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Coworking, the Success of Shared Offices
What is coworking?
Coworking is a shared workspace where the services and infrastructure present in a traditional office are offered for a monthly fee. These facilities range from meeting rooms and workstations to projection rooms. Coworking spaces continue to increase year after year as more and more professionals prefer these places to a conventional office.
A collaborative workspace works by offering facilities and services to individuals or companies that want them.
It is a shared place where freelancers, entrepreneurs and SMEs from different sectors come together to share the same work area in an office environment with other like-minded people.
How does coworking work?
The most important difference between coworking and HUB (shared office) is its community. These spaces must have a space manager or community builder who energizes, watches over the community and acts as a meeting point between coworkers.
In addition to the space manager, most coworkings offer the following facilities and services for their users:
- Common areas where impressions can be exchanged (dining room, kitchen, terrace, etc.).
- Meeting rooms with audiovisual equipment (screens, webcams, etc.)
- Ample time flexibility.
- Activities at the center to promote friendship among users.
- Internet connections with maximum speed.
- Reception services to receive packages and/or letters.
- Workshops, lectures, events, etc.
Advantages and disadvantages of coworking.
There are many reasons when thinking why a coworking and not a traditional office.
- Flexibility, in terms of duration and quotas when signing contracts and in terms of working hours and schedules, but without the isolation of the home.
- The economic factor. A coworking space allows you to assume the cost of renting an office much more economically.
- Collaboration between users, business projects, personal relationships, feeling of friendship and companionship(Networking).
- Increases productivity by providing a professional and dynamic work area that motivates users. And it allows to separate personal and work life.
- They usually have meeting rooms so that you can receive clients, suppliers, partners, etc.
However, we also found some disadvantages. Such as the lack of intimacy due to sharing the work environment. You have to be aware that it is a shared space and you may have the feeling of being crowded. In addition, this can be uncomfortable when dealing with confidential or sensitive issues.
On the other hand, the hustle and bustle of people, and a greater number of distractions can be irritating for those who need a lot of silence to concentrate.
Another drawback is the loss of control. Coworking spaces usually work very well, but it is impossible to control everything that happens in them. So, if you are planning a meeting or client appointments there, you need to anticipate possible problems such as opening and closing times, occupancy status of meeting rooms, events planned for that day, etc.
Finally, we sometimes encounter the problem of silence, as it is sometimes a bit awkward to start talking on the phone when all your colleagues are concentrating.
Whether coworking is the ideal option for you or you prefer to work from home or rent an office, learn about all the tools that Gofacing can offer your company .
Types of coworking
Coworking offices have become increasingly specialized to better meet the needs and expectations of their users. Nowadays, there are different types of coworking:
- Generalist: are the most common, they are aimed at any professional or area of work. The main advantage is to facilitate networking among professionals with different skills and talents.
- By profession: These are spaces where professionals and companies with the same trade are grouped together. Because they are similar professionals, they share services and equipment. The services are covered by those who manage the coworking, so a more complete service is offered.
- Cosewing: Brings together professionals involved in the fashion industry in the same workspace.
- Coboat: This is a coworking space located on a catamaran, so you can work while sailing on a boat.
- Eco-working: These are shared workspaces that specialize in the environment. They are designed for the efficient consumption of electricity, water, etc. resources. They also implement recycling measures and bring together professionals and small businesses from different sectors that support the values of sustainability.
- For large companies: Large companies have also opted for coworking spaces as they allow them to reduce fixed costs, free up responsibilities and worries, and generate greater flexibility in contracts.
- For creative people: They have large rooms for painting, engraving, sculpting, etc. You only pay for what you use in terms of space, tools and time.
- Adventure: locations that offer great leisure alternatives for those who want to break away from their routine for a season and broaden their horizons.
- Rural: designed for it. Its main objective is to provide an environment to disconnect, think differently and use nature as a source of inspiration.
What to look for when choosing a coworking facility
If you decide to move to a coworking you must take into account a number of factors:
- The location: It must be a central location and easily accessible by public transportation, especially if your company has a team of people who travel from different parts of the city or surrounding areas.
- The type of spaceIt will depend on your work and team dynamics, if you need more privacy a private office is the ideal space, if you are self-employed and work from home, or if you travel constantly, flex coworking is perfect for you.(Here are some tips if you are teleworking)
- The permanenceaccording to the type of space of your choice. Flexible access hours, ideally 24/7. Or you can include your corporate identity in your workspace.
- Services included such as supplies of coffee, tea, filtered water, milk, condiments, beer, etc. Also the internet servicePlease pay attention to the specifications of speed and type of network.
In conclusion, coworking spaces are innovative collaborative work spaces that provide a way to enrich and combine personal and professional growth.