The Fluid Workspace: From Physical to Fluid
The era of cubicle drudgery is coming to an end.
29 Apr 2020
Middle East Insights
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The era of cubicle drudgery is coming to an end.
According to estimates by office space provider, Regus, more than half of the global workforce was working ‘out of office’ for at least 2.5 days a week in late 2019. Pre-pandemic, this figure was expected to rise, and now it will soar as the corporate world slowly comes back to life.
According to estimates by office space provider, Regus, more than half of the global workforce was working ‘out of office’ for at least 2.5 days a week in late 2019. Pre-pandemic, this figure was expected to rise, and now it will soar as the corporate world slowly comes back to life.
And, of course, in the post-COVID-19 working world, corporations will be forced to re-evaluate how they use their office spaces, making major upgrades and adjustments to suit changing employee needs and demands.
The most prominent of these changes is the rapid rise of technology-enabled remote work as the key to both higher productivity levels and improved work-life balance.
In the upcoming decade, and with the serious upheavals brought on by the virus, it will no longer be considered efficient for workers to commute long distances to work from physical company offices.
Instead, both businesses and employees will find it more effective to work from a range of conveniently situated flex spaces.
Below are the major trends that will affect the workspaces sector in the next 10 years:
The role of corporate headquarters is changing
Is the concept of the company head office becoming irrelevant? Not quite. But they may need to accommodate more board rooms and fewer cubicles in the future.
Given that physical meetings between employees will become much rarer, the modern workplace will have to ensure that they provide workers with a go-to space for these sessions to take be focused and goal-oriented.
Instead of serving as the site for standard ‘9 to 5’ routines, the modern workplace will be a space for workers to brainstorm and collaborate in highly result-driven, face-to-face meetings. To facilitate this creative work, the workplace will be equipped with a range of amenities, from the basics, like easily available food and reliable high-speed internet, to more sophisticated facilities, such hassle-free security check-ins and intuitive technology that provides unique Wi-Fi passwords, for example.
The rising popularity of flex spaces
With more and more workers and companies embracing remote operations, we will see more co-working spaces cropping up in shopping malls, fitness centres and other urban hubs. There, employees will find the benefits of a familiar space, designed to maximise productivity, that’s located close to enough to home to fit into their lifestyle, which is also why we anticipate workers favouring a number of flex spaces, depending on where their daily routine takes them, instead of a single location.
Companies operating these flex spaces will have to be prepared to offer attractive (and adaptive) pricing models. For example, whilst some may pay a full-time flat fee, others require a part-time schedule more suitable, and still others may prefer a pay-as-you-go option. Companies will need to adopt the technology necessary to track these variable payments and to cater to customer expectations regarding admin efficiency.
Worker commutes may get a major tech update
We are already seeing that work begins during the commute for many workers, and this trend will only increase with the impending introduction of autonomous vehicles in urban centres.
The UAE is preparing to announce national regulations for autonomous vehicles by 2021, and a recent YouGov survey found that nearly 50% of UAE residents are likely to own a self-driving car in the next five years if they are available.
With a high number of workers switching over to autonomous vehicles, working during transit will become an even more prevalent reality.
Interested in learning more about fluid workspaces in the modern world? Download the Middle East version of CBRE’s full report ‘UAE The Fluid Workspace - 2030 outlook’ here.
The most prominent of these changes is the rapid rise of technology-enabled remote work as the key to both higher productivity levels and improved work-life balance.
In the upcoming decade, and with the serious upheavals brought on by the virus, it will no longer be considered efficient for workers to commute long distances to work from physical company offices.
Instead, both businesses and employees will find it more effective to work from a range of conveniently situated flex spaces.
Below are the major trends that will affect the workspaces sector in the next 10 years:
The role of corporate headquarters is changing
Is the concept of the company head office becoming irrelevant? Not quite. But they may need to accommodate more board rooms and fewer cubicles in the future.
Given that physical meetings between employees will become much rarer, the modern workplace will have to ensure that they provide workers with a go-to space for these sessions to take be focused and goal-oriented.
Instead of serving as the site for standard ‘9 to 5’ routines, the modern workplace will be a space for workers to brainstorm and collaborate in highly result-driven, face-to-face meetings. To facilitate this creative work, the workplace will be equipped with a range of amenities, from the basics, like easily available food and reliable high-speed internet, to more sophisticated facilities, such hassle-free security check-ins and intuitive technology that provides unique Wi-Fi passwords, for example.
The rising popularity of flex spaces
With more and more workers and companies embracing remote operations, we will see more co-working spaces cropping up in shopping malls, fitness centres and other urban hubs. There, employees will find the benefits of a familiar space, designed to maximise productivity, that’s located close to enough to home to fit into their lifestyle, which is also why we anticipate workers favouring a number of flex spaces, depending on where their daily routine takes them, instead of a single location.
Companies operating these flex spaces will have to be prepared to offer attractive (and adaptive) pricing models. For example, whilst some may pay a full-time flat fee, others require a part-time schedule more suitable, and still others may prefer a pay-as-you-go option. Companies will need to adopt the technology necessary to track these variable payments and to cater to customer expectations regarding admin efficiency.
Worker commutes may get a major tech update
We are already seeing that work begins during the commute for many workers, and this trend will only increase with the impending introduction of autonomous vehicles in urban centres.
The UAE is preparing to announce national regulations for autonomous vehicles by 2021, and a recent YouGov survey found that nearly 50% of UAE residents are likely to own a self-driving car in the next five years if they are available.
With a high number of workers switching over to autonomous vehicles, working during transit will become an even more prevalent reality.
Interested in learning more about fluid workspaces in the modern world? Download the Middle East version of CBRE’s full report ‘UAE The Fluid Workspace - 2030 outlook’ here.