Good workspace design provides more than just aesthetics. It can be a major competitive advantage. Since the pandemic, the nature of how people work has changed, and offices have evolved alongside this change. When hybrid became a necessity, organisations found that the productivity of their staff either stayed the same or, in many instances, improved. This realization has sparked a global reimagination of offices, transforming them into flexible workspaces.
Tradition workspaces are no longer just physical locations for employees to report to daily. They’ve evolved into dynamic, flexible environments that support collaboration and well-being. This has driven the evolution of office design, promoted better culture and making productivity location agnostic.
Over the next few years, in lockstep with the changing expectations of companies and employees, flexible workspaces are expected to change in the following ways.
Agile and tech-based flexible workplace designs
With the rise of different industries embracing flexible workspaces into their real estate holdings, agile, collaborative, and adaptable workplaces are in demand. They enable employees to smoothly switch between work modes. To support employees, thrive in various modes, organisations will incorporate distinct workspace design models. This enhances the employee experience and productivity
Design based on functionality
Designed to cater to the varying needs of departments and enterprises across industries, flexible workspaces offer customized floor plans to meet the specific needs of individual teams, whether they require privacy, collaboration, or congregation. The ability to modify spaces will shape the design of flexible workspaces and more businesses will adopt this versatility. Flexible workspaces will have to be nimble in adapting floor plans to the needs of the teams that work out of the space. Some teams might need increased privacy and discretion versus others that might require space to collaborate and congregate. Spaces that can easily be modified to cater to different requirements will dictate design trends
Moreover, the industry is rapidly advancing its tech infrastructure to support the modern workforce. In 2023, more flexible workspaces will integrate AI and sensor-based technology in common areas to gather data on the usage of different spaces and amenities. This real-time data-driven approach leads to better workspace design.
Design dictated by analytics
Increasing flexible workspaces are leaning on technology like beacon and AI based tech to collect repetitive date on usage of spaces overtime. This data gives clear insight over the behaviour patterns of the workforce using the space and highlights shortcomings in the layout of the space. Designing office spaces that are dictated by reliable analytics have the promise of increased active usage and optimised cost efficiencies. Having said that, past behaviour cannot always predict future usage patterns given the constantly changing requirements of the workforce, hence building for easy adaptability and agility is ideal.
Flexibility for long term stability
Flexible workplaces were initially seen as the best way for organisations to strike a balance at a time when employees were returning to the office but desired a hybrid work model. In 2023 and beyond, flexible workspaces will be seen as a long-term solution. Pandemic has caused a shift in priorities, with organizations now focusing on efficiency, agile business operations and business continuity. Many conglomerates have already adopted flexible or co-working spaces, incorporating them into their Commercial Real Estate (CRE) strategy.
