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Inside GE's New Creative Space At The Banks

GE's Global Operations Center at The Banks, which officially opens Tuesday, is expected to pump $1 billion into the Cincinnati economy by 2018. Cincinnati is one of four such regional centers (The others are in Mexico, Hungary, and China) where GE is attempting to simplify, speed up and become more focused for its customers worldwide by bringing together shared services.

Contracts are now digital.
Credit Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
Contracts are now digital.

For example new contracts that used to take many months to review and sign are finished in a matter of days or hours with digital contracts.

The legal department shares the 12 story space with Finance and Accounting, Supply Chain employees, Human Resources, IT and Commercial Operations.

By the end of 2017 GE will employee 1,800 people at the Global Operations Center. Even now the workforce is diverse with 21 nationalities, 25 languages. Fifty percent are women.

The building features open and collaborative work spaces, including a mix of huddle spaces and workstations with floor to ceiling windows.

Employees use a biometrics enabled machine to buy snacks.
Credit Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
Employees use a biometrics enabled machine to buy snacks.

When employees are not working you may find them exercising in the company's fitness facility, playing ping pong or shuffle board in the game room or buying snacks with a biometrics enabled machine.

GE and Cincinnati have a long history. The company opened its first facility in Ohio in 1948. It now has 16 facilities in Ohio, employing nearly 14,500 by the end of this year.

Copyright 2021 91.7 WVXU. To see more, visit .

Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
GE employees are video conferencing in this room.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
GE employees are video conferencing in this room.
This is the courtyard right outside the GE building.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
This is the courtyard right outside the GE building.
General Manager Joe Allen promotes an open space workplace so employees can collaborate.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
General Manager Joe Allen promotes an open space workplace so employees can collaborate.
One of many small rooms available for private phone conversations.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
One of many small rooms available for private phone conversations.
The entire building has floor to ceiling windows, providing lots of light.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
The entire building has floor to ceiling windows, providing lots of light.
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This exercise room is available for employees.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
This exercise room is available for employees.
This is one of several themed break rooms.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
This is one of several themed break rooms.
This robot with video conferencing allows the missing employees to "attend a meeting."
Ann Thompson / WVXU
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WVXU
This robot with video conferencing allows the missing employees to "attend a meeting."
There is even a game room for employees.
Ann Thompson / WVXU
/
WVXU
There is even a game room for employees.

With more than 30 years of journalism experience in the Greater Cincinnati market, Ann Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her reporting. She has reported for WKRC, WCKY, WHIO-TV, Metro Networks and CBS/ABC Radio. Her work has been recognized by the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2019 and 2011 A-P named her “Best Reporter” for large market radio in Ohio. She has won awards from the Association of Women in Communications and the Alliance for Women in Media. Ann reports regularly on science and technology in Focus on Technology.