4 minute read
OCCUPIER SPACE
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
The hybrid offi ce provides an ideal solution for the fast-changing world of work. ANÉL LEWIS discovers why co-working offerings are so successful
The novelty of being able to work from home and attending online meetings in pyjama bottoms may have worn off, but the pandemic has accelerated a trend that was already gaining momentum before COVID-19. While there is still a place for the traditional offi ce, says David Seinker, CEO of The Business Exchange, it is no longer viewed as essential for getting work done. “The question is increasingly not whether we should go back to the offi ce, but rather why. As such, the offi ce needs to offer much more than just a space to work.” Also, says Nkuli Bogopa, chief operations offi cer of property management at Broll, the Nkuli Bogopa pandemic is still with us, impacting how people return to the offi ce, so a hybrid approach is likely to prevail.”
HYBRID OFFICE MODEL
Allowing staff to work from an offi ce on some days and remotely on others, offers the best of both worlds, says Joanne Bushell, managing director of IWG plc. “While there may be some benefi ts to working from home, most of us still haven’t found satisfactory ways to replicate the social interactions that present opportunities for collaboration with our colleagues during the workday,” says Bushell.
SHARED OFFICE SPACES
Co-working spaces that offer dedicated or shared “hot desks” are designed with collaboration in mind. Bushell explains that people from different companies and industries can work in the same space with access to communal spaces. A shared offi ce, however, usually offers more privacy and customisation as it is designed to meet the specifi c needs of a client, says Seinker. Lianie Minny, managing director of Internal Developers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Broll Property Group, says the company focuses on creating the right type of space to enable the traditional offi ce to become, once again, a fl ourishing space to work. “Our clients are not necessarily looking to partner with co-working or shared offi ce solutions. They rather want their own real estate to be optimally planned and used.”
FLEXIBLE LEASES
Seinker says companies are concerned about being tied down by long, infl exible leases in the fast-changing world of work. “A fully serviced, hybrid offi ce can save on rental costs, through the effi cient use of space, and associated costs such as large fi t-outs, furniture and even IT infrastructure.” Rael Levitt, CEO of business park provider Inospace, says: “Many businesses want shorter-term lease options as they rebuild and rethink their previous ways of working.”
Space as a service
The transition to working from home has been a wake-up call for landlords, says Seinker.
FAST FACT
Almost nine out of ten leaders (88 per cent) at large enterprises in South Africa expect they will adopt a more hybrid way of working permanently.
Source: Microsoft’s newly launched Work Reworked research, November 2020
“We have to overdeliver on value and think out of the box when it comes to the services and amenities we offer.” Levitt refers to this paradigm shift, where landlords provide a suite of value-adding services ranging from digital connectivity and furniture to security and even staffi ng, as Space-as-a-Service (SPaaS).
Offi ce space must be able to accommodate the expansion and contraction of businesses as their needs evolve, says Minny. Workplace fl exibility should also include leasing options for furniture – a signifi cant business cost. Whereas SPaaS used to focus primarily on technology, it now needs to include holistic solutions that consider employees’ wellbeing and provide access to physical outdoor spaces, healthy food options and recreational facilities, explains Minny.
CENTRALITY
The notion of a central headquarters with multiple offi ces is fast becoming obsolete, says Bushell. “Rather, the future is likely to be hub-and-spoke with a central offi ce supplemented by smaller satellite offi ces.” Levitt says there’s a need for mixed-used serviced business parks close to transport routes, commercial nodes and residential hubs.
Offi ce access is also no longer about a single location, but about being able to move freely within a network of spaces, adds Levitt. “Many large corporations are looking to decentralise their head offi ce and create access to a global network of workspaces so that people can work close to home wherever they are in the world.”
ENDURING APPEAL
Seinker says the operational effi ciency and cost-effectiveness of a hybrid offi ce model make it an appealing option for many companies. “It could also result in a better work/life balance, increased productivity and lower costs for organisations – even beyond COVID-19,” concludes Bushell.
