The Evolution of the Office With the extreme success that remote working saw last year ; one question is constantly looming - ‘ What does the future of the office look like ?’ The effects of Covid-19 have shown that the socio economic environment is becoming ever more unpredictable . It goes without saying that this has ripple effects on businesses around the world and it has led to many companies developing contingency plans that involve significant changes - such as migrating head offices or adjusting to remote working .
Our new way of working may seem like a dream come true for the workforce that has been intrigued by the idea of flexibility and work-life balance for some years now . Remote working may solve the issues of long commutes and wasting valuable time stuck in traffic . But with little social interaction , unstable internet connections and an endless list of distractions , there are disadvantages to this model as well .
Alan Van der Westhuizen , Head of Partnership Growth at IWG SA , says : “ Recent circumstances have not only forced people to work remotely , but have also been a catalyst for many companies to review or consider a remote working strategy . The new buzz phrase replacing work-from-home is work-from-anywhere . Whilst working from home has its advantages , the challenge is creating an environment that is client facing and professional with stable internet access and power supply .”
Entrepreneurs and business owners have been forced to reassess the way they carry out their everyday operations and many have realised the massive opportunity that virtual and flexible solutions present . The surge in demand for this unprecedented flexibility has compelling leaders to question : What is the best way to bottle this coronavirusforged culture and prevent sliding back into hierarchical , risk-averse , siloed ways of working ?
“ The new buzz phrase replacing work-from-home is work-fromanywhere .”
Looking to the future , flexible working solutions like Spaces and Regus may well have found the sweet spot between the advantages and disadvantages of working remotely . These spaces meet the requirements of individuals and large corporates who are looking for a hybrid model of working - to cut added costs , while also providing world-class infrastructure and convenience .
“ The flex space trend , accelerated by Covid-19 , has provided a solution to rising vacancy rates as well as meeting the new demands for flex space from large corporates . Landlords will need to rethink the use of vacant space in a market
Name : INTERNATIONAL WORKPLACE GROUP Company Motto : WORK FROM ANYWHERE Years Company Has Operated : 30 YEARS Countries Where Company Operates : GLOBALLY Biggest Achievement in the Sector :
TOP FLEXIBLE WORKSPACE PROVIDER GLOBALLY
SA Real Estate Investor Magazine FEBRUARY 2021 7