Think Beyond “Open-office”: 5 Proven Benefits of Hybrid Workspaces Office design has been through some major changes during the last decade, with more relaxed spaces becoming the norm. The workforce today is more mobile than ever, and yet always connected - thanks to the smart revolution. According to Business.com, the sales of cubicles has dropped from 37 percent of all transactions in 2000, to 10-15 percent in 2016. Furniture items that were virtually unheard of just a decade ago, such as modular wall panels, are now topping sales, as they allow businesses to manifest flexible, hybrid workspace designs that are a sensitive blend of open-office philosophy and old-school enclosed cubicles, cabins and discussion rooms. Let’s look at some of the ways in which hybrid workspaces help businesses.
1. Optimum Space Utilization Hybrid office plans are unrivaled when it comes to optimum space utilization, which explains their increasing adoption in densely populated cities. This benefit makes them ideal not only for startups that usually need to set up their workspace in limited funding, but also for established businesses that aim to scale their seating capacity and/or enhance productivity, without having to invest heavily in infrastructure expansions or new furniture.
2. Easy Scalability and Adaptability “The green reed that ‘bends’ in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak that ‘breaks’” - similar is the tale of today’s businesses. To operate and thrive in dynamic global markets, businesses need to be ready to adapt to any change, whether it relates to the changing needs of their customers, or the changing needs of their workplace environment. Hybrid office designs allow easy scalability and have room for ample for customizations.
3. Encourage Internal Communication Hybrid floor plans not only allow easy movement, but also remove the mental barrier created by closed cabins and cubicles, thereby facilitating collaboration which is a prerequisite to succeed for most businesses, today. Flexible office furniture and accessories can be easily configured to create a more conducive environment for open discussions, allowing people to seek help from senior members of the team without any hiccups.
4. Value for Money
Whether we talk about startups or established organizations, when it comes to setting up a workplace, the key concern for businesses is the cost. Considering the exceptional durability of premium acoustic office furniture, it would be safe to say that setting up a hybrid office is always a far more cost effective option than going traditional route. Therefore, if the need is to setup a workspace without spending a fortune, you can’t go wrong with a hybrid setup.
5. Easy to Install and Maintain
After the material cost, installation and maintenance are usually the main concerns for businesses setting up a workspace. Although some of parts of a hybrid workspace, such as discussion cabins, require professional expertise, many of the elements can be assembled the DIY way, and do not require too much in terms of time. As far as maintenance is concerned, modular furniture win hands down compared to traditional setups.
Last Few Words According to IFMA (International Facility Management Association), open and hybrid office plans are now in place in approximately 70 percent of all workplaces in the US. Although the critics of openoffice plans have been citing a number of shortcomings, even they do not call for a complete elimination of the concept; rather, they suggest retaining the best of both new and old worlds, to create the office of the future, a.k.a., “Hybrid office�. The tweaks including combine open floor plans, discussion cabins, and cubicle banks, along with flexible office accessories such as modular and acoustic wall panels. When used together in the right order, these elements can actually do wonders for any business.