The start of the 21st century has been one marked by rapid change. The way we travel has changed, the way we communicate has changed, and the way we work has definitely changed. The trend now is towards agile – meaning flexible, adaptable and quick to respond. In business, agile is mostly synonymous with startups and small businesses – those who have flexibility in their working arrangements, who get things done quickly and take challenges in their stride.
These businesses (for the most part) see the benefits of the agile mindset in efficient growth and increased revenue. To be done correctly, agile has to be applied to all facets of the business – from marketing to how the company operates and where it is physically located. Having flexibility in your workspace is essential to agile, so with this in mind here are four benefits of taking an agile approach to offices.
1. The Cost
If you are a small business or a startup, office space can be prohibitively expensive. In fact for most businesses it’s the second biggest cost after payroll. You can reduce the costs of having a fixed office by looking at a more flexible solution. Some of the biggest concerns such as office size and lease duration are instantly alleviated – you can get more or less space as needed and eliminate the financial risk of being locked into a long-term lease. In addition to saving you money, this will alleviate some pressure allowing you to get on with the important job of building your business!
2. Having an Efficient Space
Ask yourself: do you and your team really need a fixed desk or personal office? If the answer is no, then you should get efficient, consolidate, and take the agile approach. Utilising flexible workspaces, such as serviced offices, can significantly reduce your office overheads and increase employee productivity. Hot desking is a common feature of agile workspaces, where multiple employees share the same desk and only use it when they’re required to be present in the office. This approach is popular for progressive businesses who allow their staff to telecommute, yet still require a base where team members can meet and collaborate.
3. Growth
Businesses fluctuate in size and personnel requirements, and this means that often you can wind up with dead space in the office that’s not being used (yet still costing you money). Flexible working spaces, such as serviced offices, allow for a much more responsive workspace which expands and contracts with your staffing requirements. Through this flexibility you are able to quickly respond in periods of high growth without incurring the associated costs (and risks) of moving to a larger permanent space.
4. Moving Quickly
Businesses change. And small businesses and startups operating with an agile mindset can change very quickly. It may be that all of a sudden you’re hiring a number of new people and need to expand to service clients at a number of different locations. Rather than paying for one fixed address, agile businesses are embracing the use of satellite office locations which reduce travel related inefficiencies and allow them to provide a higher level of convenience and face to face service for their clients. Serviced office facilities, such as Corporate House, allow for flexible access to satellite offices without the significant overheads of a traditional fixed lease.
Embracing an agile approach to your workspace may just be the competitive edge you’ve been searching for. The reduction in overheads could significantly improve your cash flow and the increase in employee productivity, via flexible working locations, could lead to greater profit margins. All whilst being able to handle periods of high growth without incurring any additional risk.
If you’d like to learn more about how a Serviced or Virtual office could improve your business’ bottom line, call us on 1300 968 763 to book a tour of one of our 7 Corporate House locations.