Federal Court of Audit: German government wastes millions on office rents

Unnecessary expenditure in the millions: The federal government has so far failed to adapt its office space to flexible working methods. This conclusion was reached by the German Federal Audit Office in a report from April 2023. According to the experts, the long-outdated regulations for office buildings no longer take modern working methods into account and urgently need to be updated. The savings potential is enormous: By giving up 20 % of their office space, civilian federal authorities could save at least 300 million euros a year in cold rent.

Outdated guidelines

When designing office space for new buildings and occupying space in existing buildings, the federal administration has so far mainly relied on tried and tested guidelines. Entitled as “Maximum space for offices of federal authorities”, these guidelines have remained virtually unchanged since the 1950s.

In its regular audits, the Bundesrechnungshof shows that the federal authorities consistently use every last square centimetre of the specified maximum areas in new buildings. Added tot hat: When using existing buildings, they often interpret these guidelines as a minimum requirement for the space needed.

Flexible models are necessary

From the employees’ point of view, the approach also misses the current zeitgeist: Modern concepts, such as the desk-sharing model or working from home, have long been standard on the labor market. According to the finance committee, these could be implemented relatively quickly and, above all, cost-effectively in the existing buildings. Furthermore, a significant reduce of the time employees spend in the office is expected – as well as the space required. Unused existing properties could then be sold and third-party rents reduced.

Positive impact on climate protection

The experts agree: A reduction in office space would not only have financial benefits. By reducing the emission of climate-damaging gases and minimizing the need for energy-efficient refurbishment and new buildings, the government could also make a quick contribution to protecting the climate. As a reminder: According to the climate protection program, the federal government wants to make its administration climate-neutral by 2030. But those responsible are avoiding the issue.

 

Although the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) supports the approach of the Bundesrechnungshof, it is hesitant to implement it. “The Bundesrechnungshof recommends the immediate introduction of modern requirements for needs-based office space planning,” the experts state. Above all, these should take modern forms of work into account. In addition, a program should help to oblige the authorities to reduce their office space. The experience of the European Commission and the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg could serve as a guide here.

Support through technical innovations

Modern IT solutions are available to the federal authorities in order to implement space reduction efficiently and in line with requirements: ReCoTech’s software enables algorithm-based area planning in office buildings and thus includes intelligent space utilization – even with the same number of employees. Analyses allow work processes to be optimized and the potential for energy savings to be exploited in a targeted manner.

The ReCoTech app also offers the option of booking workstations. The smart application can thus completely map an authority and also provides valuable insights into operational and administrative processes.

Image source: By jannoon028 on Freepik

Is remote work more environmentally sustainable than traditional offices?

Working in the office or from home – which consumes more CO2? This is the very question answered by an American study that examined the emissions balance of in-person and remote work. The results continue to raise the question: How can greenhouse gas consumption be reduced in the long term?

Balancing electricity savings and travel

For the sustainability study, a research team from Cornell University collaborated with Microsoft, utilizing data sets from the corporate giant. The analysis revealed that those working exclusively from home save up to 54 % in greenhouse gases compared to their office counterparts. Hybrid work only offered a slight advantage, with a maximum savings rate of 29 % for two to four days of remote work per week.

Where does the high consumption in the office come from? According to the study, it is not the office IT or communication technology that’s responsible, but measures such as heating or cooling the premises with air conditioning. Commuting to the office is also included in the statistics.

However, Cornell and Microsoft highlight that remote work is not necessarily the key to a sustainable future. Because those who work exclusively remotely or from home tend to travel more or are often on airplanes, as the study shows. Additionally, devices like home printers, for example, tend to consume more electricity on average compared to larger office versions.

This emissions balance is also expected in the German-speaking region. While the data for the study comes from the United States, according to the researchers, the results can be applicable to Europe and Japan as well.

Reducing emissions with smart spaces

Cornell and Microsoft show that when it comes to long-term sustainability, the work arrangement is not the sole solution, as private and business-related CO2 consumption balances out. So, how can companies contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions?

The answer lies in the space: Companies and corporations need to assess how much CO2 they consume and which aspects of their daily operations are responsible for it. In the second step, the company’s or employees’ work arrangement is considered: Who works when in the office, who is in the home office? For office spaces structured around fixed workstations, this means that on home office days, not all rooms are fully occupied, creating free spaces.

At this point, software programs like ReCoTech provide valuable support: Through occupancy analyses, companies determine how spaces are used. With automated calculations, an optimal space structure can then be created, considering individual work processes. Simultaneously, the software uncovers potential savings in terms of space, allowing for downsizing or office space reduction. This not only reduces CO2 consumption but also lowers operational costs.

[Interested? Book a ReCoTech demo now]

Sustainability in the workplace: Employees as driving forces

The importance of sustainability in businesses is gaining increasing attention – not only from the general public but also from employees. This is the conclusion of a recent study by HEUTE UND MORGEN: The market researchers urge companies to involve their employees early in initiatives and to give greater consideration to their ideas.

Employees prefer sustainability-oriented employers

The new study, “Sustainability of companies from an employee perspective – status quo, potentials, and perspectives”, reveals that 74 % of German employees welcome their employer’s commitment to sustainability. For 40 % of respondents, sustainability in the workplace holds personal significance.

These figures result from the work of Julia Nachtsheim and her market research team at HEUTE UND MORGEN. For the representative trend study, they surveyed 1,000 employees and executives in companies with a minimum size of five employees.

Further insights include: Employees who believe their company is already acting sustainably exhibit higher loyalty to their employer. This aligns with the statement that more than one in four employees in Germany (28 %) cannot envision working for a company that does not pursue sustainability goals.

“Sustainability is evolving in an organizational perspective from a nice-to-have to an indispensable hygiene factor and must-have,” says study leader Julia Nachtsheim. “Companies that understand and embrace this beyond mandatory regulations can secure crucial competitive advantages in the fiercely contested talent market.”

Challenges and potentials of sustainability in the workplace

Despite the increasing importance of sustainability in companies, there is still room for improvement: 28 % of respondents feel that their employer has been insufficiently committed to sustainability. Only 19 % of companies prioritize sustainability, while 41 % indicate that there are more pressing issues.

Interestingly, most employees are less concerned about the specific area of sustainability their company is involved in. What matters more is that the commitment is transparent and proactive. Here, passive measures play a lesser role compared to active efforts.

Becoming sustainable through space optimization

Companies take various steps to become more sustainable. One crucial task is to assess the efficiency of office space: Are the available rooms optimally utilized? Is there still a need for space-intensive individual offices? Which types of spaces support work processes?

Through analysis, it is possible to uncover potential space savings and accommodate optimized structures in a smaller area. This allows companies to relinquish space, resulting in cost savings and an improved carbon footprint.

Tools and software programs like ReCoTech support this initiative by using algorithms to calculate the optimal office structure. At the same time, manual parameters such as individual work processes can be taken into account. The solution promotes communication between executives and the workforce: Employees can communicate which room systems already work in their daily activities, and this feedback then forms the basis for the software calculations. Sustainability thus becomes an active collaboration involving all levels of the company.

Trend reveals: Mobile working is here to stay

From home office back to the office? Since the end of the Corona lockdowns, it is clear that remote work has become permanently established in German companies. More and more firms are adapting to this trend: On one hand, they make efforts to bring employees back to the office more frequently – whether through incentives or clear guidelines. On the other hand, they are reducing office spaces by shortening leases, consolidating locations, or forgoing new office properties. This trend is intensifying, as a recent ifo survey indicates.

Three times more remote work than before the pandemic

In the modern work environment, Simon Krause is convinced that remote work has become a permanently integral part. “About a quarter of employees work regularly from home,” says the ifo expert. Especially Mondays and Fridays are popular days to work from home or any other location outside the office. The trend towards mobile work is unbroken.

This is also supported by the current figures from his institute: A business survey by the Munich-based research institution ifo revealed that currently, 12.3 % of all office workplaces on an average weekday are not occupied due to remote work. For comparison, in 2019 – pre-pandemic – it was only 4.6 %. “The proportion of unused workplaces in offices has thus tripled,” says Krause.

IT and advertising sectors embrace remote work frequently

But these numbers are not evenly distributed across all sectors: In the service sector, the percentage increased significantly from 6.2 % to 16.8 %. Especially in IT professions, market research and advertising, consulting, and the pharmaceutical industry, there are many jobs that are not physically occupied.

The upward trend is also observed in other sectors such as manufacturing, trade, or the construction industry, though to a much lesser extent.

Altered needs for office spaces

The trend toward remote work has implications for both companies and the real estate market. “Some companies,” says Simon Krause, “are converting vacant offices into coworking spaces to facilitate more personal interaction on the days of physical presence. Other companies are reducing their space requirements to cut costs for unused offices.”

Robert Vesely from the real estate association IVD also sees altered needs for office buildings to make them appealing to companies. The Magdeburg-based entrepreneur emphasizes that, in this context, both digital infrastructure and a redesign of the spaces are crucial. This is to ensure that, for example, multiple teleconferences in one room do not become an acoustic issue. Property owners have already recognized this necessity and are investing accordingly.

Smart solutions for companies

For companies grappling with how to cost-effectively and energy-efficiently utilize their office spaces in light of the remote work trend, smart solutions are available. The Company ReCoTech has developed a space optimization tool to digitally determine the actual need for required office spaces. Whether it’s consolidating spaces or making changes in usage, such as desk-sharing, the tool reveals the full potential of office buildings.

Additionally, for booking shared workspaces, ReCoTech offers a workplace booking app. It accompanies employees throughout the workday, remembers their work preferences, and can automatically handle resource bookings as desired.

Employees at RLE INTERNATIONAL Group in Böblingen are now digitally controlling their office doors with the ReCoTech app! 🚪🔓

The digital transformation is changing the way we work, and at ReCoTech GmbH, we are committed to shaping this change with innovative solutions. Our latest project, implemented in collaboration with apropos Sicherheitstechnik GmbH, is a perfect example of this.

The vision behind the project

In today’s era, it is crucial for companies to be agile and adaptive. This is particularly true for facility management, where security and user-friendliness should go hand in hand. With the integration of the ReCoTech app, employees at RLE INTERNATIONAL Group now have the opportunity to control their office doors in Böblingen in an innovative way – simple, secure, and digital.

Dormakaba Deutschland technology

Our app wouldn’t be complete without the robust and reliable technology from dormakaba Deutschland. As one of the leading providers in access control, dormakaba has proven to deliver not only secure but also user-friendly products. Their technology ensures that our app solution operates seamlessly, allowing RLE INTERNATIONAL Group employees to control their doors with full confidence.

Teamwork makes the dream come true

Such a project requires teamwork, and we want to express our gratitude to everyone who contributed. A special thanks to our partner company, apropos Sicherheitstechnik GmbH, whose support and expertise made this project possible.

The future is digital

This collaboration is just the beginning. At ReCoTech GmbH, we are constantly exploring ways to drive digital transformation across various industries. We look forward to many more shared success stories and to witnessing how technology will continue to shape our working world.

Thank you for your interest and trust in our work. Stay tuned for further updates and exciting news from the world of digitization!

#digitization #security #ReCoTechGmbH #aproposSicherheitstechnik #dormakaba #RLEInternational

Hesham Kashkari takes over as CSO at ReCoTech GmbH

ReCoTech GmbH has expanded its sales team with Hesham Kashkari taking up his new post as Chief Sales Officer (CSO) on 01.07.2023. With this, the leading service provider for workplace management and booking platforms further expands its personnel portfolio, after Manuel Panzirsch was already won as CEO in May 2023.

The new position holds one opportunity above all for Hesham Kashkari: to be part of an innovative working world of tomorrow. In addition to the further development and implementation of an effective sales strategy, the focus for him is also on goal setting and close networking with customers and partners.

“A flexible working world that solves challenges creatively, acts sustainably and relies on the use of modern technologies – this is the vision ReCotech shares, and this is the vision I share,” says Hesham Kashkari. “I am therefore particularly looking forward to actively shaping the future of work as part of the corporate family.”

For Manuel Panzirsch, the appointment of Hashem Kashkari as the new CSO fits in with the strategic direction of ReCoTech: “With his many years of experience in sales at well-known companies and his very human manner, Hashem Kashkari is a real asset for us. We are very much looking forward to working together and warmly welcome him to our team.”

Hashem Kashkari, who has a degree in business administration, has extensive knowledge in all areas of sales and consulting. Among other things, he was the founder and managing director of VENSUM UG. and Director of Sales for INCENT Corporate Services GmbH. His professional career has also taken him into the publishing and digital industries. Through his expertise, ReCoTech would like to grow further. The Berlin-based company has been on the market since 2008 and offers IT-supported management for the strategic and operational planning of premises and occupancy.

From Site Planning to Move-In: ReCoTech and HM-Easyumzug Form Strategic Partnership

When it comes to office optimisation, organisation and implementation, there will soon be a new top team: the professional relocation company HM-Easyumzug has already been able to make a name for itself in Frankfurt am Main – and is now establishing a cooperation with the space planning experts from ReCoTech. Both parties are looking forward to the strategic partnership, which will combine the offerings of the individual companies into a complete service package.

THOUGHT-OUT SPACE CONCEPT AND PROFESSIONAL RELOCATION MANAGEMENT

If companies or offices need new office space, ReCoTech and HM-Easyumzug are the right contacts. While ReCoTech takes care of the planning of the offices with the best possible room layout, HM-Easyumzug specialises in a quick and uncomplicated change of location in all respects.

“ReCoTech’s expertise revolves primarily around the question: how can we create personalised office spaces for our clients that meet the requirements of the modern working world? Once our conceptual work is done, HM-Easyumzug comes into play: our partner takes responsibility for all aspects of the move to the new office. Together we cover the most important tasks that arise when planning a new office,” explains Manuel Panzirsch, CEO of ReCoTech.

The outlook is big: together the two companies want to open up new reaches, expand and open up an international market. Maryam Hemati, CEO of HM-Easyumzug, is looking forward to the challenge: “The cooperation with ReCoTech is a big step towards bundling our extensive range of services and thus expanding it for our joint customers. What has top priority is transparency: we are proud of how our respective expertise meshes – and we want to communicate this openly to our customers.”

ALL-ROUND SERVICE THANKS TO SMART COOPERATION

ReCoTech’s portfolio includes tools for intelligent space optimisation as well as space utilisation and workspace booking. In addition, there are the keywords monitoring and analysis: with ReCoTech’s solutions, spaces can be designed on the basis of meaningful data that are tailored to the needs of the employees and the company.

Based in the heart of Frankfurt’s banking district, HM-Easyumzug is one of the first port of call when it comes to large corporate relocations – including from tower to tower. The services provided by the owner-managed moving company range from professional moving consulting and the disassembly and reassembly of office furniture in the space to the storage of files. In the meantime, Ms Hemati and her team can look back on more than 300 corporate and private moves, making them absolute experts in this field.

Manuel Panzirsch emphasises the potential of this merger: “We see this strategic partnership as a synergy of a common vision: to make it as easy as possible for modern employers to design and use contemporary office spaces. In this way, we are shaping a sustainable future together – with office spaces that meet the demands of the times.”

Hybrid Work of tomorrow: The Future of the World of Work

The world of work has changed fundamentally in recent years and is facing new challenges. Flexible working, remote working and virtual collaboration have long ceased to be exceptions and are increasingly shaping everyday working life. The COVID 19 pandemic has undoubtedly had a strong influence on these developments, but the changes began even before the crisis broke out. The current situation requires innovative approaches to meet the demands of hybrid working. In this article, we will take a look at the initial situation and consider the changes that have taken place in recent years. Furthermore, the current problems and challenges of the working world will be highlighted. Finally, possible solutions will be highlighted, including ReCoTech’s product “Seedit”, which helps companies to deal effectively with the new working reality. Together we will gain an insight into the future of work and explore the opportunities of hybrid working.

CURRENT SITUATION

The world of work has evolved at a rapid pace in recent years, with the COVID 19 pandemic undoubtedly being a notable accelerating factor. However, the pandemic should not be seen as the sole trigger for these changes, as new trends and technologies were already paving the way for a transformed work culture before its outbreak. Rather, the pandemic acted as a catalyst, forcing companies and workers to adapt to hybrid working models faster than ever before.

Flexible working hours: Traditional working time models based on fixed office hours are increasingly outdated. Employees prefer more flexible working hours to achieve a better work-life balance.

Remote working: The possibility to work from home or from any other location has greatly increased. This gives employees more flexibility and saves them time and money on their daily commute.

Virtual cooperation: Advances in communication technology have made it much easier to collaborate across large distances. Virtual meetings, online collaboration tools and project management platforms allow teams to work together effectively, regardless of their location.

Growing demand for digital skills: As digitalisation progresses, the need for digital competences becomes more and more important. Employees must have the necessary skills to use technology effectively and to deal with digital tools.
Changing workplace requirements: Workplaces are increasingly being transformed from rigid office structures to more flexible environments. New work concepts such as coworking spaces and hybrid offices are emerging, offering employees more choice and a stimulating work environment.

CURRENT INITIAL SITUATION

The current work situation presents itself with a number of challenges that go hand in hand with the changes in the world of work. Especially in the hybrid work environment, there are various problems to be overcome:

Work-Life-Balance: The boundaries between work and private life become blurred when employees work from home. It can be difficult to set clear boundaries and get enough rest.

Communication and cooperation: Virtual communication can cause misunderstandings and make face-to-face exchanges difficult. Collaboration in distributed teams requires extra effort to be effective.

Technical challenges: Not all employees have the necessary technical skills or the appropriate technical equipment to optimally manage remote work. This can lead to a loss of productivity and affect the flow of work.
Lack of social interaction: Limiting face-to-face meetings can lead to a lack of social interaction and a sense of isolation. Informal exchange and the team feeling can suffer.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

In order to meet the challenges of hybrid working and to shape the working world of the future, various approaches can be pursued. Here are some concrete measures and technologies that can support companies and employees:

Flexible working time management: Companies should introduce flexible working time models that allow employees to adapt their work to their individual needs. This can include, for example, the introduction of flexitime, trust-based working time or part-time models. It is important to set clear guidelines to avoid abuse and ensure that workers are still available and productive.
Technical support for remote work: Companies should ensure that their employees have the necessary technical equipment and training to work effectively from home. This includes powerful laptops, reliable internet connections, video conferencing and collaboration tools. It is also important to provide IT support to quickly resolve technical issues and ensure staff productivity.
Strengthening communication and cooperation: To overcome the challenges of virtual communication, companies should invest in tools and platforms that facilitate collaboration. Video conferencing and chat tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Slack enable real-time communication and information sharing. Project management platforms such as Trello or Asana facilitate the organisation and tracking of tasks and enable collaboration in distributed teams.
Promoting social interaction: To compensate for the lack of face-to-face meetings and informal exchanges, companies can organise virtual team-building activities and regular virtual meetings or informal virtual coffee breaks. This promotes social cohesion and team spirit. It can also be helpful to offer online platforms for sharing interests or hobbies to give employees the opportunity to network outside of work.
Further education and training: Given the growing need for digital skills, companies should continuously educate their employees and provide training on relevant technologies and tools. This can take the form of internal training, external training programmes or the engagement of experts. Individual learning plans and flexible training formats allow employees to develop their skills in a targeted way.
Hybrid workstation design: When designing the workplace, companies should aim for flexible solutions. This can include the creation of hybrid offices that offer both on-site workplaces and resources for remote working. Coworking spaces can provide an alternative work environment where employees can come together as needed. It is important to allow employees to customise their workspace to their individual preferences and needs.

In conclusion, the future of work involves hybrid working models that combine flexibility and effectiveness. By implementing innovative approaches, companies can overcome the challenges and take full advantage of hybrid working. Products such as “Seedit” from ReCoTech can help improve digital collaboration and actively shape the working world of the future. It is now up to companies to seize these opportunities and create a work culture that meets both the needs of employees and the goals of the company.

HOW RECOTECH GMBH CAN HELP YOU

ReCoTech offers a comprehensive range of workplace booking and time recording services that help companies meet the challenges of hybrid working and actively shape the working world of the future. With ReCoTech, companies always have an overview of their workplaces and can see who is in the office and when. This enables an efficient distribution of workplaces and avoids bottlenecks, overcapacity or hygiene risks.
A central element of ReCoTech is the intelligent Booking Assistant. This intuitive tool enables employees to independently organise and optimise their daily work routine. They can conveniently enter their presence and home office times and book workplaces via the system. The Booking Assistant takes into account the availability and capacity of the workstations to ensure harmonised utilisation.
In addition, ReCoTech offers a variety of functions and features to make workstation booking and time recording effective. These include monitoring all operations to maintain an overview, optimising resource utilisation and reducing environmental impact. By offering ReCoTech, companies can increase the satisfaction and productivity of their employees while creating a flexible and efficient working environment.
ReCoTech helps companies to take full advantage of the benefits of hybrid working and to establish a working culture that meets the needs of employees and the goals of the company. With innovative solutions such as “Seedit”, ReCoTech contributes to improving digital collaboration and enables companies to actively shape the working world of the future.

Sources:

  • „The Future of Work: How the Pandemic Has Accelerated Remote Work Trends“ – Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2021/05/28/the-future-of-work-how-the-pandemic-has-accelerated-remote-work-trends/?sh=58eaa92775d9)
  • „The rise of remote work: Why the future is hybrid“ – Deloitte (https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/about-deloitte/articles/impact-of-covid-19-on-future-of-work-hybrid-remote.html)
  • „The Future of Work: Remote Work“ – World Economic Forum (https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/05/remote-work-future-of-work-podcast/)
  • „The Challenges and Benefits of Hybrid Work Models“ – Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2021/10/the-challenges-and-benefits-of-hybrid-work-models

ReCoTech GmbH appoints Manuel Panzirsch as New CEO to Drive Growth and Innovation

ReCoTech GmbH, a leading provider of workplace management solutions and office space optimization solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Manuel Panzirsch as its new CEO. He brings a wealth of experience and strategic capabilities to further strengthen ReCoTech’s positioning and sustainability.

This decision underscores the commitment of RLE International, the parent company of ReCoTech, to its ambitious acquisition and growth strategy and the establishment of an innovation hub in Berlin. Panzirsch‘s extensive expertise in product marketing, sales, and recent experience as CEO at belboon GmbH, a leading provider of performance marketing solutions, make him the ideal candidate to lead ReCoTech to the next level of growth and innovation.

Manuel Panzirsch emphasized, “ReCoTech has been successfully operating in a highly dynamic market, actively shaping the workplace of the future. Our goal is to continue growing nationally and internationally with our innovative software, providing our customers with flexible and efficient solutions for the workplace of tomorrow. We benefit from the strong support of our parent company, RLE, with its extensive experience and clear acquisition and growth strategy.”

CEO of RLE International, Ralf Laufenberg, added, “We are delighted to have Mr. Manuel Panzirsch on board as the new CEO of ReCoTech. With his experience and strategic vision, we are confident that ReCoTech will continue to grow and innovate under his leadership.”

ReCoTech offers IT-based management for operational and strategic space and occupancy planning. In the ever-evolving traditional workspace, ReCoTech provides flexible and efficient solutions for designing modern workplaces.

RLE International, the parent company of ReCoTech, is a global leader in development, technology, and consulting services for the international engineering industry. With over 2,300 employees, RLE International actively contributes to shaping the future of the industry.

For further information, please contact:

Press Contact:

ReCoTech GmbH
presse@recotech.de

www.recotech.de

Tips for Redesigning the Office

When the desire among employees for a homeoffice becomes strong, the first question that is addressed is the following: How can we make it possible for everyone to work from home just as they do in the office? And what foundations must be laid by the company, or what equipment should be made available to employees?

It is only in the second step that the full extent of the impact that flexible working has on office space becomes apparent. Often, this realization only occurs when the employees have long since stopped working in the office every day and the office remains largely empty. The conventional model, according to which everyone is assigned a specific workstation, is thus rendered useless – even inefficient, to the point of being largely superfluous.

So the workspace needs to be redesigned! But how do the workplaces in the office have to be redesigned at best in order to meet the new requirements resulting from the hybrid work model? To ensure that you succeed in the long term, it is best to ask yourself the following questions:

What do your employees want?

Giving employees a greater say in the matter is of immense benefit on numerous levels. This is also true when it comes to deciding how work should be done. As we’ve outlined in another articleit’s helpful for space optimization and workspace management to take into account the wishes and preferences of employees.

How busy is it in the office? Does it perhaps hold potential?

If the office is not fully occupied, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Rather, you should see the potential in it to be able to manage your space more efficiently. After all, thanks to the people in the home office, the required office space is reduced. If you now restructure the office in a clever way by having only shared desks from now on, some space will be freed up.

Ultimately, the change presents a lucrative opportunity to save money. After all, more space means that you can either downsize your premises or, alternatively, rent out the space.

Plus, you now have more leeway to experiment with the space. Food for thought: for example, what do you think about more meeting rooms or private work cubicles and breakout zones?

How can you make sure everyone:r finds a workspace?

The downside of the principle of a shared workspace is that there will most likely be fewer workstations than there are employee:ers. This makes it all the more important to introduce a Booking Assistant that provides a transparent overview of the available workspace. At the same time, employees can independently book rooms, desks and so on.

The advantage: The allocation of space is simple, fair and stress-free! Employees search for the desired workspace, meeting room or quiet zone, check availability and book the space in a desired period – done.

How can you make your workspace dynamically adaptable?

Just because you’ve established a perfectly functioning model today doesn’t mean it will work just as well tomorrow. The way people work will continue to change in the future. This means that in a few years, a flexible, bookable workplace may not even meet the needs of the workforce. That’s why it’s important that when you’re optimizing and redesigning your space now, you make sure that the workspace can be easily adapted.

This is where a Workspace Management Software comes into play. This continuously analyzes usage data and shows you the utilization as well as the demand. This is a huge relief for your workspace management, because based on this information, you can make informed decisions regarding the redesign of workspaces at any time to meet new requirements. In addition, changes to the planning design can be made and simulated.