Elegantworkstations,lounges,comfortable chairs,well-cushionedsofas,beanbagsand muchmoreteamedwithstate-of-the-art infrastructure,amenitiesandfacilitiesarewhatdefine today’sworkspacesinmetrosandbigcitiesacrossthe world.
Traditionalworkplacesaremakingwayformodern dayofficespacesthatarenothingshortofastarhotel. Entertheeraofco-workingspaces,sharedoffice spacesandvirtualofficesthatensureflexible, effective,conducivesetting.Andtheseareprovided andmanageddeftlybyofficespaceserviceproviders whooperatetheentireset-up.
Withnumberofstart-upsontherise,traditionallease officespacesmaynotbeviableformany.Hereis whereflexibleofficescometothepicturewhetherone wantsitonlongtermbasisorshorttermandasper thebudget.Withalreadysetupwiderangeof facilities,highspeedinternet,utilitiesreadyforyouto movein,moderndayworkspaceseliminatethe complexitiesofthetraditionalleasesbymakingthings simpler
Traditionalleasespacesarepasseandnotfeasiblefor manybutwithsomanyoptionsatyourfingertipsyou cannowrestassuredthatnotimeandenergywould bespentinfindingtherightkindofofficesuitablefor thepocket.Italsoreducesthehasslesoffindingthe rightlocation,gettingtheinteriorsdonewithallthe
furniture,fixtures,furnishings.Onecanexpectadedicated receptionist,administrativepersonnel,ITinfrastructureand telecommunicationservices,conferencerooms,meeting halls,banquethalls,full-timesecurityandmuchmore withouthavingtolookovertheintricatedetailspersonally Allyouhavetodoisjustwalkinandstartworking.
Co-workingspaces,sharedofficespacesarepreferredby manybusinessestodayasitrendersflexibleapproachto workandmaximisesproductivityinelegantworldclass spaces.Co-workingspacestookshapearoundadecadeago. Fullyfurnished,well-equippedofficespacesarerentedout byoperatorstoclientsandtheseflexibleofficesare generallyfoundinmetrosandbigcities.Itwillnotbelong beforethesmallercitiesandtownsfollowedsuit. Theconcepttookoffin1960sintheUnitedStatesand graduallyspreadacrosstheworldbeginningfromAustralia andUnitedKingdom.
Technologicaladvancementsfurtherincreasedthedemand forsuchofficeswhereworkingtogetherandshared premisesbecameanormandconvenientforall.The advantagealsoincludesaskingforadditionalspaceina shortnoticetotheoperatorincaseofbusinessexpansion. Manycompaniesarepreferringeco-friendlyofficeswith propercrossventilationofnaturalair,naturallightand greenspacesintheofficeswithnaturalplantstoboost employeesandincreaseefficiency Ahealthyworkspacehas healthyemployeesandthatincreasestheproductivityas well.Andofficespacesserviceprovidersareleavingno stoneunturnedincateringtotheneedsofthetime.These serviceprovidersbuildrelationshipswithrealtorsand
developthespaceforcompanieslookingoutforreadymade offices.
Soratherthaninvestinginfixedassetsthismodernwayof commercialspaceworkswellformany
Theserviceproviderswillprovideyouwithallthe amenitiesandinfrastructureyouneed,maintenanceetc. Theymanageeverythingrelatedtotheproperty Thismakes iteasyforthecompaniestofocusontheiroperationsand growthwhiletheserviceproviderstakecareoftherest.
Understandingthiscallofthehourwe,atInsightsSuccess, selectedsomeofthebestofficespaceserviceprovidersfor ourlatestedition- World’s Best Managed Office Space Service Providers.
Learnmoreabouttheirservicesandfutureplanasyou browsethroughthepagesofthisinterestingedition.
Sumita Sarkar
20Four7VA 20four7va.com
CBRE cbre.us
20four7VAprovidesend-to-endvirtualassistant(VA)servicesto small-to-mediumsizedbusinessesandfreelancebusinessowners.
CBREGroupoffersabroadrangeofintegratedservices, includingfacilities,transactionandprojectmanagement; propertymanagement;investmentmanagement;appraisaland valuation;propertyleasing;strategicconsulting;propertysales; mortgageservicesanddevelopmentservices.
CompassOffices compassoffices.com
IntelligentOffice intelligentoffice.com Jamesandrew jamesandrew.co.uk
HansLeijten CEO MarkFogelman
CompassOfficesisaleadingflexibleofficespaceproviderin AsiaPacific.
KosyOffice kosyoffice.com
PSBusinessParks psbusinessparks.com
TCCCanada tcccanada.com
President JeremyGrey ManagingDirector YanisMellata CEO&Cofounder
IntelligentOfficehelpsbusinessesrunmoreefficientlywith executiveofficeandstaffingsolutions.
TheExecutiveCentre executivecentre.com
JohnPetersen COO SeanCochrane VPofOperations PaulSalnikow
FounderandCEO
JamesAndrewInternational'sexperiencedteamspecialisein theOffice,Leisure,ResidentialandRetailsectorsintheUK andWorldwide.
TheOfficeGroup theofficegroup.com
CharlieGreen Co-owner,JointCEO
KosyisaVirtualOfficetoBringDistributedTeamsTogether
PSBusinessParks,Inc.isarealestateinvestmenttrustthat acquires,develops,ownsandoperatescommercialproperties, primarilymulti-tenantindustrial,flexandofficespace.
TCCCanadapridesitselfonbeingaleadinginnovatorin themanagedandservicedofficeindustry
TheExecutiveCentreprovideshigh-endservice,seamlessly operatedworkspaces,unparalleledinsightsfromaglobal membernetworkandexperiencesthatelevatecorporateculture.
TOGishometooneofthemostcreative,excitingandforwardthinkingworkingcommunitiesintheUK.
The old traditional institutional office is the way of the past, we want to help each of our clients with the best possible experience for their staff to WANT to be in the office, not have to be.
“ “
-Sean Cochrane President
Thewayweconductbusinesshasseenaseismic changerightfromtheofficespacetotheservices neededtosustainaflourishingbusiness.
Consideringthisgrowingneedintheofficespacessolutions market,TCCCanadawasconceptualizedandhasbeen cateringtospecialists,consultants,andbusinessformore than25years.
Thetraditionalofficeandworkforcehavechanged.TCC Canadapickedupthepulseinthemarketandbegan providingthebusinesscenterrequiredforthefragmented professionallaborforce.Thisitdidbysimplyproviding traditionalofficemanagementresourcesrangingfrom receptiontoutilities,whichhelpedprofessionalstofocuson meetingtheneedsoftheirclientsefficientlyandthattoo withlimitedoverheadexpenses.
Withtheever-evolvingbusinesscommunity,TCCCanada hasalsobeenupgradingitsservicestimeandagain, providingbothphysicalandvirtualofficespacesolutions foreverytypeofbusiness.Nowonderitistheleaderin providingmanagedofficesspaceservices.
TCCCanadapridesitselfonbeingaleadinginnovatorin themanagedandservicedofficeindustry Theword “office”hasadifferentnuancetoeachcustomerusingit, andourvisionstemsfromthis. Weaimtoprovideflexible officeoptionsforeverybusinesssizeandtype. From entrepreneurtoestablishedenterprisecompanies,TCC
providescustomerswiththetoolsandbackofficesupport theyneedtoreachtheirgoals.
Therangeofoptionsincludevirtualservices,coworking andsharedspaces,alacartemeetingroomrentals,and executiveofficesandsuitesallthewaytocustomfully managedprivatesuites.TCC’sjourneyhasbeenonefullof successes,thankstotheimportancethatisplacedon fulfillingtheneedsofitsclients;whentheygrow,TCC growswiththem.
TCCiskeenoncreatingthemostinclusive,supportive, inspiringworkspacesforeachofitsclientstohelpthem achievethegreatestsuccessintheirbusiness. Peoplewho areabletofocusanddotheirbestworkwillalwayssucceed overtheirhurdlesandTCChopestobethereeverystepof thewaytohelpineachofitsclient’ssuccess.
PresidentofTCC,SeanCochrane,hasbeeninstrumental intakingthecompanytonewheights.Seanisthenew presidentofTCCCanada,whoafter15yearsinthe businesshastakenthereinsfromtheoriginalfounderwho hasbeentheheadofthisgreatorganizationfor30years. StartingasITsupportfortheclientsatTCCCanada,Sean quicklyshowedhisresourcefulnessintheoperationsbehind thescenes.
Workingthroughmanyofthekeypositionsinthecompany overtheyearsin2015hetookoverasVPofOperations.
Withtheaddedpowerbehindhistitle,Seanpushed thegrowthofTCCCanadaintoplacesneverthought possible.Growingyearlyrevenuesbyatleast100% yearonyearfrom2015untilpresent,Seanhas expandedtheTCCCanadaportfoliotoover200,000 squarefeetofmanagedofficespace.Openingthe doorstodirectspacemanagementdealswithsomeof theworld’slargestITandtechnologyfirms,Seanhas pushedthebusinesstobeingthelargestprivately owned,sharedworkspaceorganizationinCanada.
Carefullynoticingeachofthenewcentersthatis opened,TCCCanadaimprovesonitsdesignswith eachindependentlocation.Takingthelocalart, architecture,anddesignfromtheheartofeachofthe citycentersthatitoperatesin,eachlocationbringsits ownpersonallocaltouchtowhatofficespacecanbe. State-of-the-arttechnologyanddesigngointoevery aspectofeachofthespacesfromtheacoustically sealed,digitallyequippedzoomroomstotheprivate, independentlyventilatedphoneboothrooms.
Someofthespacesoffercommonamenitiesthat wouldmakeyourjawdrop,suchasatwo-story300personeventspacewithdoublespiralstaircases. The officeisnotjustfourwallsandafloorbutisalsoa customcanvasthatwecancreateexceptionaland innovativespacesforpeopletoleadtheirbestwork lives.
Healthandwellness,ofcourse,fallintotheforefront
ofthisandisdesignedfromthestart. Fromaccessible heightadjustabledesks,tospecialMERV13filterstoensure allparticulatesarefilteredout,tothebeautifulplantlifeand livingwalls,itisimportantthatthespacenotjustbepretty tolookatbutthebestitcanbeforourhealth.
CurrentscenarioofManagedOfficeSpacesindustry
TCCCanadabelievesthattheyarerightwheretheyneedto be. Thecommercialrealestateindustryischanging, customersnolongerwantthat5-to-10-yearleaseand capitaloverlay Theywantflexibilityandtheindependence tofocusongrowingtheirbusiness.
“Withflexibleofficeoptionsontherise,wehavepositioned ourselvestobeabletoservetheneedsofanytypeof businessrequiringmanagedofficespace.Ourflexibilityto changespaceasweneeditallowsustonotonlyhavemade toorderspacesreadyforimmediaterentalbutalsobeable tocreate‘officeinabox’customspaces,teamsuites,or entirefloorstobringthecompanies’visiontoreality,”say theteamofTCC.
Lookingtothefuture,TCCisfocusingonsomeofitslarger enterpriseclientswhoaregoingtowantfuninspiring spacesfortheirstafftocomeinanduseonamoreflexible basis.
TCCCanadaofferseverything,fromthesingleuseonehourbookingofasinglespaceallthewaytothecustom 400+personmulti-flooroffice. “Wehaveopenworkspaces youcanjustrentasingledeskinforwheneveryouneedit, butwehavecustomprivatesuitesforcompaniesofany size. Weoffervirtualofficepackagesthatallowyoutorun yourbusinessfromhome,whilekeepingacorporate physicalprofile”saysteamTCC.
Thenewnormalisgoingtobeflexible! Ifyouarenot offeringaflexiblecomponenttoyourstaffontheotherside ofthispandemic,thenyouarenotgoingtobekeepingtop tiertalent,opinestheTCCmanagement.
TCChasacomprehensiveinternalapplicationthatmanages itsspacesandgivesitsclientseasyaccesstoeverythingvia ourAPP. Withonlinementorshipandbusinesssupport services,TCChasbeenabletohelpandconnectlocal entrepreneurstoeachotherusingitseasy-to-useonlineapp.
TheflexibletermsofTCCallowitsclientstoquickly expandorcontracttheirspaceswhenneededallowingthem asizableadvantagetocompetitorswhenneedstorampup scale.
“Oneofthebiggestdifferentiatorsforus,iswefocusonthe individualemployee. Weknowthatnospaceisperfectfor allpeople,whichiswhywelooktocustomizethingsallthe waydowntotheindividualtohelpensureahappy successfulteam,”sharesteamTCC.
Inthenextfiveyears,TCCwillbeopeningitsbranchesin alltheremainingmajormarketsinCanadaaswellas startingtheirpushintotheAmericanmarket.Tenyears fromnow,TCCenvisionsthateveryoneinNorthAmerica willknowitsname.
As a global next generation cybersecurity company, we have a geographically diverse workforce with hundreds of employees across Canada. Sophos employees obviously need to be working remotely at the moment, but we look forward to returning to the collaborative, flexible office spaces that TCC Canada have helped us create and manage.
-Chris (SOPHOS)
TCC’s flexible model has allowed us to scale up and scale down rapidly in ways a traditional lease never would have. Thanks to their amazing spaces we have been able to grow our business considerably over the past 10 years here.
-Albert (Avnet)
Using space as a service provider like TCC Canada is simply a no brainer. We were able to start and build our team locally, scaling up in size as we needed. Never carry useless empty space again, just pay for what you need! Our team is humming thanks to our easy start thanks to TCC Canada.
-Jacob (Google)
Thesecondwaveofcoronavirus hashittheworld.Countries areagainsteppingbackinto lockdownshrinkingtheglobal economywithit.Inturn,ithasalso takenatollontheco-workingspace. TheWork-From-Homepolicy,which wastheonlyalternativeduringthefirst lockdownhasbecomethenewnormal now Whilebothemployeesand businessesareseeingtheprosmore thanconsintermsofexpenses,the businessesincoworkingspacehavehit hardduetolockdown.
TheresearchdonebytheBusiness ResearchCompany,theglobal coworkingspacesawa50%declinein revenuein2020.Andwithmore organizationsadoptingaflexible approachandfreedomofworkingfrom hometotheiremployees,expertssee thefutureofcoworkingspacedeemed duringthepandemic.Unlessthe organizationstakeituponthemselves toreopenwithasaferenvironment.
Butisthispossibletocreateand maintainavirus-freeandstress-free environmentatworkplaces?Well,with thelateststatisticsshowingthemarket growthfrom$8.24billionin2020to $11.52billionin2023,thereseemsa brightfutureahead.Let’sseewhat
measuresthecompaniescanadhereto takeonthebenefitsofthemarket growthinthecoworkingspace.
Technologytoeliminatetouchpoints. Goingforwardinthepost-COVIDera, healthandhygieneshouldbeonthe radarofeverybusiness.Thisleadsto determiningandeliminatingallthe possiblecommontouchpointsand replacingthosewithtechnologysuch asautomaticdooropeners,automatic faucets,andsmartlighting.
Thesmartlyoperatedco-workingspace willeliminatetheneedfordirectand indirectcontactitwillalsoeliminate thefearofinfectioninyouremployees encouragingthemtoreturntothe workplacewithconfidence.
Talkingaboutthesaferwork environment,whatisimportantand difficultatthesametimeismaintaining socialdistancing.However,havinga preciseplanandinfrastructural changessuchasincreasingspace betweendesks,addingextrastepsin thehallway,commonareas,and elevatorswillmakeiteasierfor individualsonthefloortofollowsocial distancingrules.
Also,considerestablishingnew cleaningprotocolsanddisinfectant technologiessuchasnano-techcoating andUVlighttoneutralizethegermson contactsurfaces.
Bepreparedforaworst-case scenario.
Evenaftertakingalltheprecautions andfollowingsocialdistancingrules there’snosaythatyourworkplacewill havezeroCOVIDcases.Whatif someoneatyourworkplacetests
positiveforCOVID-19?Whatsteps willyouwanttofollowtodisinfectthe workspace?Also,wouldyouconsider contacttracingapplications?
Havingaplaninplaceforhandling worst-casescenarioswillfurther eliminatefearandriskof contaminationamongemployeesand managingdailyoperationswillbe easierforbusinesses.
Convenience:Thefutureof coworking Coworkingisacommunity, collaboration,andconvenience.And duringthesetoughtimeswhatpeople seekisconvenience,whichiswhy moreemployeesarecomfortable workingfromhomeandwishsimilar comfortwhilstreturningtothe
workplace.Andtheveryconceptof coworkingwillbethesliverofhope bothforemployeesandbusinessesto striveinthetryingtimesofCOVID19.
How,doyouthink?Sharingspace, facilities,andexpenseswillbeaboon forthebusinessesfinancially strugglingtosurvive.SusanWard,a Smallbusinessinfluencerhassaidit perfectly, “From a cash flow perspective, coworking space is ideal for start-up entrepreneurs looking for a professional workspace without the high upfront costs and long-term commitment.”
Anotherbenefitofcoworkingspace thatwillthriveinthesoleindustryas wellasotherbusinessesisemployee
convenience.Considershiftingthe coworkingspacetotheareawherethe greatestnumberofemployeesreside. Whatwillbemoreconvenientforyour employeesthanhavingtheirworkplace infewblocksawayfromtheirhomes, especiallyduringthesetoughtimes?
Thereisasliverofhopeforcoworking spaceandcollaboration,and innovationisthepaththebusinesses willhavetofollow Theseinnovative waysofcreatingandmaintaininga saferenvironmentwillfurtherleadto creativecollaborationsonceagain.And businesseswillthrivetogethersoaring newheightswhilecollaboratingand coworking.
–VrushaliR.
Thetermcoworkingextendedto sharingthesameofficespace withteamsfromdifferent companiesgivingrisetoasharedspace environmentin2009.However,many companiesfoundthisnewtrend affectingtheworkcultureattheoffice. Mostprofessionalsandcorporates preferredaprivateandsecurespace havinganoptiontostepoutfor networkingopportunitiesandcasual meetingsoracoffeebreaktounwind andrechargeappealstothissegment. CompassOfficesobservedthismarket gapandenteredthemarketwithanew flexibleofficespacesolution.Hans Leijten,theCEO,shareshis motivationbehindfoundingCompass Offices. “We observed that hybrid concept with shared workspace, business lounges, and meeting rooms was the answer to the growing needs of flexible spaces. Our aim was to create a great workplace that meets the needs and preferences of our clients. ”
Furtherwithanaddedprofessional servicesandsecureenterprise-gradeIT solutions,CompassOfficeshas establisheditsnamein9APACcities beingthetrustedpartnertoover20,000 clientsincludingFortune500 companiesaswellasentrepreneurs, independentprofessionals,growing start-ups,andenterpriseteams.
Hansdedicatesamajorshareofthe company’ssuccesstoitsteam providinginspiringworkspaces supportedbyprofessionalservices. “Our clients prefer their private and secure offices and enterprise-grade IT while having an option to break out in a corporate lounge for a chat, to relax and recharge,” Hansshares.
“To meet with client’s flexible needs at Compass Offices we combine the client’s presence in a business niche with a contemporary design while taking into account the needs of the
corporate and professional market segment,” hefurtheradds.
Hansventuredintotheofficespace industryin2008asRegusGroup’s RegionalVicePresident–EastAsia. LaterhejoinedastheChiefExecutive OfficerofCompassOfficesin2015. Hispassionforprovidingflexible officespaceservicesfurtherledHans toopenmorethan100officesinover 25citiesinChinaandtheAsiaPacific creatinganimpactintheflexibleoffice market.
“What I like about Compass Offices apart from the office (itself) is the network, great and versatile business solutions, service attitudes, I like and appreciate their speedy decision making.” – Billy Yeung, CCO, and Co owner at HKBN
“Now that I have been working on my own, I have to do everything, from administrative duties to marketing, to executing what the mandate or task at hand dictates The people at Compass are friendly, no-nonsense people, who are also very responsive The place is comfortable and the location unbeatable. With their help, I can focus on my business.”
– Philippe Espinasse, Founder and CEO of P&C Ventures Limited
“In a start-up, the name of the game is speed. Everything from registering your business to finding an office space is the time that you aren’t focused on your core business. Compass Offices allowed us to avoid all that hassle and with the best network in Hong Kong, it supported our business needs to expand effortlessly.”
– Chow Shing-yuk, Founder of Lalamove
Compass offices creates workspace solutions that support companies and their employees in realizing their objectives.
Hans Leijten, Chief Executive Officer
“ “
TheongoingCOVID-19pandemicnot onlyaffectedtheeconomybuthasalso disruptedtheworkenvironment. Organizationsnowdemandsafe alternativestothetraditionaloffice spacethatwouldrequirelesstraveland exposuretolargegroupsofcommuters orcolleagues.
Moreover,thelong-termfixedand conventionalleaseshavebeen constrictingcompaniesthatneedto downscaleordiversifytheiroffice portfolio.Thisledthedecision-makers toconsiderflexibleofficespace, especiallywithitsbenefitofbusinessreadyfacilities,shorter-term commitments,andscalabilityofthe sizeneededforafaster-changing businessenvironment.
Eventheemployeesarescepticabout workingfromhomefortoolongfor thefearoflonelinessandlackof supportaspersonalinteractionbetween
colleaguesismoredifficult.Thishas beenleadingmanyorganizationsto adopthybridorflexibleofficespaces. Thelatesttrendhasalsoopenednew avenuesfortraditionallandlordsto enterflexibleofficespaces.And CompassOfficeshavebeenmaking thisshifteasierduringtoughtimesby providingdesign,projectmanagement, systems,andprocessestosupport interestedlandlordstoconvertpartof theirspaceintoflexibleofficespace.
“Compass offices creates workspace solutions that support organisations and their employees in achieving their objectives. We also support the workplace transition for companies at any stage of their development.” Hans says.
Flexibleofficeshavebeenthenew normalpostthepandemic.And CompassOfficesisreadytorecover andstabilisepost-pandemic.Hans
shareshisstrategyforthecompany, “We are continuously focusing on upgrading and rejuvenating our existing facilities. Apart from growing our existing locations, we plan to add new cities to our portfolio by end of 2021 and in 2022,” saysHans.
Healsoadds, “Compass Offices is actively exploring new growth opportunities and look for property owners and landlords to work with. Our industry experience can support landlords wishing to introduce flexible space in their portfolios. They are welcome to contact us to evaluate options.”
CatherinevanVonno CEOandPresident
SincetheCOVID-19pandemicbrokeoutearlylastyear, mostcompaniesgloballyhaveshiftedtoaworkfrom homeset-upthatallowedflexibilityandconvenienceto employeesandbusinessleaders.
Catherine vanVonno is the CEO and President of 20four7VA, one of the fastest-growing virtual staffing companies in the world today. She is passionate about helping small business owners scale by giving them access to reliable and highly trained remote talent. She is also deeply invested in providing employment opportunities for skilled individuals from around the world. Get in touch with her on LinkedIn.
Accordingtoarecentstudy,peopleemployedinaremotework settinghaveincreasedproductivitythanthosewhoworkinan office.Reasonably,workingfromhomeentailsfewer distractionsandincreaseswork-lifebalance,makingiteasierfor workerstofocusmoreontheirjobs.
Italsoopensupmanyadvantagestoyourbusiness,suchas minimaloperationalcosts,lowturnoverrates,andimproved employeeperformance.
Whileitmayseemtohaveitsfairshareofbenefitsto employees,workingfromhomeposesafewchallengesto managerswhoareusedtooverseeingtheirteamonsite.The suddenshiftcanbementallytrickyandoverwhelmingsince bothset-upshaveentirelydifferentelements.
Toreapitsadvantages,avoidthesesixmistakeswhenrunninga remoteteam:
Beforedecidingtomanageateamremotely,youmustestablish groundrulesandcommunicateyourexpectationsasamanager. Doingsoallowsyoutosetgoalsandcreatetransparencyand accountabilitybetweenyouandyourstaff.However,thisdoes notgrantyoutheopportunitytonitpickeachemployee.
Micromanagingworkerstoensureproductivitycanbring moreharmthangood.Thereasonbeingisthatmost employeesvaluefreedomandflexibility.Noonewants someonebreathingovertheirneckeverysinglehour
Insteadoffocusingontheamountoftimespentworking, concentrateontheproductionandquality Aslongasyour staffdeliverstaskswithinyourexpectation,thereisno reasontomicromanagethemconstantly
Workingfromhomedoesnotautomaticallytranslateto longerworkinghours.Justbecauseyoucan'toverseetheir workphysicallydoesnotmeanthatyouexpectyourteamto workaroundtheclock.
Asaleader,youneedtogiveleewaytoyourteaminterms oftimemanagement.Itallgoesbacktosettingupclear goalsandinstructions.Setboundariesbyestablishinga schedulethatfitsbestforyouandyourteam.Thatway,they caneffectivelyjuggleworkwithouthavingthemselves stretchedtoothinbypersonalerrands.Bydoingthis,you decreaseburn-outandmaximizeemployeeproductivity Additionally,itisalsobesttocommunicatewithyourteam withinworkinghours.Don’ttakeadvantageofthesituation bytextingorcallingthematunreasonablehours.Youhave torememberthattheystillhavealifeoutsidework.Work andpersonalmattersshouldbeseparate–regardlessofthe worksetting.
What’sgreataboutworkinginanofficeistheabilityto socializewithyourteam—whetherit’dbeawork-related conversationorjustcatchingupontheirpersonallives.Ina remoteworksetting,though,youarelimitedto communicatingthroughthephoneandinternet.
However,don'tletthesebarriersstopyoufromencouraging socialinteractionswithyourdirectreports.Asaleader,itis uptoyoutoinitiateconversationsbetweenyouandyour teamtoensureahealthyworkingenvironmentandpromote camaraderie.
Setupone-on-onevirtualmeetingswitheachstafftocheck upontheirpersonalandprofessionallives.Youcanalso organizevirtualhappyhoursessionstogiveyourteama chancetounwindafteralongandstressfulday.
Ifyoufeelthatcareerdevelopmentplansshouldtakeaback
seatinaremoteworksetting,thinkagain.Justbecauseyou don'thaveaccesstoface-to-faceinteractionsdoesnotmean thatyouputastoptoyourteam'sprofessionaldevelopment. Arecentsurveyshowedthatemployeesarelikelytostayin acompanythatfostersmentorship,training,and development.
Investinginemployeecareeradvancementretainstoptalent andallowsyouremployeestounlockandhoneskillsthat canpotentiallybenefityourbusiness.Lookintoonline trainingcoursesormasterclassesthatcanfittheneedsof yourstaff.Youcanalsosetupagrouporone-on-one brainstormingsessionstoinfusefreshideasandencourage learningwithinthegroup.
Therearemanytoolsandappsouttherethatpromote productivityandtimemanagementwithinyourremote team.
ProjectmanagementtoolssuchasAsana,Trello,and Evernotehavevariousbenefitsthatcanhelpspeedupthe workprocessandmonitorprojectstatus.Meanwhile,time managementprogramssuchasTimeDoctor,Hubstaff,and Clockifyallowyoutoseehowyouremployeemanages timeonaspecifictask.
Byusingtechnologytoyouradvantage,youcaneffectively overseearemoteteamsuccessfullyandefficiently Asa leader,itisyourjobtolearnhowthesetoolscanbenefit yourcompany.
Managingaremoteteamisnotaseasyasitappearstobe. Certainhurdlessuchasdifferencesintimezonesor technologyglitchescanhinderworkproductivityand presentchallengesthatareuncommoninanofficeset-up. Whilethetipslistedabovecanhelpyouwithyourremote managementjourney,there’snomagicpillthatwillmake youaneffectiveremoteleaderovernight.Forsomeleaders, itmighttakeafewmonthstogetsettledin.Asamanager,it isyourresponsibilitytolearnandapplypracticesthatcan benefityourteamandhelpyouscaleyourbusiness effectivelywhileworkingfromhome.
Remember,itisatwo-waystreetthatentailsalotoftrust, communication,andflexibility.Aslongasyoufoster learningandenforceahealthyworkingenvironment,you willundoubtedlyseeincreasedproductivityand performance,regardlessofwhereyourteamworks.
2020broughtayearoflockdown andteamshadtoadapttothe newnormalofworkingfrom home.Withthisnewchange,however, camenewchallengesofmaintaining andmanagingcommunicationand cooperationwithemployeesworking remotely Thoughtheconceptof workingremotelywasputmorein limelightduetolockdown,ithasbeen existingforoveradecadefacingthe challengesofteamengagement, communication,andcollaboration.
Afteryearsofworkingremotely,Yanis Mellata,CEOandCo-founderof KosyOffice,experiencedthesame challenges.Determinedtofinda concretesolutionYaniswithhiscofounderSam,foundedthecompany, whichisavirtualofficeplatformthat hasbeenreinventingteaminteraction andpavingthewaytothebiggestwork revolutionindecades.
YanissharedhismotivationbehindcofoundingtheKosyoffice,saying, “Kosy was built for employee engagement and social interaction,” hesaid, “We have been making it easier for companies to recreate the day-to-day social aspects of a physical office, from coffee breaks to parties and events, no matter where employees are located.”
WithKosy,teamscancometogetherto co-work,collaborate,andsocializeina natural,easy-to-usevirtualoffice, leadingtohighemployeeadoptionand engagement.
Insteadofschedulingmeetings,users canseamlesslyjumpintoa conversationorbrainstormingsession justliketheycouldinaphysicaloffice. Bygivingtherightmixofengaging professionalandsocialactivities,every company,team,andemployeecan interactwithoneanotheronasingle platformofKosyOfficebuiltfor employeeengagement.
Companieshavebeentransitioning towardsremotework,especiallydueto theongoingpandemic.Teamsoften choosetoconnectthroughvirtual conferencesandmeetingplatforms. However,theseplatformsareprimarily focusedonstructuredcollaborationand communication,whichlacktheefforts ofemployeeengagement.Thus, employeesstruggletorecreatethe comraderyofbeingtogetherthrough theseplatforms.That’swhereKosy Officeprovesitsuniqueness.
“In addition to improving employee engagement, Kosy also creates more productive and collaborative teams
with co-working capabilities,” Yanis shares, “For example, when working on a new project with remote/distributed members, Kosy brings everyone together around a virtual table to co-work and reach out whenever they want. Dedicated project rooms remove communication barriers that can slow projects down.”
Kosyalsohelpscustomersbuild thrivingremoteworkcultureby improvingtransparencyandtrustby settinguponlineofficehoursfortheir HR,IT,seniorleadership,andother teams,soemployeescanquicklyreach outthroughouttheday.
Needsledtoinnovation.
Beforeco-foundingKosyOffice,Yanis andSamworkedforoveryearsin managingteams.Yanisworkedat BCG,atopmanagementconsultancy helpingtheleadershipofcompaniesall overtheworldonarangeoftopics includingbuildingproductiveand high-performingorganisations.Sam workedremotelyforover5years, managingtechnologyandproduct teams.
Whilehelpingdifferentorganisations buildinghighlyproductiveteamsand remotemanagementofteamstheduo experiencedthepainofmaintaining highlyproductiveandconnectedteams
“There is something about sitting around the table and seeing the face that makes the vibe feel like an office unlike going in on zoom. And it's simple and straightforward to use ”
– Justin Lee, CEO at NextLevel.
“We use Kosy for our departmental digital transformation where we need to coordinate with people across various departments and external consultants. Kosy provides us a common virtual office where everyone contributing to the project can get a hold of each other and collaborate easily”
– Matthieu Ullens, Head of Digital at Arvesta
“Our company is very satisfied with Kosy. We use Kosy daily to communicate with employees who work from home. This way ongoing files can be discussed ‘personally’ without leaving the home office ”
– Peter Maes, CEO at Melior Beheer
“We tried all virtual office solutions out there and Kosy was by far the most powerful and intuitive. We use Kosy daily!”
– Don Pasacola, CEO at Nextpay
Yanis Mellata, CEO and Co founderthatarenotphysicallytogether This ledtheduotoinceptKosy
Whiletheconceptofavirtual workplaceisratherold,theongoing COVID-19pandemicfurther strengthenedtherootsofremote working,whichledtofindingmeansof keepingemployeeshappy,productive, andconnectedtotheirworkandwith oneanother.
AccordingtoBuffer’s2020Stateof RemoteReport,98%ofremote workerswanttocontinuetowork remotely(atleastpartofthetime)for therestoftheircareers.AGartner surveyfoundthat82%ofcompany leadersareplanningtoletemployees
continuetoworkremotelyevenafter thepandemicisover
Yanisshareshisvisionofutilisingthis trendinnearfuture, “Ultimately, we expect all companies to move in the direction of more flexible work arrangements—whether that is fully remote or hybrid-remote,” Yanissays.
“Some offices will still prefer physical offices in the short term. However, the longer these companies hold out on building a culture that supports remote work, the more difficult it will be for them to make the transition in the future when they find themselves struggling to compete with remotefriendly employers,” headdsfurther
ThefactthatKosyOfficehasgarnered customersfromover30countries
provesthetrendofremoteworkingis heretostay.Goingforward,Kosy Officeissettoutilisethisopportunity toaggressivelyexpandingthecompany throughfundingfromtopEuropean investors.
TherisingCOVID-19casesand falteringvaccinationdrivesare theredaltersthatthesecond waveofCoronahastakenoverthe world.Countriesareonthevergeof lockdown2.0andeveryoneisfearingyet anotherpin-dropsilenceontheearth surroundedbychaosdueto deathsofdreamsanddear ones.Amidstthechaosone thingisclearlyheard,the worldisnotreadytostep back,again.
TheCOVID-19pandemichas nottakenonlythelivesbutthe hopesofmany.Millionswere unemployedduringandpostlockdowns.Buttheshowmustgoon. So,theaspirantstookthischanceto ventureintotheentrepreneurial world.
Wehavejuststartedgettingoutof ourshellswiththenewhopeof startinganew Wecan’taffordto
stepback,physically,financially,and mentally.Butisthisastep-back?
Whatifwechangeourperspectiveabout curfewsandlockdownsaswell?Whatif it’snotastepback?Whatifyoutakethis timetoredefineyourgoalsandcome backwithmorezealanddiligence,and withtheright strategy?
Andifowninga businessisyourgoal, herearetheemerging marketsworth consideringforapositive starttoyournewventure.
1.Onlinedating Socialmediahaslongchanged thewaywemeetandmake stfriendsinthe21 century.So whyloveshouldstaybehind. Theoldwaysofmeeting ‘theone’surelyneedan upgrade.Whilefewonline
datingsitesstartedinceptedthisnew way,theongoingCOVID-19pandemic hasmadeonlinedatingatrend, especiallywhensocialdistancingand virtuallyconnectingwithyourloved oneshasbecomethenorm.
Theaspiringentrepreneursandbusiness ownersdesiringtoventureinto somethingexcitingshouldconsiderthis niche.Afterall,amidstthiscrisis,what wouldbemoreexcitingthanhelping peoplemeetanddateonlinewhile stayingsafeathome?
2.Organicskincare Naturalskincareandhomeremedies neverwentoutoffashion.Infact,inthe pastdecademorepeoplehaveadopted naturalskincareandhomecareproducts intheirlifestyle,andsohavethebrands.
Althoughtheremightseemahuge competitionalreadyintheorganic skincaremarket,youcanalwaysfinda roomtocreateyourownspaceby cateringtospecificconsumersandtheir problems.
Thinkaboutorganichaircolorsor at-homehairremovalproductsfor menandwomenwithnatural ingredients.Howaboutorganic cosmeticsandaffordableprices? There’sstillagapinthisniche
marketfortheaspirantstofillin.You onlyneedtofindoutwhatneedsofthe consumersyoucancatertowithyour products.
Whenwasthelasttimeyouwent completelybrokefromboomsofast? Mostwillremembertheglobalfinancial crisisin2007-2008.Thatwasawake-up callformanytodiligentlylearnand managepersonalfinances.Thehuge demandfromthelackofknowledgeor busylifestylegaverisetothewholenew nicheofmanagingpersonalfinance.And withthefinancialcrisisin2020-2021as anaftereffectoftheCOVID-19pandemic isonceagainboostingthisnichemarket creatingstrongopportunitiesfornew businesses.
Interestingly,thisnicheitselfhas collectedcoinsofsub-nichesinitspiggy bank.Fromstartingacompanymanaging personalfinanceandtaxestoeducating peopleaboutbudgetingthrough informationalsitestosomethingas simpleyeteffectiveashowtosaveon familymealsandcableTV,youcould impactpeople’slivesdirectly
AnythingrelatedtoIThasbeenastar-tup gold.Mobileapplicationswereonce limitedtocorporateorganizationsand businesstycoons.Butthelatest innovationsindigitalmarketinghave madeappsthecenterofthegame.With gaming,entertainment,retail,andnow theessentialseverythinghasbeenmade onlinethankstothedemandfrom millennialsandtherecentpandemic.And thisisamongthetrendsthataregoingto stayforlongerandevolvewithtime.
So,tech-savvybusinessaspirantscan surelyconsiderenteringtheapp developmentmarket.Youjusthaveto findyourcorenichefromtheniche oceanofmobileapplications.
Individuals,organizations,and governmentshavebeenearnesttowards globalenvironmentalissues.However,in theseriesoflockdownsin2020the humanitygotaglimpseoffreshair, brightersunshine,rivers,andoceanswith lesscontamination,andwildlife breathingfreedominthecementjungle forachange.Italsobroughtusface-tofacewiththeperilousfootprintswehave beenleavingonnature.
Untilnowwhatwasjustboardroomand parliamenttalks,havebecomeliving roomrealities.Peoplearebecoming moreconsciousofconsumption,usage, aswellaswastageoftheirhigh-end lifestyleneeds.Thishascreatedhuge opportunitiesforbusinessesinrenewable energyandbiodegradableproducts.
Aspiringentrepreneurswhoarehighon innovationcancertainlyconsiderthis emergingnicheandmakeanimpactright fromthestart.
Howtochooseaperfectniche?
Thisisjustaheadstartandthelistof emergingmarketsisbiggerthanthis.But thequestioniswhichistheperfectniche foryou?Theonewithlessinvestment andeasyset-uportheonewithahuge consumerbase?Well,beforewewrapup, let’sgetyououtofthatdilemmaaswell.
RemembertheseSTATStofindyour perfectnichemarket:
Trytoanswerthesequestions:
•Whatskillshaveyoudeveloped possess?
•Whatwouldyoulovetodoevenifyou weren’tgettingpaidforit?
•Isthereanypainpointyouoryour lovedoneshavebeenencounteringthat youwanttoresolve?
Onceyougetanideaaboutyour preliminarynichesurveyyourtarget marketandtrytofindouttheirpain
points.Beingactiveandfollowingniche conversationsandtrendsonsocialmedia, Reddit,andQuorawillbeagoodstartin therightdirection.
Analyze competition. Youmustinvesttimetoinvestigateyour competition.Youneednotstepoutand tireyourselfrunningtoeverystoreor officeinyourarea.Seekhelpfrom technology,startbyaddingrelevant keywordsthatyourtargetaudience woulduseinGoogleandfindthenearest competitioninyournichemarket.
Analyzetheirofferings,services,and eventheirmarketingcontent.Don’t mimicbutfindopportunitiesand inspirationtobedifferentfromyour competition.
Test your idea. Now,youmusthavegotanidea,a product,service,orwaytoattractyour nicheaudience.Applyandtestthose ideasonyourfriendsandacquaintances whomightbeinterested.Searchforsales inyourclosecommunityatthestartand useittobuildnewcontactsusingsocial mediaandmarketingtechniques.
See the potential profit. Nowit’stimewhetheryoucanmakea substantialprofitfromthechosenniche. Whileyouwillgetaglimpseofoffline salesfromyourclosecommunityand neighborhood,foryouronlinepresence youshouldstartwithadcampaigns. Searchforrelevantnichekeywordson Googleandseethenumberofsearches foreach.Keywordswithsubstantial searchvolumeindicateagoodconsumer baseandpotentialprofitforyour business.
Whatevernicheyouchoose,remember it’syourofferings,customercare, transparency,andyourpassiontomake thedifferencethatwilltakeyoufarther onthepathofsuccess.
-VrushaliR.Todaytheflexibleworkspaceandcoworking industryisbustlingwithmultitudesofchoicesfor themodern-dayprofessional.However,thereisa standoutleaderwithinthepremiumflexibleworkspace segmentamidstthecompetition:TheExecutiveCentre (TEC).
Conceivedbackin1994whentheflexibleworkspace industrywasyettobeestablishedandtheconceptofshared workspacesandcoworkingofficeswasstillnovel,The ExecutiveCentrebegantobuilditspresenceamongst corporateandprofessionalclientelestartinginHongKong. Today,TECistheAsiaPacific'spremiumflexible workspaceproviderwithover150+Centresin32citiesand 14marketscoveringGreaterChina,SoutheastAsia,North Asia,Australia,IndiaandtheGulfcountries.
AttheheartofthebusinessisaMember-Firstphilosophy whichdrivestheirinnovations,productofferings,functional design,aestheticsandsustainabledevelopment.Bythinking fromtheperspectiveoftheend-user,whetherthat's professionals,MNCsorbusinessleaders,TEChasbeen abletomeettheworkforce'sdemandsforaflexible alternativetotakingoutalong-termcost-inefficientleaseto accessprestigiousaddresses,gradeAbuildingsandCBD locations.
This"demand-driven"approachtoexpandingtheirbusiness hasprovensuccessfulasthecompanyisthethird-largest servicedofficeproviderintheAsiaPacificwithanannual turnoverinexcessofUS$237millionandboastsover3.1 millionsqfeetofcollaborativeworkspaceacrossitsglobal
footprint.Withover30,000+distinguishedprofessionals anda76%multinationalcorporate(MNC)clientbasewho stayforupto36monthsonaverage(tripletheaverage tenancyintheindustry)clearlythereisademandfora flexibleworkspacetailoredforbusinessleadersand traditionalsectors.
InlisteningtotheneedsandwantsofMembersandthe workforceacrossarangeofindustries,TEChasdeveloped flexibleworkspacesolutionsthatcanbecustomisedand tailoredtothespecificrequirementsofindividual companies.Forexample,theirEnterpriseSolutionscanbe tailoredforbusinessesrequiringlargeamountsofspacesor specificoperationalneedssuchasproducttestingrooms, specialisedmeetingrooms,privateserversandinternet infrastructure.
Similarly,TEC'sservicedoffice(privateworkspace)plans alsoofferarangeofcustomisationintheirlayouts, workstationsandleaseterms.Coworkingplansandpasses provideanalternativetoanofficedesignedforthemobile workforceinmindwhomayneedmultipletouchdown locationsacrossthecity,oreveninternationally TEC recentlyexpandedtheircoworkingpassestonowoffer accesstoDayPasseswhichunlockavailableserviced officesforadaywithouthavingtosignaleaseofany length.
VirtualOfficesprovideleaderswiththeflexibilitytowork remotelyandstillhaveday-to-daymanaged"storefront" withadedicatedmailandcallhandlingservice.The advantageofTEC'svirtualofficesisthatyoucanaccessany
ofTEC’sprestigiousbusinessaddressaround theworldtouseonyourbusinesscards, licensesandonlinelistingsinstantaneously
ItwasPaulSalnikowwhofoundedThe ExecutiveCentrewiththeambitionof fulfillinganapparentdemandforacorporate realestatesolutionthatcouldbeleasedin shorttomediumtermduringatimethat precursorsthecoworkingfadthatbloomedin theturnofthecentury.Forover25years,Paul hascontinuedtodrivethebusinessforward towardstheworkforce'sever-changingmarket demandsandflexibleneedswhilstreinforcing theirpremiumpositioningandnichewithinthe crowdedflexibleofficemarket.
Overthelasttwodecades,Paulhas successfullynavigatedTECthroughnumerous marketturbulencesandisnostrangertothe volatilityandeconomicinstabilityinAsia Pacific.FromtheAsiaFinancialCrisisof 1998,tothedownturnresultingfromthe SARSoutbreakof2002-2004,followedbythe GlobalFinancialCrisisin2008,totheongoing COVID-19pandemic,Paulhasbeenatthe forefrontofTEC'sevolutiontomeetthe demanddrivengrowth,needsandchangesof theworkforce'sworkspacerequirements.In fact,asareflectionofthedemandforpremium
Paul Salnikow
Founder and CEO
With a Member-First approach and demand-driven expansion strategy, what is crucial to TEC's growth is the feedback and engagement of our customers and Members.
“ “
flexibleworkspacesbycorporatesandbusinessleaders, despitetheglobalturmoillastyear,TECopened14new CentresacrosstheAsiaPacific.
Lookingaheadatthefutureofwork,Paulanticipatesan increaseddemandfrombusinessleadersintraditional industriesasapremiumflexibleworkspacehelpsshield businessesfromuncertaintiesbyincreasingbusiness resiliency.Forinstance,employeeswhoworkfromhome willalsohavetheoptiontocommuteshorterdistancesto accessawell-equippedandreadytouseworkspacefor professionalactivitiessuchasvirtualconferencesor focussedworkwhichthehomeenvironmentisnottailored for
Moreover,withtheadvantageofshortnegotiableleases, Paulforeseesmorebusinessesusingahubandspokemodel togiveemployeesmorechoiceandagility;andtoallow businessleaderstoexpandandupscaletheirbusiness withouthavingtotakeoutlong,inflexiblefixedleases, therebymitigatingrisksandsavingoncapitalexpenditure asTEC'sworkspacesallcomefurnishedandreadytouse withsecurehigh-speedconnectivity.
WithaMember-Firstapproachanddemand-driven expansionstrategy,whatiscrucialtoTEC'sgrowthisthe feedbackandengagementoftheircustomersandMembers. Therefore,itcomesaslittlesurprisethatTEC'sEngagement
andCommunityTeamareagroupof highlytrainedconciergepersonnelwho providelocalknowledgeandfirst-class businessandadministrativesupporttohelp Membersandbusinessestransitioninto theirflexibleworkspace.
TheTeamgreetandsupportMembersday inanddayoutatthefrontdeskoraround theCentresettingupevents,mailhandling, visitorgreetingandadministrativetasks andactsasanextensionofeachMember companies'workforce.Inmanyregards,a flexibleworkspaceplanofanysortwith TheExecutiveCentrecomesbundledwith numerousbenefitsandsupportsystemsthat makeworkingfromanywhereaseasyandnaturalas startingupyourcomputerandputtingpentopaper
AllofTEC’sworkspacesarefullyrealisedspacesandare designedtoreflectthelocalculturewhilstintelligently weavingmoderndesigneraestheticsforaprofessional, premium,luxuryaudience.Flexibleheight-adjustable workstations,optimisedworkstationdensityandfloorplans, theHermanMillerAeronChair,BaristaBars,andawardwinninginteriordesignsareallhallmarksofaTECCentre. ThesedesigndetailsensurethattheCentresupportsa diversearrayofactivitiesandpreferencesatwork prioritisingergonomicsandwellbeingforprofessionals acrossadiverseindustrymix.
Inafutureofworkwherethespaceweneedtoperforma taskvariesaswidelyasthework,theimportanceof flexibilityandagilityhasneverbeenmorecritical.The ExecutiveCentreisaccustomedtoembracingtraditional companies,ambitiousprofessionalsandbusinessleaders whowanttoincorporatemorebusinessresiliency,global scalabilityandreactivity.Withtheir25+years’experience andimpressivemultinationalcorporateclienteleportfolio, TheExecutiveCentrecontinuestoprovethatexcellence builtwithademand-drivenapproachisaformulafor sustainableprofitability,customersatisfactionandsuccess.
