Although many have proclaimed the death of the office, WeWork Australia manager Balder Tol is optimistic about the future of the coworking industry. In fact, Tol believes that the pandemic has simply accelerated what analysts already predicted about the workplace.

After millions of workers were forced to transition to working from home for the majority of this year, businesses have reconsidered the need for office space. 

“For me, the office isn’t dead, it’s being transformed,” said Tol. “We’re starting to see some of the pros and cons out of that forced switch, and we’re anticipating what our members want from us as a space-as-a-service organization.”

Tol added that the office space will still be necessary for growing a company’s culture, innovation and collaborative opportunities.

Although the coworking industry has taken a hit in the short-term, many operators are adapting to the evolving needs of their members in order to create a safe and healthy work environment.

Now, companies are seeking more flexible and agile workspaces that support varying needs of all workers. In short, the traditional 9 to 5, stationary desk model is what is dying.

Moving forward, Tol says that businesses need to have a better understanding about where and when their employees want to work. The future of a company’s success relies on strong communication lines between employers and workers.