10 Trends to Futureproof Your Coworking Space
Coworking spaces have been on the market for decades now, and, as reflected in coworking search trends, their popularity is set to skyrocket even further as remote work becomes more widespread. In this article, we explore 10 transformative trends that are poised to redefine coworking spaces in the post-pandemic era.
1. Embracing Advanced Technology
The thing about technological progress is that it never stops. Traditional roles are being replaced by advanced management systems, including automated booking software, access cards and time tracking apps. These innovations minimize the need for human intervention, streamline operations and allow coworking operators to monitor revenue effortlessly.
2. Expansion to Multiple Locations
Many coworking members prefer operators that have more than one space in their city because it gives them multiple options with the same membership. Frequent travelers can also take this to the next level by accessing spaces under the same brand while on the go.
If you have only one location, you may still tap into this clientele by joining a coworking passport program that allows cardholders to use a designated number of hours at any participating coworking space, regardless of brand.
3. Innovative Space Design
One of the most obvious aspects that sets coworking spaces apart from traditional offices is their interior design. While they’ve always been well-thought-out and executed with unique requirements in mind, they’ve been getting even better lately.
Having a selection of sitting desks, standing desks, sofas, couches or bean bags almost goes without saying. And, a space for recreational activities is also standard in many coworking spaces. However, beyond these, the most modern flex offices are incorporating unique elements, like swings, vibrant art and themed rooms. These design touches enhance the workspace experience, making it both productive and enjoyable.
4. Offering Out-of-Box Services
Similar to corporate employers, flex office spaces have started to provide many additional services to their members in recent years. Some ongoing trends include babysitting, chartered accountants for startups, pet-friendly spaces, bank tie-ups for a loan, business accounts and so on.
As these additional perks are becoming more common among new coworking spaces, the pressure is growing, and mainstream operators are also starting to expand their offerings in order to keep up with the growing demand for niche services.
5. Niche Coworking Spaces
There are cities that house more than 100 coworking spaces. So, naturally, some of them have started to target particular segments to cater to specific needs. For example, there are now coworking spaces tailored to women; artists; developers and coders; writers; and photographers, just to name a few.
These coworking spaces are designed to attract only that specific segment and have all of the facilities that a professional in that field might need. And, because coworking is all about building communities, these niche spaces have had great success in recent years — and there’s plenty of ground left to cover, especially in big cities.
6. Connecting With Nature
A little bit of nature can do wonders to any artificial environment, and shared workspaces are no different. As such, a space that has ample plants is always more attractive to coworkers. For this reason, operators are increasingly adopting the trend by decorating flex offices with houseplants and well-maintained green walls.
At the same time, more daring design concepts have also started to pop up with artificial waterfalls, stones, beach-like structures and outdoor gardens, among other things.
7. Fostering Community, Culture & Classes
Of course, people come to coworking spaces primarily to work, but the coworking culture is about so much more than that. From weekly lunches to professional and recreational events from yoga classes to meditation sessions, all are becoming a part of the wider coworking concept.
While these activities are optional and often occur on the weekend, they’re certainly popular additions to the growing list of offerings that a coworking space can provide — and not only to its members.
8. Welcoming Corporate Clients
The first coworking spaces were designed with freelancers, solo entrepreneurs and small businesses in mind. But, since the early days, corporate companies have also discovered the perks of coworking spaces. Granted, the pandemic and the globalization of the labor market have also done their fair share to boost demand for flexible office space in this segment.
Besides the obvious benefit of driving more clients toward flex office spaces, this also helps build trust in coworking as an industry. In particular, one trend to look out for in the near future is to make your spaces corporate-friendly with customizable options, including open areas, private offices and lounge spaces that are tailored to the needs of larger teams.
9. Leveraging Digital Marketing
No matter the location or how high-quality or innovative your space is, your space’s success will always depend on how well you spread the word. Additionally, search trends for coworking spaces have been steadily increasing, so, to remain relevant, digital marketing — including display ads, content marketing and social media — is one area well worth investing in.
Similarly, high-quality photos and professional videos showcasing the space can also significantly enhance marketing efforts and attract long-term clients.
10. Adapting to Regional Variations
Coworking trends can vary widely across different regions and times. Staying in the loop with the latest trends and adapting to local demands is essential for success. Following industry insights can also help you remain competitive and offer innovative solutions to your clients.
By embracing these trends, your coworking space can stay ahead of the curve for the foreseeable future, offering enhanced experiences and services to meet the evolving needs of your members.
Coworking Spaces have been there for more than a decade now and the coworking search trends suggest it is going to grow beyond what anyone can expect. In this post about Coworking Trends 2022, we suggest some new changes that will affect the coworking concept to make it even better.
