FOCUS CAFM
RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT
28 OCTOBER 2019
TONY GREEN
TECHNICAL SALES MANAGER, FSI
Most people are now fully aware of how modern
attitudes to working have changed. The traditional
default of working at desks from nine to five has
shi ed to an approach that prioritises flexible, agile
working.
Among the growing agile working trends,
one notably gaining steam is coworking, where
employees from various companies share the same
o ice space to perform their duties. The number of
these spaces has exploded in recent years: in 2015,
there were 8,900 coworking spaces supporting
545,000 workers globally. By 2020, this is predicted
to have risen to 26,300 and 2,680,000 respectively.
Coworking supports a company and its employees’
abilities to work e iciently, productively and
contentedly in several ways:
It reduces operating costs (renting or
mortgaging workspaces is the second biggest
expense for many companies after payroll)
With most coworking spaces based in
city centres, it presents a convenient and
accessible option for team members
It encourages conversation and collaboration
between companies in a range of industries,
leading to different perspectives and stronger
networking ties
It enables employees to work how and where
they want, boosting their happiness and
productivity levels.
As coworking is quickly becoming a fixture in
the evolution of flexible working practices, it is
essential that facilities managers, owner-operators
and others are in a position to adapt to this shi
and to support the buildings and sta they’re
responsible for.
Inevitably, the rapid rise of coworking spaces and
approaches has presented new challenges to FMs
that they must be prepared to overcome:
Trying to keep people from varied
organisations happy
Creating a sociable, pleasant atmosphere for
all users
Keeping facilities regularly maintained for
different users
Supporting the technological demands of all
workers.
A recent Condeco study suggests most business leaders
see the value of agile working practices. How can CAFM
systems support new fl exible environments, including
coworking and serviced offi ce spaces?