Why Flexible Workspaces are Replacing Traditional Offices

COVID-19 shattered the notion of working in a “traditional office.” Employers have begun to reconsider the idea of office space as a sense of normalcy returns. Here’s what we can expect for the future of office space, from flexible workspaces to offices with more social spaces.

Desks in rows. An open floor plan is ideal. Teams are seated together. The traditional office space was designed to be functional above all else before the COVID-19 pandemic. The arrangement of desks and furniture was based on the assumption that employee performance and productivity were directly proportional to the amount of time they spent in the office.

Managers use time spent in the physical office as a metric of success. This way of thinking was turned on its head by the mass transition to the home office in 2020. At the home office, managers discovered that productivity and performance did not suffer, and in many cases, actually improved, as employees benefited from unprecedented levels of flexibility and work-life balance. According to research, more than half of workers in many EU countries had never worked from home before the pandemic.

As a semblance of normalcy returns, some employees are understandably hesitant to give up the greater control they have had over their working lives. According to the Let’s Connect Virtual office in Noida, many workers hope to find a 50/50 split between home and office. In reality, preferences are likely to range from the “super-teleworker,” who spends only one day at work, to the “office aficionado,” who spends five days at work.

Businesses must rethink the future of the office to emphasize flexibility if they hope to attract and retain a productive and engaged workforce. When redesigning office space, the future office must cater to all types of workers in order to provide a truly inclusive experience. The traditional, functional office space will give way to a space focused on social interaction, collaboration, and building relationships. As the future of work unfolds, a greater emphasis will be placed on technology and spaces that encourage face-to-face interaction.

Traditional Office

Commercial real estate’s last hope for a foothold in the traditional office market is socially-distanced headquarters. Traditional office spaces are being “repackaged” with plexiglass dividers, one-way circulation, new cleaning policies, and temperature checks to attract employees back to the office in an effort to increase occupancy. These thinly veiled efforts during a global workplace reckoning may make sense for some, but many businesses are doubtful about their long-term viability. Despite the fact that businesses are sitting on hundreds of thousands of square feet of empty space as a result of remote work policy announcements, some companies are still signing new leases.

Work from Home

Meanwhile, with a newly-minted remote-first approach, a number of tech behemoths appear to have almost entirely abandoned physical office space. Twitter, Microsoft, Square, Facebook, Google, Uber, American Express, Airbnb, and a slew of other companies have expanded their work-from-home policies. Dropbox is at the forefront of this movement, having recently announced a permanent remote policy. It’s worth noting, however, that “studios” in key cities will continue to support employees who need to collaborate (hear that “swish”?). It’s the return of the pendulum).

Coworking

It’s 2020, and you can have it all with a serviced workspace in the cloud. Coworking is one tool that large corporations are increasingly experimenting with. This “Space-as-a-Service” workplace product, which was once a haven for startups and creatives, is now meeting a mainstream need: flexibility in the face of uncertainty. Big business is no stranger to coworking, with WeWork’s “Powered-by-We” offering accounting for 30% of the company’s revenue in 2019. However, as a result of the pandemic, the demands have changed, and today’s coworking offering is put to the test by the practical needs it meets for businesses and employees.

Flexible Office

Private Workspace, a physical hybrid that falls somewhere between traditional office and coworking, will appeal to companies that require flexibility but cannot compromise on enterprise requirements. Everything is included: private entrance, security, dependable technology, high-speed internet, utilities, and community staff?! It appears to be expensive, and while it does cost more upfront, it may end up costing less in the long run. Traditional office pricing should be reconsidered in light of the flexibility and services provided. In fact, anyone who has managed an office space knows that per square foot pricing is antiquated. The true cost of finding a workspace, designing it, and operating it (or hiring someone to do it for you) is much higher than the rent. Instead, look into the ROI in terms of Total Cost of Office, and align this with your organization’s goals to get the most out of it.

Weighing Workplace Options

It comes down to two very simple factors when it comes to finding a workspace that meets a company’s current needs. First, find a workplace benefit that is in line with your company’s objectives. Second, make sure the total cost of the office is within the budget or Affordable co-working space and timeline you’ve set. Optionality is becoming increasingly important as many companies examine the true value of physical workspace to their organizations. Traditional offices are well understood (we have about 200

years of data), but as needs change, there are other options. Flexible office as a hybrid solution checks many boxes, particularly in the middle of a pandemic.

Advantages of Flexible Workspaces

Real Estate/Facilities

Flexible Private Workspaces are simple to find and move into, making sourcing and managing a company’s real estate portfolio a breeze. Flexible terms shorten the negotiation process and allow businesses to provide multiple locations for employees to gather on a few days per week. Dedicated Private Workspace enables real estate teams to right-size their portfolios to meet current needs while still adhering to facility requirements such as strict cleaning and maintenance policies.

Human Resource Management

Staffing is covered by the provider with all-inclusive services in a flexible office, so there’s no need to hire extra people to restock printers, greet visitors, clean, or create programming.

Finance

Lease negotiations and subsequent buildout in a traditional setting result in months of spending and separate bills. It’s all on the same, predictable rent ticket in flexible, Private Workspace offerings, and FF&E is included. Financial planning is made easier with a flexible workspace.

It’s Easier to Keep Track of Tech Requirements

At a lower cost, private workspaces provide robust server rooms, Internet connectivity, and more custom IT. IT requirements can be a quick disqualifier for larger organizations in many coworking spaces. Private workspace options take this into account and allow you to customize everything from security to server rooms. Furthermore, whereas coworking has been chastised for a lack of visual and physical privacy, private workspace allows for access control and physical separation. In essence, it enables businesses to find a workspace that meets their requirements with far fewer headaches.

Liability is reduced.

To keep employees safe, private workspaces can provide the highest quality cleaning services. As a result of liability concerns, many organizations are closing their traditional office space. Who will be held accountable if an employee becomes ill? The answer is “not you” when it comes to the private workspace. Space-as-a- This liability can be taken off your hands by service providers, giving you one less thing to worry about. Their stringent cleaning policies are clearly posted for your employees’ peace of mind and are strictly followed to provide the highest level of care in the fight against the virus.

It’s Time to Consider Total Office Costs

It’s time to ditch the price-per-square-foot method and become acquainted with equations (don’t worry, a calculator is available). There’s a lot more to consider than rental rates when comparing traditional workspace to flexible options and WFH. The calculator from Upsuite separates rent, buildout, and recurring costs. Spoiler alert: a flexible office saves money on a 36-month deal for 60 employees.

When compared to traditional long-term leases, private workspaces save companies half or more. This boils down to a formula that takes into account not only rent but also the total cost of furnishing and operating space. Flexible office policies, such as remote-first or part-time work-from-home, enable businesses to find a workspace that eliminates unused space and quickly redistributes physical infrastructure to meet the needs of a more distributed workforce.

• Companies require less space and can only use what they require.
• Furniture does not have to be purchased by businesses.
• Companies are not required to build out space if they do not require it on a full-time basis.
• Large amenities, such as kitchens and conference rooms, can be shared by multiple companies.

Conclusion

The year 2020 marked a significant shift in how the world views work. Millions of people have worked productively from home for months. Now that things are slowly returning to normal, a new question arises: how valuable was the previous state of affairs? Is your company brave enough to make a change?

Looking for a coworking space in a Virtual office in Noida? Let’s Connect is an Affordable co-working space and ideal location for you. We have everything you need to grow your business, including furniture, fiber internet, and WiFi, and access to your office 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every membership includes complimentary parking and use of our fitness center. We also have private meeting rooms and audio and video studios available. Register for a membership right now!