In the pre-pandemic era, the office was a set-in-stone fixture of the daily grind, a place where employees congregated daily. The pandemic disrupted this pattern, catapulting us into the future of work faster than we could have predicted.
In 2022, flex space accounted for less than 2% of total U.S. office inventory. and an even smaller portion is next-generation space with a mix of private space and shared amenities. Year to date data from JLL shows that the overall footprint of US based offices is actually shrinking.
And yet… teams, leaders, companies and employees want an office experience. They want a centralized location for work. So commercial real estate firms and landlords want to pivot to flexible office spaces, but they're often uncertain about how to do so.
A survey by Cushman & Wakefield and a major coworking brand across London, Singapore, and New York has found increasing demand for flexible office space. This data suggests that flexible office spaces can be a valuable addition to diverse office ecosystems, catering to the increasing demand for workplace flexibility.
Key findings of the survey include:
This survey reaffirms the growing trend of using flex office spaces and the need for such solutions in the evolving landscape of the global workforce.
The real estate sector has typically been slower to adopt new technologies. Significant progress is needed, particularly in bringing together and presenting to users the available flexible office spaces.
New platforms are currently being developed that will allow users to search for, book, monetize, and monitor space use. The advancement of these technology platforms is crucial for fostering growth, enhancing the user experience, and encouraging healthy competition within the flexible office space market.
So, what exactly is flex office software? Put simply, it's a digital tool that helps you manage and optimize your office space. It allows employees to book workspace or meeting rooms and helps administrators design layouts for maximum efficiency and productivity. It's the backbone of an agile office setup that caters to a workforce that can work remotely but still values the opportunity for a dedicated work environment.
What then should you look for in flex office software? Here are some critical attributes:
Flexibility is no longer a luxury, but a necessity of the modern workforce. We are transitioning to a world where a single rigid office layout doesn't cut it anymore. The workforce, having adapted to working remotely, now demands options.
The good news is that adopting a flex office approach doesn't mean losing the benefits of a dedicated work environment. In fact, it enhances it. It fosters an environment where employees can work how they want, where they want, and when they want while still providing the collaborative spirit and sense of community that an office space brings.
Like community managers in coworking spaces, office managers have a crucial role to play in this transition. Embracing change, welcoming remote workers back into physical office spaces, and optimizing the office layout to meet these new demands will set the tone for the future of work in your organization.
With the right flex office software, you can make this transition seamless and efficient. You'll create an office space that is not just a place to work, but a dynamic, adaptable environment that meets the needs of your evolving workforce.
Thankfully, the coworking industry has laid significant groundwork for the rising flex office market. Space management platforms like Coworks are ideal for flex offices, having been forged in the world of flexible workspaces since 2018.
So what do coworking space operations know that flex offices should as well?
Coworking spaces are not just about the physical space. They are hives of community, providing an environment that fosters collaboration and innovation. Commercial real estate professionals can learn from this by focusing on creating spaces that encourage interaction and connection. This could be as simple as designing open spaces for informal meetings or including communal areas like coffee stations where people can naturally come together.
Coworking spaces often operate on flexible lease terms, allowing businesses to scale up or down as their needs change. This kind of flexibility can be appealing to many businesses, especially startups and SMEs. Commercial real estate professionals can learn from this by offering more flexible terms to their tenants, and office managers can offer flexible usage patterns for employees and teams.
The coworking industry understands that today's workers want more than just a desk and a chair. Amenities like high-speed internet, access to printers, coffee machines are a given. Think bigger, such as wellness spaces and entertainment zones, services like meal deliveries, laundry, and after works networking can make using the office even more desirable.
Yes, coworking spaces often have a cool factor. There is no reason why flex offices can take a page from coworking, and bring in more creative color palettes, local artwork, a mix of hard and software furnishings.
That also includes elements that will enable a more productive environment. From natural lighting to ergonomic furniture and acoustic management, every aspect of the design should be carefully thought out to support different kinds of work and work styles. Commercial real estate professionals can learn from this by keeping productivity in mind when designing or renovating their spaces.
The best coworking spaces integrate technology seamlessly. They use tech tools to manage bookings, provide real-time updates on space availability, and offer features like keyless entry. Commercial real estate professionals can learn from this by making sure their properties are equipped with the technology businesses expect and need in the modern work environment.
By understanding and incorporating these elements, flex office space professionals can make their properties more appealing to remote workers, and foster a sense of community and productivity that makes their spaces more than just places to work.
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