Virtual Offices and Coworking Spaces: How to Make an Office for the Future

How much does the setting where you work affect the work you do? One report found that physical work environments play a larger role in worker productivity than you might think: 69% of the surveyed businesses reported improvements in employee satisfaction and engagement after installing healthier building accommodations. 

This is why businesses looking toward the future are considering redesigning their current office spaces or abandoning them completely. Not only have advancements in technology allowed for greater connectivity across a variety of workplaces, but these advancements have also made it possible to accommodate the modern employee’s desires in an office space. Keep reading to learn how your business, large or small, can adopt a more efficient office for greater productivity in the future.

1. Switch to Shared Office Spaces

Gone are the days where businesses build their workspaces around cubicles and personal offices. Studies show that employees strongly dislike being walled up for their eight hours at work and instead tend to prefer a more open layout. Combine this with a massive shift in telecommuting preferences—with over 80% of the U.S. workforce preferring at least part-time remote work—and the boxed-off office design proves itself an outdated way to consider office layouts. 

Coworking spaces and meeting rooms are ideal solutions for both your telecommuters and those who work in-office Monday through Friday. These shared spaces give telecommuters the opportunity to work in a designated professional environment as they deem necessary or connect face-to-face with team members during important conferences.

If you’re still unsure which solution or location will work best for your business, these shared office spaces are a great temporary solution as well, as they come fully-equipped with supplies and are available in a number of locations across the country.

2. Offer Multiple Work Environments

The best office space is one that works well for everyone—from retreated introverts to outspoken collaborators. But the unfortunate reality is that productivity presents itself differently for each person. Offering a wide variety of work environments will help you create an office space that works for everyone, not only a select few. 

Keep in mind that this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to invest in multiple locations in order to satisfy every employees’ needs. Instead, search for offices that dedicate small, compartmentalized areas for the various work behaviors. Open floor plan offices offer many benefits—such as promoting collaboration and communication between individuals and departments—but noise carries easily and be disruptive when conversations go unchecked. If your office features open seating and desk space, you can dedicate small, secluded corners or enforce office-wide quiet hours.

Or, instead of booking a single, open space for your team, consider renting out a few smaller spaces within the same coworking space—each with their own personality and purpose. This can establish the unity of a single space while simultaneously providing the versatility that each contributor within the business needs to perform at their best.

3. Update Your Technology

After you’ve moved to a more accommodating office space, the next step is to make sure that your office technology is updated enough to serve the needs of future workspaces. Ideally, you’ll want to find technology that allows you to “de-wire,” or unplug completely from analog devices. Office phones, slide projectors, printers and fax machines are all essential to everyday operations, but taking this equipment with you as you move will prove challenging. Even more pressing is the challenge you’ll face when sharing these services with employees working from home or a coworking space in a different city. 

Investing in portable, mobile-friendly technology will not only ensure that your off-site team members have access to all of the tools they need, but it will also declutter your desk space and promote a sharper look to your office. 

To replace your hardwired phones and other outdated technology, consider a service like unified communications to consolidate your communication needs. As its name indicates, this tool unifies your communication tools under one internet-based platform, which allows you to have productive conversations with all of your team members—whether they’re across the office or the world. 

Similarly, tools for cloud document storage have helped businesses lessen their need for physical documentation tools, such as printers and fax machines. Because each team member can access, sign, upload and edit documents through document storage providers, you can easily process and share documents with your team without having to print them out first. 

4. Embrace Your Future Office with Davinci

Whether you need a meeting space for the day or an interview room for your hiring season, Davinci is here to help you keep a fresh perspective on what your office space can do for you. Call us at (877) 453-4055 or get a live quote online to learn more.

About Brie Wischmeyer

Brie Wischmeyer has a knack for writing for businesses. On top of her personal interests in state-of-the-art technology, Brie specializes in writing about the structures, values and leadership principles that make today’s organizations successful.