Month: September 2021

The “hub and spoke” model is not a new concept, it has been used for many years in the real estate sector. Put simply, a business has its headquarters, which will serve as the hub of the business, along with offices geographically distributed around that headquarters, based on the talents and needs of customers. The hub is usually located in the city center, with excellent access to public transport, and functions as the company’s cultural center.

What are the advantages of this model?

This model is often implemented by companies that follow a model in which the head office remains the focal point between regional offices. This pattern is most often observed in regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals and automotive manufacturers in order to maintain coordinated activity. It’s very different from some companies that follow a decentralized model where an open culture is adopted; the technology sector is one example.

While in principle the model looks attractive to companies recruiting nationally, there are many factors to consider in this approach. This may be the length of journeys, the availability of public transport around the offices on the outskirts and the supply of local equipment. The company should seek to provide high quality offices for the head office, with relaxation areas or areas for large team meetings. “Satellite” offices must be able to accommodate a single team or a single company, whether it is a reception area or a collaboration space. As the office role has traditionally been a space for collaboration, it is important to keep it.

What does this mean for employees?

You might think that this model means less time spent face to face with management and therefore satellite offices might struggle to maintain culture, brand integration and community spirit, but the positives are clear. First, the layout of these offices at different locations gives employees a significant level of flexibility to not only work closer to home, but also to reduce commute times, which promotes overall work-life balance. and privacy and often results in happier employees. Not to mention the environmental benefits of not having to travel that far. This model is also an effective way to stimulate local economies, create local jobs and

How do flexible offices come into play?

Despite all the advantages, there can be the hurdle of real estate leases, which is often a reason for companies not to implement this model. More recently, the solution to this problem has been the flexible office which allows employers to test the model before making a longer term commitment. This allows for a more relaxed approach, where the company can first gauge employee interest and even try out different locations in the region while determining which office size is best for the team. Since many flexible office providers offer monthly subscriptions, this formula is certainly more sustainable. The flexible option is often cheaper in the short term as well, freeing up capital to invest in other sectors of the economy.

What is the next step for the “hub and satellite offices” model?

So we’ve established the elements that clearly motivate a business to explore this strategy, but how sustainable is it as part of an overall real estate strategy? While most companies have some sort of hub-and-spoke model in place, the question is, is this model more widespread now? Instead of having a head office and regional centers in the cities, some companies have offices around the head office or cities so that people do not have to travel to the city center. With the recent effects of Covid-19, this is something we can expect to see more and more.

In the long term, we can expect to see many more companies implementing the “hub and satellite offices” model. More employees expect more flexibility, which will be needed to attract and retain top talent, demonstrate sustainability sensitivity and ultimately , to be considered a market leader.

Return-to-office conditions are still uncertain for many countries around the world that are still in lockdown or have curfews in place. While we continue to work from home, coworking space providers have a unique opportunity to ensure that when we return their spaces will be secure in the face of the pandemic but that they will also be adapted to a new way of working. work. While there are many improvements to be made, the most important is the technology which has been at the heart of changes in the world of work since the onset of the health crisis. Through this article we take a look at what providers have implemented so far and what we will likely see when we return to the office.

Applications to facilitate the safe return to the office

While workspace apps aren’t something new, they’re a good way to deliver real-time information to providers and members. The integration of new functionalities such as the booking of offices or meeting rooms as well as the visibility of sick leaves will allow coworking space providers to ensure safety in the workplace and the health of its members. priorities.

These changes are therefore a mandatory step after the health crisis, even if these applications were already in place in a number of places before the pandemic. However, their evolution and the data they provide can help providers create an optimal environment for all.

In the coming weeks or months, you are very likely to see providers experimenting with solutions to find what works best for them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so it will be necessary to determine what works best for its members and see how they want to function.

Well-being and health: a priority for providers

We mentioned earlier that there are some apps that track sick people in the office. We could also see more and more providers implementing temperature control before entering a building and automating it to allow for an expedited entry process.

Once inside the building, contractors are very likely to turn to sensors to track densities and movements in the offices, to keep workers at bay first, and then, subsequently, to monitor any contamination.

This aspect is important, especially in common spaces, which are likely to be more frequented if a hybrid work model is set up with a few days a week in teleworking and others in coworking spaces. Many startups are already developing this kind of technology like Density, Outsight, Zensors and VergeSense.

An acceleration of digitization in our daily lives

It is very likely to also see a sharp increase in the digitization of objects around the office to facilitate the processes that we have already mentioned previously. Creating “smart” buildings by digitizing existing infrastructure is no small task, but it is a permanent means of ensuring the health and safety of employees.

This can range from creating a contactless entrance for elevators to implementing smart ventilation systems to filter out contaminated air. There are even other, more high-tech solutions to limit frequent elevator cleaning, such as the use of UVC rays to kill any pathogen in empty elevators.