Turning Uncertainty into a Flexible Solution
This article was written by Julia Mingoras, Senior Workplace Adviser at CBRE and a master’s graduate in Strategic Interior Design at the IE School of Architecture and Design.
Over 500 days ago, our world was turned upside down and our way of life changed overnight. We had to stay at home and work away from the actual office, in a purely virtual collaboration. In general, companies were surprised to maintain the same levels of productivity and results during these months – many even predicted the end of the office. As the health situation begins to improve, many companies are returning to their offices, to try different flexible models that combine remote work with working days in the office. The normalization of remote work means that many organizations see it as an opportunity to reduce office space and thus save costs.
the The classic concept of square meter estimation For an office it is completely challenged. New variables appear in the equation and they increase the uncertainty about the amount of office space required.
How many working days will employees get? Will everyone get the same number within the company? What form of attendance will be created: a voluntary form or a no-choice form? Will there be days when everyone meets in the office? How do we ensure that there is enough space in the office for everyone? How can we retain and attract talent using the new business model? How do we manage peak occupancy? How do we ensure employees have a meaningful experience once they are in the office? How can we make the office a magnet for employees and a place for collaboration and teamwork? What do other companies do? So many questions. We ask them every day
Faced with these variables, organizations are asking themselves how many square meters of office space they need in this new reality. Of course, there is no magic formula for answering such a question, but there seems to be something that all companies share: Flexibility in responding to uncertainty. Organizations are living organisms and constantly changing, so they need a space that is a dynamic and resilient ecosystem that encourages collaboration between different business areas and facilitates the absorption of peak occupancy.
In this search for an “expandable” space, flexible models are gaining a lot of attention. From CBRE’s Agile Desk division, we’ve found that there are more inquiries about the Flex model this year, from a 70/30 split between the traditional and flex desk in 2019 to a 60/40 split in 2021 (this data is based on our research in Madrid). The trend toward elastic demand is growing exponentially, driven by a global paradigm shift in the way we operate. This is seen across all sectors and corporate models and in particular, there is a growing interest in flexible spaces from large corporations.
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Advantages of flexible spaces
Some of the major advantages shown by the flexible model compared to the traditional desk which are relevant to gaining market share are:
- allow Fast and flexible space rental solutionsAdapting to the different needs and goals of companies, responding to the changing daily demands of business conditions for large companies, start-ups and the self-employed.
- It Pay-per-use model and “all inclusive” rates (Furniture, equipment, energy use, etc.) Reservations are preferred per seat, not per square metre, which helps Optimizing costs and reducing risks for businesses.
- The flexible model allows companies to Reducing peak periods of employee occupancyTo avoid a negative office experience.
- They are the best alternative to working remotely In a luxury centered, comfortable, and safe environment close to employees’ homes, client’s office, corporate headquarters, etc. More productive than at home.
- fully customized Environments according to the needs of each company, such as private spaces, confidentiality, private reception, personal branding, etc.
- sense of community that promotes entrepreneurship and networks in a “phygital” environment, facilitating a hybrid mode of operation.
The increasing demand for flexibility by employees, and new ways of co-working, were originally intended to reduce office space. But we see how The answer is not to rush to reduce the size of the workspace but to confront these uncertainties by making the workspace more flexible.
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