Forlì, June 19, 2024 – CRIF, a leading company in credit information, data analysis, and business information services, has chosen to rely on VEM sistemi for the technological development of two cutting-edge spaces: CRIF21 and BOOM.
CRIF21: The New CRIF Headquarters
CRIF21 is the new Bologna headquarters inaugurated in 2023. This site marks a step forward in the evolution of workspaces, embodying CRIF’s vision of innovation and transformation of work environments into spaces for connection and belonging, serving both clients and employees.
“The decisions regarding space division and usage are the result of months of analysis and research into employee habits and needs,” explains Elisabetta Longhi, Risk & Property Management Director at CRIF. “The outcome is a flexible, customizable workspace centered around individual needs—more than just an office, it is the beating heart of CRIF’s corporate culture. The building also meets the highest sustainability standards, achieving LEED Platinum certification and ISO 14001 environmental certification for energy impact.”
In such a highly advanced and innovative building, technology also needed to play a fundamental role in people’s daily lives—facilitating collaboration and the achievement of professional and business goals. CRIF’s IT experts partnered with VEM sistemi to design every environment: from the immersive video conferencing room to the conference hall with a dynamic LED wall—each space is designed to ensure full engagement, both remotely and in person.
“In a company like ours, where innovation is a core value, the synergistic relationship between technology and people has always been a key driver,” states Dario Sportelli, IT Infrastructure Director. “That’s why our IT experts and architects collaborated with VEM Sistemi to design each space in detail. The result is a smart working environment, where energy efficiency begins with the building and extends to every technological device. All technological installations were defined in partnership with VEM, which helped us identify the best tools for each room’s purpose. The result is a high-tech space that eliminates the boundaries between physical and digital, transforming the way people work.”
In detail, the CRIF21 building includes 32 rooms equipped with advanced Cisco video conferencing systems, enhanced by AI-powered collaboration features. The spaces are integrated with Schneider Electric’s Building Management Systems, which automatically regulate facilities based on usage and allow control of functions like lighting and temperature via touch devices distributed throughout the building.
Connectivity is naturally at the core of this transformation: for maximum network reliability, CRIF adopted next-generation Wi-Fi 6, while Cisco DNA Center enables automated management with analytics and sensors that monitor Wi-Fi signal quality, providing strategic insights. Additionally, all CRIF offices can work in sync thanks to Samsung’s digital signage system, which allows for scheduling and distribution of identical content across all locations.
“We received great feedback from colleagues on the usability and quality of the rooms and technology, which will now serve as a standard for all new CRIF locations worldwide,” concludes Sportelli.
“Collaboration and Building Management Systems used to be two separate domains, but today they’re increasingly converging and opening up new innovation paths. At VEM, we’ve been pioneers in this field: as one of the few Italian system integrators certified at the highest levels by both Cisco and Schneider Electric, we’ve invested in developing native integrations between BMS sensors and Cisco endpoints. This enables us to offer real benefits in terms of user experience and energy savings,” adds Gabriella Attanasio, CTO of VEM sistemi. “When designing workspaces for our clients, we always focus both on sustainability and user comfort.”
BOOM
BOOM is CRIF’s knowledge and innovation hub in Bologna. It promotes educational initiatives and training programs tailored to students of all academic levels, professionals, entrepreneurs, startups, executives, and corporations. The focus is on developing the key skills needed for the ecosystems of the future. It’s a place where education, innovation, and entrepreneurship intersect and inspire one another to create new growth opportunities and a continuous exchange of know-how.
Though forward-looking, BOOM is designed first and foremost for the people who inhabit it daily. Throughout the project, CRIF collaborated with architects and VEM Sistemi specialists to identify the best technological solutions for each area. The entire facility was designed around the concept of multifunctional space: from corporate training rooms to interactive classrooms for ITS courses, hybrid areas for academies aimed at recent graduates, large venues for corporate events and open days for talent scouting. There are also areas for resident startups and coworking stations, essential for today’s flexible working models.
Technology and interactive experiences are embedded in every corner of the hub: from aerial projection systems, high-speed Wi-Fi, interactive whiteboards, and dedicated zones for both formal and informal collaboration. VEM sistemi equipped BOOM with the highest-grade technologies to meet CRIF’s goal: to create a space that amazes and welcomes, while constantly stimulating visitors through interactive experiences, including touchscreens, gaming areas with touch monitors, and 3D viewers for diving into the BOOM Metaverse—exploring themes like sustainable finance, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and digitalization. All this is supported by Cisco Meraki network infrastructure.
BOOM is therefore a high-tech space designed for people, and in just its first year has already welcomed thousands of visitors—many of them young students participating in interactive workshops.
CRIF21 and BOOM are visionary spaces that showcase CRIF’s commitment to ongoing innovation—not only within its core business sectors but also toward the evolving needs of its people, teams, and the broader community. Every initiative strengthens the company’s role as a leader in innovation, talent development, and as a technological point of reference for the region and local enterprises, thanks to its future-ready working environments.
