Bizspace is seeing SMEs offer solutions like desk sharing, working from home some days a week, and others from the office. They also provide financial incentives to employees who work from home in order to reduce their costs at home, such as energy bills.
The use of satellite offices or the hub-and-spoke office model can reduce rental costs. However, the biggest savings are often made by larger SMEs who make organizational and logistical changes. Satellite offices and businesses adopting the hub-and-spoke model gained in popularity after the Covid pandemic.
Satellite offices are physical branches that are separate from a business’s main office. They are physically separate and decentralised, but they have a high degree of interconnectedness. Satellite offices can have a capacity of one or hundreds of people. Satellite offices can be located anywhere in the world, or even geographically spread out across a country.
These flexible offices allow employees to choose between working from their local hub office or at a strategic, dedicated’spoke location’ of one or more regional workspaces. These have many benefits for employees and the company. They also reduce the liability of large head offices that require long-term leases.
The following trends are also influencing the design of office space:
Flexibility and hybrid work:Many office layouts are adaptable and incorporate technology to support this type of work. Hot-desking, mobile partitions and multi-functional workspaces allow for seamless transitions from in-person to virtual collaboration.
Biophilia and Wellness (connection to the natural world). There is an increasing focus on integrating organic materials, plants, and natural light into buildings in order to improve mental health. Meditation rooms, fitness centers, and ergonomic furnishings are all becoming more common.
SustainabilityEcofriendly practices include energy-efficient lighting and low-emissions materials. They also include features such as green roofs or live walls. These elements help companies achieve sustainability goals while reducing their environmental impact.
Advanced technology: Today’s offices are equipped with advanced technologies such as IoT enabled devices, virtual reality rooms and collaborative tech hubs. This is to accommodate a digitally-connected workforce.
Employee-centric spaces:Offices are now equipped with amenities such as barista style reception areas, quiet zones, and social hubs. These designs encourage community, creativity and individual focus in order to create a more supportive and engaging workplace.
InclusivityDesigns prioritize accessibility and diversity by offering gender-neutral facilities and prayer rooms as well as features that support employees who have different needs.
Businesses may use this approach to continue these trends into 2025.
What will the workplace look like in 2025? HR News first published Aman Parmar’s insight from Bizspace.
