Co-working spaces: The future of flexible workplaces

You've probably already noticed how the world of work has fundamentally changed in recent years. Hybrid work has become normal, and the borders between Home Office and traditional offices are becoming increasingly blurred.

In this transformation, co-working spaces are establishing themselves as an innovative solution to the challenges of everyday working life. Discover how co-working spaces can support your company and employees and why they are becoming increasingly important as a third place between home and office.

What is a coworking space?

A co-working space is a type of public community office where people from different companies, industries and areas of activity come together to work. Unlike in traditional offices, freelancers, startups, remote workers and even employees of larger companies work under one roof — each working on their own projects, but in a shared, inspiring environment.

The idea behind this is simple: Why should people be isolated in Home Office work or rent expensive individual offices when they share professional workplaces instead and can benefit from energy and exchange with others? However, this form of work also supports Dematerialization and therefore the sustainability of your company.

Co-working as a third place

The concept of “third place” describes spaces that are neither home (first place) nor workplace (second place), but still fulfill important social functions. Traditionally, these were cafés, libraries or associations — places of meeting and exchange, but for which there is hardly any time in a stressful working world.

A good co-working space is ideal as a modern third location, as it combines the benefits of a professional workplace with the openness and social character of a public space. Here, your employees can escape the feeling of isolation of working from home without having to return to the rigid structures of a traditional office.

This feature as a third place also supports the Health in the home office indirectly, as it offers an alternative when working from home becomes stressful.

What is the difference between coworking and desk sharing?

Although both concepts describe the sharing of workplaces, there are fundamental differences between coworking and Desk sharing. Coworking is designed for people from different companies — like a café, so to speak, where everyone works but everyone pursues their own projects.

Desk sharing, on the other hand, functions as a work system within a company. Here, employees from the same company share flexible workplaces and use a Clean Desk Policy.

Professional workplace management software such as Flexopus is essential for companies that rely on desk sharing. This platform makes it possible to Book workplaces efficiently, the Desk sharing quota to optimize and through intelligent capacity planning to ensure the best possible use of available resources. How to get the insights you need to last to reduce costs.

Co-working examples

Co-working spaces are suitable for various target groups who benefit from flexible work structures:

Freelancer

For freelancers, coworking spaces are the perfect solution to escape home office isolation without having to office space Having to rent. You benefit from professional equipment, ideal ergonomics, stable Internet and the opportunity to meet potential customers or cooperation partners.

Remote Worker

More and more employees who work remotely on a permanent basis are also using co-working spaces as an alternative to working from home. Especially during longer project phases or when concentration is difficult at home, these spaces are the ideal environment for productive work. That too time management becomes easier as the path to a coworking space creates a clear distinction between work and leisure time.

Startups

Young companies value co-working spaces as a cost-effective alternative to traditional offices. This allows you to start with just a few workstations and expand flexibly as needed. Exchanging ideas with other startups and established companies can create valuable synergies and, of course, expand your network.

Workation

When your teams are on the move Work on the go, Home office abroad Make or on Workation , they have to deal with many challenges that a co-working space balances out. From reliable Internet to ergonomic workplaces to social components — coworking spaces in popular destinations make decentralized work really practicable.

Benefits of co-working

The benefits of co-working spaces are manifold and affect both companies and their employees:

Benefits for companies

• Cost savings are paramount, as co-working is significantly cheaper for small businesses than traditional offices. Instead of concluding long-term rental contracts and completely equipping offices, you can flexibly book workplaces and reduce your costs.
• Exchange and networking occur naturally when employees come into contact with experts from other industries and companies. These meetings can lead to valuable business contacts, collaborations or innovative ideas.
• Sustainability in the office is promoted through shared resources. Instead of every company buying its own printers, meeting rooms, etc., these resources are shared efficiently and are therefore better utilized.
• Capacity planning is no longer necessary to the same extent, as the flexibility of co-working spaces allows automatic adjustments to fluctuating needs.

Benefits for employees

• Professional work environment and fewer distractions mean more productivity. Concentrating is easier for many people in a dedicated work environment than between the kitchen and living room.
• Better equipment and fast Internet access are available without you having to invest yourself.
• More motivation through the energy and productivity of other co-working users. This effect, known as “body doubling,” can significantly increase your own work performance.
• Delimitation to avoid Work-life blending is supported by the physical change of place of work. that commuting The co-working space marks the start and end of work.

Disadvantages of co-working

Despite the many benefits, co-working spaces also come with challenges that you should consider:

Disadvantages for companies

• Team spirit is usually weaker when your employees mainly work in co-working spaces and come together less frequently with their own team.
• Time management is becoming essential as your teams must decide for themselves when to use the co-working space and when to choose other forms of work.
• IT security poses a risk because public networks are used. VPNs, Two-factor authentication and other security measures are urgently needed to protect your company data.

Disadvantages for employees

• Additional costs can be burdensome if the employer does not pay for the co-working space and freelancers etc. have to bear the costs themselves. That can the Benefits of working from home Make it more attractive again.
• Less contact with colleagues can make teamwork difficult and weaken the sense of belonging to the company.
• A lack of privacy in shared workspaces can be annoying for some employees, particularly during confidential conversations or concentrated work. Similar to a open-plan office Not all tasks are ideal for the open atmosphere of a co-working space.

conclusion

Co-working spaces are undoubtedly a valuable addition to a modern office. They offer a practical solution to the challenges of hybrid working and create new opportunities for productivity and networking. Although they cannot replace all traditional office functions, they provide companies and employees with a flexible environment that is perfect for Work 4.0 fits. If your company wants to switch to sustainable work concepts, co-working spaces are definitely worth considering.