office trends is not just about optimizing space but also about creating an atmosphere that mirrors the coziness of home. According to architect Brandon Larcom, the workplace “needs to become a destination versus an obligation” in order to get people back at their office desks. Warm colors, natural lighting, plants, and upgraded kitchens and break rooms are all becoming more popular.

This office trend going forward…

Expect to see more artful, unique, and high-end design trends, from curved hallways and paths that conceal meeting rooms in plain sight to modular furniture that makes it easy to flip a space from heads-down individual work to full on collaboration. Office furniture will continue trending away from rows of desks to a more welcoming layout with couches, armchairs, stools, and bistro tables—even fireplaces. Whatever helps make the employees comfortable, creative, and sparking off new ideas.

2. Flexibility extends beyond the home office

Heading back to the office doesn’t mean saying goodbye to the flexibility employees got used to during the pandemic. In fact, businesses must adapt their spaces more than ever to accommodate diverse working preferences and remote habits. Failing to do so may stop employees from making the effort to come in—especially when their home setup perfectly suits their needs.

A space in the office for every personality type

The office of tomorrow will have more open environments that accommodate varied working preferences, according to real-estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. For example, while some can work in loud, noisy environments, others require complete silence to stay focused on tasks. This means bringing in more quiet spaces such as private phone booths and pods, while continuing to maintain the lively common areas and open-plan kitchens. Since office space is getting smaller, striking this balance between so many different preferences is tricky.

This office trend going forward…

Whether working at a desk or by the fireplace, the main focus should be productivity, not just feng shui. Instead of splurging on game rooms or beer fridges, companies are emphasizing practical features such as mental wellness rooms, outdoor workspaces, and lactation rooms. Catering to employee preferences doesn’t mean unnecessary luxuries or fad office trends, but a focus on building the most conducive environment for getting work done. Comfort in the name of progress.

3. Days in the office are fewer, but longer

There’s a new pattern of foot traffic to expect from employees.

While there have been headlines suggesting Wednesday is the busiest day of the week for office attendance, Bevi has analyzed dispense data from our Smart Water Cooler® machines—which are found in thousands of offices across all 50 states—and seen that Tuesday and Wednesday actually have similar attendance rates.

Most popular days to come in

Whereas office attendance was more evenly dispersed across the five-day work week before the pandemic, the time employees are spending in office has condensed around the middle of the week. When employees have the autonomy to choose when they come in, they primarily choose Tuesday to Thursday, with fewer trips in on Monday and Friday.

While people are in the office fewer days per week, their days seem to be getting longer. A greater portion of in-office hours now take place before 9AM and after 5PM than before the pandemic. This could be a strategy to avoid the commute. People are falling into two camps: starting earlier in order to leave earlier, or coming in later and leaving later. One thing is clear: fewer people are working the traditional eight hours.

This office trend going forward…

Looking for more insights on how return-to-office is actually going? Explore our free report for detailed insights.

What’s next?

Since the sharp decline at the start of 2020, national workplace attendance has been steadily increasing and is projected to keep rising in 2024. Companies will continue to offer flexible working arrangements, but they will also promote return to office more to ensure that people in different departments stay connected to each other and that new people are learning. And recent college grads will primarily seek “office first” jobs in an effort to absorb more knowledge and jumpstart their careers.

Looking ahead, employees facing the potential threat of displacement from lower-cost alternatives, including workers in countries with lower GDP and AI bots interfacing with ChatGPT, will increasingly value personal relationships as a crucial factor in effective work. This will likely drive even greater in-person attendance.

When it comes down to figuring out the future office plan, think of these employees and their changing work environment, split between the office and home, informed by advanced new tools. Their health, wellness, productivity, and business continuity should take the utmost importance in how the post-pandemic office space functions, according to Joseph Allen, director of Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program and associate professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

“Major organizations are rethinking their approach to commercial real estate…because the C-suite has started to really pay attention to the key role that buildings play in the health of their people and their company,” he said.

The post Office Trends You Can’t Miss in 2024 appeared first on Bevi.

Here are a few ideas for easing that transition.

1. Your office may need a major upgrade

Compared to pre-pandemic times, renewal rates for office leases have fallen by 41%, while new leases and relocations are down only 21%.

Class A and A+ office buildings are in greater demand than their Class B and C counterparts—and they can command a 50% and 94% premium, respectively.

When asked whether their company has or plans to have a physical footprint…

“Investments in the physical office space are an important part of a broader hybrid strategy.”

Sean Grundy, CEO, Bevi

Opportunity: With the commercial real estate market still in recovery, now is a great time to shop for a new workspace or to assess your current footprint to ensure your office will accommodate your RTO policies.

2. Invest in success

43% of office workplaces have effective spaces and offer a great occupant experience, while 33% do neither. Employees in workplaces with both are more engaged and committed and have better team relationships and a sense of belonging.

Six in 10 corporate real estate professionals plan to redesign their offices to be more fluid and flexible. Among those who did renovate…

IoT solutions that monitor space usage and occupancy rates can reduce energy consumption by 30 to 40%.

“Employees are significantly less resistant to a top-down return-to-office push if the physical office space is welcoming, comfortable, and productive.”

Sean Grundy, CEO, Bevi

Workspaces with a window-to-wall ratio of 60% are optimal for worker performance.

Opportunity: Create an environment for return-to-office success by evaluating your current workplace. Update your floor plans, interior design and building systems to integrate more modern and efficient technology and to accommodate the needs of a dynamic workforce—or risk low employee engagement, innovation and company loyalty.

3. The best offices have the best amenities

Leading companies seeking new real estate look for buildings with an average of 14 amenities and upwards of 18. Among the most sought-after amenities are…

The perks that matter most to workers are:

Going into the office costs each work an average of $51 per day. That’s $14 for commuting and $8 for parking, $13 for breakfast and a coffee as well as $16 for lunch. Meals and snacks and beverage options, natural light, and inviting collaborative spaces are all levers that help encourage employees to come in and see the value in cross-functional engagement rather than just working remotely.

Opportunity: Lighten the logistical burden of return-to-office by outfitting your workplace with facilities, services, and amenities to create an unparalleled experience that engages employees and attracts new talent.

The post 3 Ways to Become the Office Your Employees Want to Return To appeared first on Bevi.

A big part of that health is keeping people hydrated and focused. Now imagine the towers of plastic bottled water and energy drinks necessary to meet their needs. We know—quenching the thirst of a large physically active workforce isn’t easy. And as the summer heat amplifies the demand for hydration, you should go with a solution that lets people hydrate their way without the plastic and aluminum waste; concerns around beverage filtration; and with clean, natural ingredients.

That’s where a bottleless solution like Bevi’s Smart Water Cooler beverage machine comes in. These machines offer cold filtered water with a wide variety of natural flavors and uplifting enhancements—electrolytes, vitamins, and caffeine—to choose from. Add carbonation if you feel like it. Mix and match multiple flavors and enhancements, pour at the touch of a button. Plus, each refill is a small victory for the planet: one less single-use bottle or can needed. 

Here are five reasons why your manufacturing, warehousing, or logistics company should seize this summer as the time to finally make the switch to a bottleless water cooler.

1. It demonstrates care for your employees

Something refreshing and healthy, like the sugar-free flavor options and sodium-free enhancements provided by a Bevi machine, can help boost worker health, morale, and community. 

Everyone in your warehouse, manufacturing plant, or distribution center is looking to hydrate and fuel up for the long day, and a Bevi machine offers unmatched efficiency. When facing a long day of transit or manual labor, it’s the secret elixir for sustained energy. 

Drivers have told us that filling up their personal, reusable bottles with filtered water from a Bevi machine—topped with electrolytes and caffeine—is what gets them through the windshield miles from one location to another. And instead of heading into a gas station’s convenience store to buy an artificially-sweetened (and expensive) drink along the way, they can keep moving forward with energy and enthusiasm. What they’re left thinking about is the next time they can get back to that Bevi machine.

When your employees spend their days in motion, it can be hard to get a word in. But it’s no less important to show you care about their health and well-being, especially when your workers are physically active. The presence of a Bevi machine is more than just an appliance—it’s a statement. It’s saying “We care about you and we value your work,” without uttering a word.

2. It makes your workplace more competitive

Now, we know what you might be thinking. A Bevi machine may look too fancy for your employees who already have their favorite brands and flavors of old-school bottled beverages. We get it—no one wants to be the bad guy who disrupts the routine, especially in an industry where sticking to schedule is crucial. 

But the manufacturing industry is changing fast, and your employees know it. New developments in the IoT, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing are enabling manufacturing companies to optimize processes and cut costs unlike ever before, leading some experts to declare that a fourth industrial revolution is already underway. 

In this environment of rapid technological development, workers want to be with companies who show they have what it takes to make it in this competitive landscape. An eye-opening 2024 survey by Epicor found that 50% of American manufacturing workers would consider taking a pay cut in order to accept work in a more technology-driven industry. At a time when people in your industry are exploring alternate pathways, it’s more important than ever to illustrate your company’s agility.

One simple way? Getting rid of vending machines full of plastic and cans, coolers of sports drinks, or heavy five-gallon jugs, and installing an all-in-one smart water dispenser instead. Bevi will blow your employees away, offering more options for drink customization than ever before: your choice of flavors, temperature, bubbles, and enhancements so they can feel great every day on the job. Our beverage team is always hard at work coming up with new additions to this flavor portfolio— including the recent addition of blood orange—that might just help workers kick their soda and sugary energy drink habits for something healthier and still great tasting.

Intuitive to use and with a compact footprint, the Bevi machine comes in both stand-up and countertop models. Either way, its presence in the break room is a small upgrade that shows your company is thinking about the coming decades, utilizing the latest hydration technology and embracing forward-thinking values, like environmental stewardship and water filtration. It’s a small upgrade that shows your company isn’t just riding the wave of the fourth industrial revolution, but is fully prepared to surf it, all while ensuring all of your employees get to keep the fizz, fun, and flavors for the ride.

Ready to seize this summer as the time to go bottleless in your manufacturing, logistics, distribution, or warehouse company? Complete the form for a custom quote!

3. It’s integral to workplace safety

Not only does adequate hydration make you feel more clear-headed and energetic, it’s also crucial for workplace safety. Dehydration can lead to dizziness, confusion and physical exhaustion—all of which can be dangerous when spending the day on foot, operating heavy machinery. Drinking enough water is so important that the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA regulations require employers to provide access to water, as well as electrolyte supplementation in the summer for employees who work more than two hours. Enter Bevi: the eco-friendly way to ensure occupational safety.

Another safety perk? Smart water dispensers, like Bevi machines, eliminate the incidents caused by plastic jugs. Prone to leaks and spillage, those dispensers pose the risk of slips and can cause water damage to nearby items. Bevi machines only release water when actively used, minimizing incidents. Plus, we eliminate the back-straining ritual of replacing water jugs — your employees get enough lifting in already. 

The CDC recommends consuming water every fifteen minutes in typical weather conditions, and our needs only increase in the summer. And if you’re operating during heat waves when temperatures soar between 103 and 115 degrees, health experts recommend drinking four cups of water an hour. The forces of nature are unpredictable. With temperature fluctuations, it’s impossible to estimate what water usage will be in a given week, leading to concern about running out on hot days—that is, if you’re getting your water the outdated way. 

Rather than rely on rapidly replacing five-gallon jugs or stocking and restocking vending machines, Bevi provides water on-demand. Our Smart Water Cooler beverage machine’s Internet connection allows us to keep tabs of when your machine needs service, CO2, or flavor refills, and connect you with a local service partner, so you know you’ll always have fresh water.

4. It saves time and hassle

When you’re in the manufacturing game, you’ve got enough on your plate without adding water and sports drink restocking to the mix. Let’s be real: dealing with traditional water delivery is a headache. Whether it’s the hassle of coordinating with multiple vendors or being ready to accept delivery, not receiving enough of the right flavored beverage, or having to manage the recycling of bottles and cans in your facility, sticking to antiquated methods is just plain draining. Why waste time and effort on unnecessary routines?

Thanks to Bevi’s remote monitoring capabilities and our team of partners across the country, our Wi-fi connected Bevi machines do all this servicing for you. We’ll handle the flow of water, changing out filters at the right times, swapping out flavors and enhancements when your supplies get low, and making sure all other hardware or software issues that may arise are proactively addressed. You can focus on your business’ future. That’s true peace of mind.

You may see a Bevi machine and think it’s a high-tech amenity reserved for high-end office spaces; but a Bevi machine is designed to fit in anywhere, and its refreshing, customizable beverages are widely-appreciated. Wherever you find a Bevi machine, you’ll find a line of people looking to stay hydrated, energized, and delighted.

5. It signals your commitment to the planet

As the backbone of the global supply chain, manufacturers do important work keeping resources and commerce flowing throughout the country. Unfortunately, this also results in a huge environmental footprint: the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that the manufacturing industry consumed a whopping 54% of the world’s total delivered energy. 

To stay ahead in a world where sustainability commands the attention of governments and consumers alike, the manufacturing sector must embrace swift transformations. Some companies are already leading the way: As of April 2024, 127 manufacturing and transportation companies have signed the Climate Pledge, and committed to meeting zero carbon emissions by 2040 — ten years before required by the Paris Agreement.

Bottles have a bigger footprint than you think: transporting one bottle from factory to fridge generates 78.9g of carbon emissions. One easy way to show your company is committed to sustainability? Ditch unnecessary plastic and invest in sustainable water solutions.

Simply switching to Bevi can help chip away at your company’s climate emissions instantly. Our eco-friendly water coolers dramatically reduce bottle plastic and aluminum waste from your facilities: each of our machines can save more than 50,000 12 oz. single-use containers a year.

But it’s not just about stats. Bevi keeps your manufacturing crew hydrated while being kind to the planet. With Bevi machines quietly dispensing refreshing drinks, the choice is simple: keep your employees happy and refreshed. Join us in unbottling the future.

The post 5 Reasons to Go Bottleless This Summer appeared first on Bevi.

Because of the pandemic, employers are now more focused on keeping employees healthy and happy, hoping they’ll come to work in person and attract great talent. This has created what’s called the “hospitality-driven workplace,” where offices are getting fancier, taking ideas from hotels, spas, and top-notch gyms. Companies are also buying tools, amenities, and services to make it easier and faster for employees to do their jobs.

But we’re also in a period in which more and more businesses, even those that are profitable, are cutting costs, and that often means drawing the line on amenities. So how do you offer amenities that drive employee engagement and happiness while also keeping costs low? Starting at $450 per month, a Bevi Standup 2.0 machine is an investment—but an investment that can easily be offset by removing some needless costs from your budget.*

And hey, we get it. At Bevi, we’re trying to invest capital in the right places, too, growing our business and continually working to make our products higher quality and lower cost for our customers and more impactful for the planet. We believe in spending office amenities budgets wisely, avoiding spending on anything that will  end up gathering dust or won’t make a noticeable difference to employee happiness, well-being, or productivity.

So here’s how we think about it: what’re you already paying for in the office—and probably shouldn’t—that could easily go towards the cost of a smart water cooler?

1. The ghost of subscriptions past

With AI-powered technology taking the world by storm and making us more productive, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is becoming a larger part of the company budget. A survey by Productiv found that SaaS use steadily grew between 2021 and 2023, and reached an all-time high last year, with organizations using 371 apps on average. This chalks up to a huge company cost of almost $10k per employee. 

We all know software technology can be instrumental for working better: it can help us summarize meeting notes, find coding bugs, improve our scheduling system, and write marketing content. But when you can’t keep track of all the subscriptions you’ve signed up for, it can be detrimental, and in the era of recurring payments, the ghosts of subscriptions past will come back to haunt you: the same Productiv study found that 52% of licenses were unutilized. Expenditures on unused, underused, or duplicate SaaS tools represent a huge strain on company budgets, and result in an annual waste of almost $135,000. 

If software licensing is under your purview, make sure you’re taking time to review what software tools employees are actually using and train employees so that they are informed about the resources they have at their disposal. By streamlining your SaaS offerings, you can clear up space in the budget for a light and refreshing amenity which doesn’t involve spreadsheets. (Maybe a Bevi machine?)

2. SWAG that goes on and on

Think ballpoint pens, notebooks, sweatshirts, T-shirts, baseball caps, tote bags, AirPod cases even — all stamped with your company’s logo. Yes, company merch can be a fun amenity. But how many T-shirts with your company’s logo do your employees really want? Let’s be honest: Most of us have enough T-shirts and tote bags, and are already struggling to clean out our closets. 

Often given out at onboarding or around the holidays, company gifts are one tool companies can use to try and bolster employee morale and create a cohesive corporate culture. But the costs often stack up, with companies spending up to $36,000 a year on swag for employees alone, not even counting all the swag purchased for events and customers. And if leftover company merch goes unutilized, it becomes something that takes up space in a company closet or storage unit. Sometimes less really is more when it comes to gifting, and it’s better to invest in an amenity that employees will use on a daily—perhaps even hourly—basis. Maybe something spritzy and hydrating?

3. The throne of thrones

As workplaces become more hospitality-driven, many top-tier offices look more like luxury hotels than you might remember. Gone are the days of cubicles and tiny break rooms; now there are “lounges”, quiet zones, and collaborative conference rooms. Every room needs to be furnished accordingly, with a “vibe” and amenities that rivals the comfort you’d get working from home, or the concentration you’d get in a small blank room. This results in a huge cost per person: the San Francisco firm The Space Place estimates that furnishing 10,000 square feet of office space costs companies between $120,000 to $300,000, depending on whether the company chooses standard or high-end fittings.

Comfort is critical, sure, but your conference room table doesn’t need to look like a spaceship to get ideas flying. If your company is ready for a refurbishing, perhaps consider finding someone on your team who’s great at finding deals, and offer them the assignment with a bonus. January and July tend to be good times for company-wide sales, when you can keep your eyes out for special discounts. And the right pieces of second-hand furniture will come at a great discount—reducing the purchase cost by 50% to 80%—while maintaining basically the same functionality. 

Many furniture suppliers are happy to offer one-on-one support, and have customer relations representatives happy to help you find the best fit for your budget. If you’re in desperate need of back support, stat, check out this list of ergonomic chairs under $300.

4. Retreats, company fly-outs, and all other kinds of travel

OK, this one isn’t exactly inside the office, but stick with us anyway. In the corporate world, company retreats and fly-outs are a great way to get employees on different teams to break out of their comfort zones, solve problems in new and innovative ways, and build camaraderie. While the idea of whisking away the entire team to a picturesque locale for brainstorming and bonding might sound like the ultimate perk, the costs can quickly spiral into a budgetary black hole. From securing a venue that accommodates both work and leisure to flights, meals, transportation, and team-building activities, the expenses stack up. For instance, flying out a mid-sized team for a weekend retreat could easily run into tens of thousands of dollars, especially if international travel is involved.

Why stop there: with a typical three-day domestic business trip costing around $1,000 per employee, companies are rethinking their vendor meetings and conference plans, finding more cost-effective ways to build networks and understand client challenges.  

In comparison, a Bevi smart water cooler in the office is a modest investment that keeps on giving, offering hydration and a small daily delight without the logistical nightmare and hefty price tag of a company-wide retreat. It’s also something that everyone can enjoy, not just one specific team on one specific week. Rather than escape the office, why not make a small investment in making the day-to-day office more exciting?

5. Expensive gym equipment amenities

Nothing says “we’ve made it” like an on-site office gym boasting top-tier equipment. But when you’re talking about the workplace, are machines fit for Olympians really necessary?

With employee health and wellness becoming an increasingly high priority, some workplaces are investing in tools for fitness aficionados, like the Normatec compression tools ($399-$1449) to reduce muscle soreness and the Somadome meditation pod ($14,500) for enhanced mind-body connection. These additional tools are stacked onto the more traditional equipment we already know about, like the Peloton bike – which we love, don’t get us wrong, but comes with a price tag as steep as the mountains you can climb on it ($1,445, plus an All-Access membership which comes at $44/month). 

Treadmills, elliptical machines, free weights and tools take up not only a significant amount of space and require cleaning and maintenance, but also a considerable chunk of the budget. More simple measures, like subsidizing employees’ external gym memberships, can be just as effective, and can give your employees more choices.

*Based on a Boston office of 25 employees dispensing about 400, 20 oz. drinks per month.

Now that you’re pondering all those pricey office splurges, a Bevi machine looks like a far simpler investment. Want a quote for your own smart office water dispenser? Complete the form and we’ll be in touch!

The post 5 Office Costs You’d Rather Spend on a Bevi Machine appeared first on Bevi.

The Challenge: How do you promote collaboration (and health) in the office?

• To foster a more engaging and connected office experience, DHL is introducing new perks and benefits for its employees, including upgraded water dispensers across five corporate offices that makes it easier (and more fun) for office staff to stay hydrated throughout the day.

• Christine Stroup, DHL’s assistant facilities manager, often heard from many of the 900 employees in her office that they rarely drank water—sometimes only a single cup.

• Keeping employees curious, motivated, and connected begins with keeping them healthy. And most doctors (good ones, anyway) would recommend starting with drinking more water!

The Fix: Bringing back water cooler talk (with custom, good-for-you options)

• After installing a Bevi machine, the first thing Christine noticed was how many employees were coming from all over the large, four-story office to use it—and how consistently they were coming back throughout the day. “All different departments spend time together at the Bevi,” she says.

• Individual excitement for crafting the perfect beverage for any time of day, mixing and matching flavors, enhancements, temperatures, and bubbles, became ongoing conversation and collaboration.

• It’s not only building a tighter-knit community, but also healthier habits, creating a positive feedback loop. Christine notes that people are now “getting up and taking breaks, taking little walks, chatting with people they don’t know,” all because of the Bevi machine.

• “It’s really helped people in our building get to know each other that wouldn’t normally interact or cross paths,” she says.

The Victory Dance: Quality choices are what count

• It may seem like just water, but with the array of quality combinations Bevi offers, there’s something new to try every day. “It’s water, but it’s impactful,” Christine says. “It can be exactly how you want it to be.”

• Christine’s latest discovery? Their Bevi machine dispenses hotter water than the kitchen’s coffee machine. “I’ve started putting hot lemon water [from the machine] in my tea,” she shares. “It tastes delicious.”

Want to see more customer success stories? Keep reading here.

The post How DHL Supply Chain Keeps Employees Hydrated and Productive appeared first on Bevi.