Why Flexible Working is the Way Forward Sponsored Feature

The way in which we think about offices, how we work, and how we improve productivity, has been changing. Demand for co-working space has been part of this transformation as businesses are waking up to the fact that shared office space creates and supports collaboration, openness, knowledge sharing, innovation, and the user experience.

The rapid acceleration of technology has changed what’s possible. Put simply, it’s now increasingly easy for a person to plug in and work from anywhere. When it comes to personal productivity, Regus helps professionals to​ work how, where and when they require – empowering them to improve productivity through personal choice.​ Workers also have the option to use services flexibly at their disposal, for instance, instantly booking a fully equipped meeting room from anywhere between one hour or for a full day on a recurring basis.

Global Businesses Require More Location Choices

It’s not economically viable for businesses to restrict people within a certain location. Workers benefit most from being able to operate anywhere in the world, and with greater market proximity. Regus has so far created a global community of 2.5 million like-minded professionals, who benefit from local networks and knowledge-sharing events. Workers can find, manage and book workspace instantly, with easy-to-use apps, supporting all their business needs. ​
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Regus can now offer businesses a base in more than 3,100 locations from cities, airports and service stations to public buildings and railways, across 1,000 cities and towns in 110 different countries. An unparalleled network of office, co-working and meeting spaces in practically every city makes Regus the largest flexible workspace provider in the world. It’s an infrastructure to support every business opportunity, ideal for a modern, dynamic and mobile workforce.

The Regus network enables businesses to operate anywhere, without the need for set-up costs or capital investment. It provides customers with immediate cost benefits and the opportunity to fully outsource their office portfolio. It’s a network designed to enhance productivity and connect like-minded professionals: an instant worldwide community, and a place to belong.

Giving Tenants More Flexibility

As part of their monthly fee, Regus provides access to business lounges, co-working and private office space. Customers can choose one of three subscription levels based on how many days of workspace they need, from a few days per month to unlimited usage. All membership levels provide access to the full benefits of their business centres, including professional reception staff who provide a warm welcome, as well as help with mailing, printing, copies and other admin tasks.

Regus creates personal, financial and strategic value for businesses of every size. From some of the most exciting companies and well-known organisations on the planet, to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. All of them harness the power of flexible working to increase their productivity, efficiency, agility and market proximity.

For example, an entrepreneur wants to focus on growing their business, not spending time and money on real estate leases. But they can’t compromise on those things that are expected of every professional business – best-in-class IT, security, telecommunications capabilities. Even as a fledgling business they want to have a base where they can bring employees, potential customers and partners for meetings without letting down their brand.

Using Flexible Space as a Complement to a Headquarters

The benefits to larger businesses are also now increasingly recognised – and in fact many of the world’s most innovative business success stories have a dedicated flexible workspace strategy. Of course, large corporations have a requirement for a dedicated HQ, but by complementing this with a flexible workspace partner they can drive real benefits to their business. A business can move people into a new market quickly and take them out again when required. They can put their people close to their suppliers. They can do all of this without committing to long leases and expensive relocation costs.

From an employee perspective, a wide-reaching remote network enables people to work with some of the world’s most well-known major corporations. It also sets individuals up for success, helping them achieve personal development, progression and reward, with new opportunities continuously created. And, that’s not to mention the international career options opened up by an extensive choice of locations.

In terms of mitigating risk, companies who take advantage of the Regus network can rest assured that their business continuity plan will be executed during any emergency or crisis, with no queues or over-subscription. With office amenities set up and ready to use, including business-grade internet and telephony service, receptionist, kitchen and cleaning, management is a breeze. There’s no need for multiple vendors, with one global provider, one simple subscription policy, and 24/7 customer service.

Providing Workplaces That Build Employee Satisfaction

Above all, we’d do well to remember that the rise of co-working means employee wellbeing and personal satisfaction will increase, and in today’s battle for top talent that means a huge amount. Fewer hours spent commuting, greater independence and flexibility means more productive workers.

In fact, employees are likely to become more creative – driving more innovations for your business. Having all of your people under one roof, having the same conversations with the same people day after day might be stifling the potential of them generating original ideas. Putting them into a collaborative space with like-minded businesses and people can help free up their thinking. Happy, more creative employees can only be good for business.

Demand for flexible workspaces is now truly global. This is reflected in the fact that Regus opened centres for the first time last year in Angola, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iceland, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Trinidad and Tobago. The workspace revolution is coming. One day soon flexible working will simply be known as working.​ Smart businesses are planning for it now.

This sponsored feature is contributed by Regus, the world’s largest service office provider. For more information visit www.regus.hk or call +852 2166 8000.