Last Updated on March 16, 2022 by Ehubber
Business practices and operations are not statics. There are changes from time to time and so business owners and key players must make decisions in line with the new trends. This means key players in the corporate sector need to be aware of the latest trends to make the right decisions per time.
Not playing by this rule is the reason some once-up-on-a-time large corporations have lost their cutting edge. So, the need to make decisions in line with the current turn of events in the business world is vital.
Speaking of new trends, the concept of office space is changing. A while ago, business owners had to rent the whole floor or something like that.
Well, it does not have to be this way. In this day and age, you can simply take advantage of a coworking space. There are many benefits that service providers (regardless of how big or small they are) stand to gain by making this decision. How about we talk some more about the benefits?
Advantages of Coworking Spaces
Many freelancers, remote workers, formal corporations, and a long list of other people are gravitating towards the coworking space ideology. For the most part, the reason for this dramatic switch is not far-fetched. Some of them include the following:
Suits Almost Every One
The workspace environment has always been designed to align with the peculiarities of the service providers using it. For instance, the regular tech company’s workspace will have facilities and an environment suitable for tech personnel.
The problem is that the same work environment may or may not be suitable for someone that works in another facet. Well, you should know that this is not the way coworking spaces are structured.
They are built, structured, and run with a holistic mindset. This is why people of all works of life, age-grade, and purposes can work and achieve results in the environment.
The ideal coworking space understands some of the distinctions between the needs of users. This is the reason they have put things in place to meet diverse needs. For instance, this facility is not just somewhere you hot desk. You should know that users who are not convenient with this workspace practice have alternatives.
For instance, spaces can be reserved solely for a user. Another example is the possibility of using a conference room. Frankly, there is so much more to using these facilities.
As a result of all these, coworking spaces suit almost everyone. Students, remote workers, freelancers, full-time company staff, and so many others can make the most of it.
Great for People in Transit
The demands of working are different for some people. Even in this day and age when people are strongly advised to keep their distance and stay indoors, some people have to travel lengths and breaths to offer their services.
Before now, having an ideal workstation when they are in transit was a problem. Well, those days are long gone. As things are, these people can work in and from coworking spaces anytime, any day, and anywhere.
The good news is how some coworking space service providers have facilities in many parts of the country and the world at large. More often than not, you can use their facilities anywhere and enjoy the same benefits. Regus is a typical example of such.
Deals with the Problem of Isolation
One of the biggest competitors of co-working spaces right now is working from home. As a matter of fact, there has been an understanding all around the world.
As stressed above, the decline is not a mystery as the outbreak of the covid-19 virus is the reason. People had to keep their distances and the use of these facilities was ruled out at some point. Well, if Broadway could shut down, then you should understand the severity of the situation.
Well, thank goodness things are returning to normalcy. For example, we can now make travel plans even though we have to adhere to strict guidelines by the CDC and whatever disease control body is in your location.
The question on many business owners’ minds is how productive was the work-from-home experience. The truth is that it was not a bad example for many of them. Reliable reports indicated that employees are better off working from home.
However, there are several downsides to this. Most of the cons center on mental health issues. The thing is that humans need a level of social interaction to stay sane and maintain a good mental state.
Especially for people that live alone, this is a big issue. They can be so engrossed working from home and lose it eventually. To crown it all, the least of the worries for employers is their employees feeling isolated when they work from home.
So, it is not just about the returns recorded by the employers but the state of the people behind it. For this reason, making use of co-working spaces is a better alternative.
It might also interest you to know it is a lot better than working in the regular office. The reason is that it offers the productive benefits of working at home without making the employees feel isolated. It also does not feel like the regular office altogether.
Business Synergy and Building Your Network
The concept of coworking spaces came into the picture not quite long ago. But despite its not-so-long-ago status, a lot of positive things have happened.
One of such is how strategic alliances are formed by people that use such gatherings. For instance, a freelancer into the profession of graphic design can link up with other users of the coworking space that need his/her service.
Before you know it, referrals happen and the graphic designer has a long list of clients. You should not forget it all starts by becoming a user of a coworking space.
Less Stress
This is one of the biggest highlights of using such a facility. It is the fact that you do not have to undertake all of the responsibilities that come with owning the facilities.
For instance, the coworking space operators will handle repairs of the printer if there is a problem with it. They will also do this swiftly because of how competitive this service sector is and the need to keep their users pleased. As a result, you can focus on more important and productive things while you allow them to handle facility and amenities issues.
More Productivity
Well, this is not the first time you are hearing this in this write-up. However, it cannot be overemphasized as this is the most important subject for most people considering using a coworking space.
Reliable information gathered has shown that employees love working in coworking spaces. Furthermore, their productivity is usually at an all-time high in such an environment. The reason is because of the thriving atmosphere it offers them.
For the record, many facilities offer the service of coworking spaces and the benefits discussed here. However, some fall below the desired expectation.
This is why you need to understand how to figure out the right coworking space. The first thing you need to understand is the basic concept of coworking spaces. It is after this you can begin to comprehend what makes a coworking space considered successful.
The Basic Concept of a Coworking Space
The simplest way to see coworking spaces are neutral work environments. By neutral, we mean the facility allows people from different works of life and different companies to assemble and work (on their different projects and different reasons).
This is as long as the users meet the terms and conditions for use. For instance, respecting the privacy of other users is one of the terms and conditions attached.
Just as users are expected to adhere to certain dos and don’ts, the ideal coworking space is expected to have some features in place. You should keep reading to know more about some of the expected features of the ideal coworking space.
How to Identify the Ideal Coworking Space
Some of the things that make a coworking space successful are:
Flexible Plans for Users
The ideal facility needs to be structured to suit the needs of different users. This is important as the needs of users are not the same.
For instance, hot desking is very common in these work environments. Many regular users come and use any space available when they need to.
Well, you should know that some users think there are many disadvantages of hot-desking and it cannot work for them. As a result, they need an alternative.
Many coworking spaces offer the alternative of reserving a space for them. The ideal facility needs to have plans that suit the need of their various clientele.
Competitive Prices
Several benefits come with working in a coworking space. However, one of those benefits is the fact that it is economical.
This means companies and individuals that use these facilities save more compared to renting an entire space. This is true and it needs to stay that way.
In many parts of the country, you need to pay thousands of dollars in monthly subscriptions to run an office space. This is pretty much difficult, especially for startups and companies that do not rack in so much. Well, coworking spaces are a better alternative.
Users do not need to break the bank to use such a facility. And once again, there should be different plans with different prices. For instance, a user that needs something like a conference room should understand that he needs to pay more.
Good Location
Frankly, the structure and facilities inside the coworking space are not the only things that should be considered. The location where it is situated also matters. For instance, you need to ask the following questions:
- Is it close to essential services?
- How easy or hard is access to the location?
Answer to these questions and a few others will help figure out if it is the right coworking space. So, you need to take it seriously.
Privacy
To be candid, the subject of privacy is why some people have reservations as regards using coworking spaces. Well, the right option will have the issue of privacy sorted out.
It will be designed and operated in such a way that no one gets in your way. This is whether you are using the printer or getting some snacks from the kitchen. Speaking of privacy, the acoustics of the facility should be such that you do not get interrupted easily.
And for the record, the ideal option knows how well to enforce rules and regulations that center on privacy. So, they make sure you are not bothering other users and they surely are not bothering you.
Amenities
A good coworking space will not play down on having the needed amenities. Things such as internet connectivity, uninterrupted power supply, stationeries, printers, scanners, and other things should be made available for users.
It should also be strategically placed to make sure usage is easy for you and other users. For instance, the ideal option should have the right amount of wall sockets and even things such as printers.
For instance, it should not take forever to get your sent documents printed simply because someone else is using the printer. This is also why the service providers need to be proactive. They need to take note of events and make your experience there better every single day.
Security
Hey! You cannot afford to make compromises on this one. Lives and properties in the coworking space need to be secure. This is why the service providers are expected to have the right amount of security personnel and equipment to make sure of this.
Working Round the Clock
Not everyone wants to work during the regular work hours. For such people, the coworking space should be open for their use. This also means that the privileges enjoyed in the day should be made available at night. It should be no more or less.
Conclusion
A coworking space system is now a go-to option for many people. Students, NGOs, freelancers, remote workers, full-time staff, and even some government organizations are beginning to make the most of it.
This is why we all need to understand what counts as a good coworking space. We have shed light on this here and the information will prove helpful going forward. Or better still, you can use the Ehubber website to check out spaces and listings in your region. You would also have a good idea of their prices.