Traditions are always held in high regard, being associated with legacy, stability, and longevity. And yet, sticking to tradition can hold us back from progress and opening new horizons – and offices are a perfect example.
A traditional office would probably be one building for one company, leased for a very long-term period or built from the ground up for its future workforce. This approach has its merits, but there are plenty of alternatives to the traditional office that threaten to leave it in the past. Let’s take a closer look at them.
1. Serviced offices
Serviced offices are a speedy and flexible solution for businesses operating in a wide variety of verticals. Essentially, a company can move into such an office in a matter of weeks – without the hassle of buying/moving tons of equipment and supplies. This is because the office is furnished and preconfigured – electricity, utilities, IT resources, you name it.
Serviced offices also provide a flexible pricing scheme that doesn’t lock in business owners to long contracts and lets them expand space when needed. The providers responsible for the offices may offer additional perks too, like IT support and maintenance staff. Getting a serviced office is a great way to hit the ground running in a new location.
2. Remote offices
It’s probably no surprise that the whirlwind of events connected to the pandemic has convinced millions of workers that the best office is a home office. The trend towards remote work has remained strong – even with the lifting of restrictions. In these circumstances, many businesses have found it easier just to keep working remotely instead of beleaguering their employees to get back to their commutes.
3. Coworking spaces
A coworking space isn’t really an independent office type, but more of an extension of the remote work arrangement. Still, many people say that they’re going to work when they regularly travel to these spots, so it feels like they deserve a focus, too.
Coworking spaces are comfortable spots where people from different companies set up their workstations. They aren’t obligated to clock in or stay there all the time, but are a handy choice for companies that want to provide an affordable yet productive space, while most of their staff operate remotely.
4. Dedicated desks
This is an option mostly associated with coworking spaces, but the way seating is organized is unique. In traditional coworking, seating is pretty universal and anyone can change their spot from one day to another. On the other hand, a dedicated desk gives a worker a semi-permanent spot to stay in – possibly with walls and barriers that isolate them from distractions.
In the end, the type of office you choose for your business should be informed first and foremost by an analysis of multiple factors: your logistic needs, the preferences of the workers, the type of labor being performed, etc. As you wade through these considerations to a decision, just keep an eye on all the cool options accessible to you.