Five reasons why flexible or managed office spaces are better than traditional

The emergence of the hybrid workforce is changing the rules of the workplace game. Amidst a fervent headcount uncertainty, companies are becoming wary of committing to long-term leases. This is where flexible offices come into play. They provide the agility that was previously unheard of. In uncertain times, they offer respite. Future-proof as a concept might be passé but what managed offices provide is a future-forward outlook. Another reason for plug-and-play office spaces to become all the rage is that they cut down the need for huge expenses. Companies are bootstrapped due to the workstyle overhaul, incoming inflation, and the ripple effect of the pandemic. However, despite the circumstances that brought flexible working spaces to the forefront, they have a lot more to offer than meets the eye.

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Read on to know what we mean.

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> New-age environment

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Research has shown that the workplace environment affects employee productivity. Offices made decades ago aren’t equipped to keep up with the current employee demands. They lack tech integration, new-age infrastructure, and amenities that focus on well-being. This is where flexible offices come in. They offer workplace essentials for the employees of today and tomorrow; such as ergonomic seating, collaborative spaces, quiet areas, phone booths, wellness spots, cafeterias, gyms, and a lot more. What more? They’re responsive to changing employee needs and are always in the race to be relevant.

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> An envious address

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Creative and business hubs are highly desirable areas for employees. To them, an office in the Central Business District (CBD) is a matter of pride amongst their peers. Call it a halo effect but an office in a popular locality also makes other aspects of working there automatically rosier, such as hectic schedules, workload, etc. Flexible workspaces, like the ones created by Skootr, tend to pick up the best spots in the city. While it’s harder (and a much costlier affair) for traditional offices to move or lease in these intrinsically expensive and renowned locations. This also robs them of the reputation they could have by having an office at a well-known address, which can affect their business relations.

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> Cost and maintenance

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Traditional offices work best when they’re well-oiled machines. From capital expenditure costs to operating costs, they have to be willing to run the show self-sufficiently. This would include building amenities, taking care of renovations, as well as making sure the maintenance and daily needs are met. Especially for a startup, this could be a lot of responsibility. For companies that want to focus on growing their business and not worry about everything else, serviced offices can be a perfect fit for them. Instead of paying for square footage, they can pay for workstations, depending on their growth stage. Moreover, serviced offices take care of everything––with little to no overheads or miscellaneous expenses to be spent in isolation.

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> A network of offices

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With flexi work on the rise, a large number of employees are choosing to not leave their hometowns solely for work. This can affect team building efforts and retention rates in the long term. That’s why companies are now choosing to tie up with serviced offices in different cities, even countries, to ensure that their employees always have a workplace to go to, no matter where they are. Multinational firms like Spotify have also come up with a “Work from anywhere” scheme that would allow their employees to literally work from anywhere––a Spotify office, a co-working space, or from home.

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> Start of hotelization

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A relatively new concept, hotelization is all about seamlessly integrating hospitality efforts into office management. One of India’s key managed office players, Skootr, has brought this progressive concept to the forefront for its Fortune 500 clientele list. They include services such as housekeeping, security, IT, admin, courier, F&B, spa, front office, parking as well as community-building. These services are big talent magnets for companies and ensure the employees are cared for, resulting in better retention rates.

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To conclude, managed offices help take the weight off businesses and their leaders. This allows companies to focus on their goals rather than the daily workplace hiccups or having to dish out huge capital expenditures.

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When the office runs smoothly and the employees are happy, success tends to follow suit.