It used to be so simple. You went to work, took the cover off your typewriter, spent eight hours wheeling and dealing, and went home. Now, work and home are interchangeable, typewriters have been replaced by leased computers using apps in the cloud, and eight hours have stretched to every single waking hour thanks to always-on devices.
And the changes do not stop there. Mauro Mordini, the country manager for Regus, explains that leasing is not only an option for equipment and software, but also for offices, as companies opt to free up capital for productive investment.
“Businesses are very comfortable with software as a service and cloud computing – moving away from the need to physically own the asset.
“Workspace as a service is the next logical development. Fewer businesses are willing to commit to expensive long-term leases and are finding cost-effective alternatives in flexible workspace.
“Every business wants to reduce overheads, but cashflow is particularly key for start-ups and SME businesses still looking to get established. These businesses can take flexible office space on an as-needed basis, freeing up funds for essential building blocks such as marketing and recruitment,” he said.
The blurring of work and home has also pushed demand for office locations that offer more of a lifestyle as employees want to be able to eat and exercise nearby, for example, stopping to pick up shopping on the way home.
Alex Montanaro, the head of Exalco Group Business Centres, believes that most forward-looking companies pay attention to the quality of their offices, and to the lifestyles of employees.
“There is no doubt that a well-planned, aesthetically pleasing office contributes towards a feel good factor among employees, which in turn leads to more efficiency at work.
“Long hours are spent at work in offices, and it therefore stands to reason that employees need to have working environments designed to be as stimulating as possible, and which blend in with their lifestyles.
“In fact apart from working areas, for instance, modern office layouts include relaxation and leisure areas, and amenities that suit the lifestyles of the office users, a trend which will be more prevalent in new office developments,” he said.
Omnistat director Frangelica Schembri Camilleri has seen considerable improvements to home office furniture but warns that a workstation at home needs to be carefully designed for productivity and comfort.
“The home office is a viable alternative to commuting to a corporate facility.
“Yet in its simplest form a home office has specific requirements such as adequate space and good light sources along with well-planned furniture,” she said. Thankfully manufacturers have moved well beyond the industrial looking metal desks and filing cabinets of the past.
“Most major office furniture manufacturers are looking at systems that suit home environments with the idea of implementing mobile desks that can be positioned to provide work stations and filing when needed,” she said.