Flexible Office Firms Discover New Ways To Service Customers

Flexible office providers could be handed the opportunity of a lifetime from companies who are avoiding signing long-term leases. Still, many businesses who have continued to opt for remote working arrangements have led large operators like Convene and Industrious to lay off portions of their staffers. But this has also opened the door for flexible office companies to provide their services in a creative way.

“For now, companies are listening to their employees and everyone wants something different – so rather than a future that favors either office or remote-centered work, I believe flexibility will be the real long-term shift we see,” said Michelle Killoran, a real estate investor at OMERS Ventures.

For instance, Serendipity Labs launched a subscription service that offers companies one flat fee for office space and allows organizations to have a delayed start of up to 90 days to accommodate them as they slowly transition back into the office. Convene has also started offering digital conferencing tools and workplace consultations to meet a broader range of customers.

Additionally, many companies are marketing how they can offer a safe workplace using strict distancing and sanitation practices.

One of the most likely trends to emerge from the past few months will be the “hub and spoke” model, which allows workers the ability to work out of smaller flexible offices in the suburbs rather than commuting to a main office in dense cities. John Arenas, CEO of Serendipity Labs, revealed that inquiries into the company’s suburban locations are up 90% of its pre-pandemic levels.