How are coworking spaces different from traditional offices?

Feb 27, 2022

Tags:

People have more options than ever before when it comes to choosing an office space for their business. Businesses of all sizes are becoming more aware of alternate options to use office space, along with additional amenities. Let’s talk about one such workspace option – coworking space.

Coworking spaces are a less expensive alternative to the traditional workplace or even coffee shops. They can provide a private office for meetings with clients or huge, open concept working areas for teams to interact. Most offer a plethora of world-class amenities, such as comfortable furniture, shared technology like printers and Wi-Fi, power backup, conference rooms, pantry, and free tea/ coffee.

If you’re thinking about moving all or a portion of your workforce to a shared office space in the future, consider the following differences between a coworking space and a traditional office. This will help you evaluate a coworking centre for your specific business needs and understand your productivity in coworking spaces.

What is a traditional office?

The flip side of a typical office is isolation. That implies if you possess a typical workplace, it is completely yours. You are in command of the design and how it is set up after you lease it. Traditional workplaces frequently feature a framework that helps employees to move through the work process easier.

If you’re debating between regular office spaces versus coworking, you should understand the benefits of having a traditional office and why this notion has been around for decades.

Advantages of Traditional Offices

Workplace connections– Coworkers might be near one another, developing bonds that can benefit the entire firm. This also contributes to a smooth flow of the chain of command procedure.
Privacy– Each employee has his or her cubicle, and employees may feel at ease around their space.
Atmosphere– The atmosphere is calm and professional, with few interruptions.
Control– In traditional offices one can make any adjustments, be they related to design or arrangements, anywhere one wants, without explaining yourself to anyone.
Branding– You may create the entire office space to reflect your company’s branding and corporate culture, without any interference.

What is a coworking space?

Coworking spaces offer several advantages due to which people are becoming increasingly interested in experiencing them.

Here are the key reasons why you should choose coworking over regular office space:

Advantages of Coworking Spaces

Networking – When you operate in an area where other businesses or even freelancers also work, the networking prospects in a vibrant and engaged community are limitless.
Prime location – Most coworking spaces are located in premium business hubs that are easily accessible and offer good connectivity.
Cost – Of course, it is the more affordable alternative as the overhead and administrative costs are greatly reduced. It’s also move-in ready, and you rarely have to pay for utilities or upkeep.
Flexibility – With most companies opting for hybrid workspaces, coworking spaces are a viable option as one can easily go for day and night shifts or work from home and work from office – according to your specific needs.
Atmosphere – Atmosphere is dynamic and can aid in increasing productivity and decreasing stress.

Coworking space vs traditional office

Coworking spaces are shared office spaces that promote collaboration and a sense of community. They provide your staff with a surfeit of networking and mentoring possibilities as well as a space to meet individuals in similar careers from other firms in person. Whereas traditional office spaces are only for the particular firm, both traditional and coworking space in Mumbai are designed for efficiency and focus. Here are few differences between coworking spaces and traditional offices.

	Coworking space	Traditional office
Varied Workspace	Coworking spaces allow individuals to move within the spaces and locations. Upscaling or downsizing your office space is easily possible	The constricted office area limits the movement
Networking Opportunities	There are several possibilities to meet like-minded people	There are fewer possibilities to network with people who are in the same field
Privacy	Managed offices in coworking spaces offer complete privacy and also provide a professional environment with fewer distractions	Office spaces offer quiet, professional environments with fewer distractions
Productivity	Coworking spaces encourage collaboration and networking that surges productivity	Traditional offices encourage individual work, which results in restricted productivity
Professional Environment	Coworking spaces are designed in a functional manner such that one can work professionally. The entire coworking area is occupied by professionals and entrepreneurs only.	Traditional offices may or may not offer a professional environment
Brand Identity	In a managed office or serviced offices, a company can maintain its own branding	The entire office space encapsulates your brand
Miscellaneous Expenses	Costs like utilities, administration, housekeeping, renovations and furniture are all included in your fee	Running traditional office costs higher as far as miscellaneous expenses are concerned
Administration and Housekeeping	All administrative and housekeeping and security needs are managed by the coworking space provider	Running and managing an office may take away focus from work
Tenure	Coworking spaces have a flexible month-to-month or even a daily plan, depending on your needs	Traditional offices often come with only long-term leases

Summing up

Looking at the long-term advantages, we may conclude that coworking spaces are preferable to traditional offices. You may select the alternatives based on your requirements, budget, and the number of employees. If you’re seeking for professional coworking services that provide you functional and aesthetic workspaces with community and member benefits, iKeva is the right place.