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A shared workspace, or coworking, allows freelancers and businesses to rent shared workstations, without specific attribution. These places make it possible to organize work while promoting exchanges between the people who are present there.
This way of working was born in the 2000s. It is the result of the meeting of two ideas: shared workspaces and business offices.
Originally, it was a militant act started in San Francisco. The aim was to help businesses access the office building market more easily while offering a new way of working. Indeed, the idea was to support the spirit of community by promoting the development of shared and collaborative workspaces.
Shared offices then established themselves throughout Europe, especially in London, Paris and Brussels.
But what does coworking correspond to in concrete terms?
In reality, this term refers to a broad spectrum of flexible solutions offering alternative work environments to businesses. We find collaborative shared spaces, incubators, business centers as well as privatized and turnkey business solutions.
Why use coworking?
The rise of teleworking and flex office is creating a new need for flexible commitments and cost control for businesses. Thus, coworking seems to be the logical answer.
The most common reasons for using them are the following:
- For 45.5%, the provision of a network of sites for nomadic employees;
- For 43.9%, expansion to new markets;
- For 42.4%, a temporary solution for specific needs;
- For 40.9%, the reduction of costs and the preservation of capital.
This data comes from a survey conducted by CBRE Research in September 2020.
In addition, coworking would promote productivity. The “coworkers” indicate that this organization of work is beneficial to them, both in terms of personal satisfaction and efficiency. Indeed, according to an Asterès study carried out in early 2024, coworking spaces would improve productivity by 16%.
Sharing a space creates a social effect and helps fight against isolation. This explains the better development of workers, who can interact with other professionals present on site.
This positive impact can be explained in particular by the quality of the resources available. Coworking spaces offer a good working environment with services and equipment adapted to the needs of modern workers. Both meeting rooms and spaces to rest, others to meet and exchange.
That's how the term “conscious design” came about. Designers and architects know the impact of the places they create on the people who live and work there, and on communities.
Thus, the majority of coworking spaces are designed in such a way that coworkers feel as best as possible, even more than a traditional office. Shared workspaces offer additional services: daycare, gym, gym, massage, massage, catering, coffee, lounges, conferences, games, relaxation.
Shared offices: a response to changes in the commercial real estate market
Commercial real estate has undergone major changes since the health crisis. The development of remote working has contributed to this change. Hybrid work has pushed organizations to take a wait-and-see attitude. Thus, professionals have turned to various alternatives, in particular coworking spaces.
This new real estate strategy is more hybrid and articulated. It is characterized by flexibility, conviviality and hybridization. In addition, the coworking world is characterized by transparency, readability and adaptability. The growing development of tailor-made offers is increasingly positioning operators as facilitators of corporate real estate management.
The development of these flexible spaces has a real impact, especially in peri-urban areas. With hybrid work, workers can split their time between the office, home, and co-working spaces. Businesses are reducing the size of their headquarters and using offices that are closer to where employees live.
Flexible spaces like coworking spaces allow for a lot of savings. For example, employees save an average of 80 minutes per day and €124 per month in Ile-de-France. Businesses therefore benefit from this new organization, which allows them to find less tired employees.
Finally, the impact on the territory is significant. This format creates 222 jobs, saves 140 tons of CO2 and generates $17.7 million in added value each year per established center (IWG, The Flex Economy).
The future of coworking: the operated office
The arrival of the “operated office” has created a real estate revolution that has been underway since 2021. It is a private workspace that is rented with a contract for the provision of services. This solution is inspired by coworking and what made it successful. However, the operated office is a private space dedicated to a company that benefits from a flexible lease.
The operated office has an advantage compared to coworking: the confidentiality. Shared spaces promote exchanges between workers and the self-employed, but require some information to be provided. Thus, the office operated provides businesses with secure and independent premises.
Operated offices often offer useful services such as technical maintenance, upkeep, mail management, insurance, and concierge services. The company can choose these additional services according to its real needs.
Making workspaces flexible requires adapting tools
When an organization chooses flex office, or office sharing in general, it must make its teams flexible by changing the workspace. When a company opts for a coworking space, it is essential to promote communication and collaboration between employees.
Shared workspaces are a good option. They offer collaborative spaces to work and meet. They also make it possible to share moments of life.
It is also necessary to use appropriate technology. Using the right tools makes it possible to optimize workspaces and therefore to make flexibility a performance driver. Thus, it is possible to set up a flex office planning tool. Organizations will be able to manage spaces by having an overview of the occupancy rates, preferences and uses of employees.
Discover m-work for flex office
Such a tool offers more flexibility, especially in terms of working hours and locations. This makes it possible to optimize the offices. It then becomes possible to adjust the areas and the number of workstations desired in the coworking space.
This solution has several advantages. Among them, we find the reduction in rents and the reduction of energy consumption in shared workspaces.
