In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have adopted work-from-home (WFH) policies to ensure the safety of their employees. As a result, offices have become less crowded, and many employers have reconsidered their office space capacity and utilization.
The adoption of WFH policies have made the lives of employees easier. Many workers have even started to look for companies providing WFH facility instead of returning to office full-time.
However, many workers feel that staying too long in their homes can be counterproductive. Many individuals have started looking for shared office spaces to feel energised, productive, and network. Due to this increasing trend, workstation booking or hoteling software have emerged and is being a solution to manage the booking and utilization of shared spaces.
In this blog, we explore how WFH is changing the landscape of office space and increasing the demand for space booking software (also known as hoteling software).
What is a Shared Workspace or Coworking Space
We must first understand shared workspace to better understand the shifting trend from fixed office spaces.
As the name suggests, a shared workspace is a flexible working area shared by individuals or working people from different organisations.
With the growth in WFH, corporates that had dedicated desks or workstations to employees, have started to convert these dedicated spaces to shared spaces that need to be booked in advance. They no longer need to provide employees a dedicated workstation if they are only coming to the office for a few days a week.
On the other hand, there is a growing market for co-working space from entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who need an office like environment to be productive but unable to afford a lease and setting up an office space. One of the most popular Coworking space provider is WeWork, which has more than 500,000 members worldwide.
Why shared workspaces are becoming popular
Shared workspace comes with desks, meeting rooms, pantries, and other amenities that is shared by all employees or all members of a co-working space. Therefore, it reduces overhead costs and investment costs for individuals. This way, the money that would have been spent on buying fixed assets can be spent on growing the company and other productive areas.
Shared workspaces allow people to work alongside one another collaboratively. This is why, it is popular among entrepreneurs, freelancers, and startups.
Similarly, individuals prefer shared workspaces because it offers short—and long—term lease conditions. Therefore, shared workspaces are popular among working individuals without fixed schedules.
However, managing the utilization of a shared workspaces can be daunting, especially if done manually. It is essential to leverage technology through workstation booking software or hoteling software to move ahead with time and make the space booking and utilization process efficient.
What is a Workstation Booking Software
Workstation booking software or hoteling software allow employees, members and users to book shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and other amenities in the workspace ahead of time. Corporations or companies can implement room booking software by providing shared workspaces.
Managing desk workspaces in tough times like COVID-19 can be challenging. This is where workstation booking software become helpful.
The Growing Need for Workstation Booking Software
The COVID-19 pandemic transformed how companies work, with many embracing remote work to comply with health regulations and keep their employees safe. However, companies have asked their employees to return to the office as the world has gotten out of the pandemic. Some have looked at it positively, but most workers prefer WFH mode.
Research shows that remote work opportunities grew significantly from 4% to more than 15% in 2022. To facilitate the growing demand for workers, companies must provide flexible work engagement by allowing the workers to work from home or anywhere they desire. Thanks to this trend, companies and employees have started to use workstation booking software, also known as hoteling software.
There is also a growing need for workstation booking software in today’s time because of the hybrid work environment. Hoteling software allows workers to book workspaces at the comfort of their homes to be in the work area only during a particular hour.
Use of workstation booking software for companies
Workstation booking software or hoteling software allows companies to optimise their office space. Since many employees work remotely, they may not need as much office space like before.
By using hoteling software to track space utilisation, companies can identify office work areas that are no longer being used as often and repurpose them for other activities. In extreme cases, the companies can also look towards downsizing their office space and facilitating their workers to work in shared workspaces.
Ultimately, workstation booking software help companies save money on rent and real estate related overhead costs.
Why is Workstation Booking Software Important
Shared workspaces and space booking are significantly on the rise in today’s time.
With the rush of workers returning to office, managing work area in a productive manner with less crowd can be challenging. This is where workstation booking software comes in handy to manage the workers returning to office.
Below are some of the importance of workstation booking software.
1. Improves space utilization
Companies can use hoteling software to easily manage their office space optimally. The software automatically releases a desk or work area when the space is available and no longer needed. This ensures that work areas are efficiently used and reduces the risk of wasted space.
2. Increases productivity
With room booking software, employees can better plan their day and reserve the required workspace. They don’t have to worry about finding a workspace or dealing with distraction from other employees. This can lead to increased productivity and better work outcomes.
3. Promotes collaboration
Workstation booking software allows employees to choose their workspace based on their needs. They can choose a quiet area if they need to focus, or a collaborative space if they need to work with others. Similarly, workers can book meeting rooms to collaborate better and encourage teamwork.
4. Improves hygiene and safety
In pandemic situations, like the COVID-19, workstation booking software can come in handy as it helps to promote better hygiene in the office or shared workspaces by preventing overcrowding. Workers can easily reserve a workspace that has been sanitised and cleaned. This helps to ensure that the work environment is hygienic and safe.
5. Reduces operational cost
Implementing space booking or hoteling software helps reduce operational costs for a company since it eliminates the need to manually manage desk allocation. Similarly, it reduces wasted space and improves the utilisation of the workspace. Furthermore, it improves workers’ productivity and safety, equating to better financial performance.
Implement Workstation Booking Software Solutions
Overall, the need for workstation booking software has increased in response to the rise of WFH and hybrid work. Companies looking to provide flexible work environments while also optimising their workspace can greatly benefit from implementing hoteling software like EZBook.
Implementing workstation booking software solutions can be a simple and cost-effective process. You can reap the rewards only after a few months as it saves up your time and resources. Known for its ease of use and reliability, EZBook has been actively serving its users for the past 20 years. Contact us today to learn more about implementing workstation booking software solution like the EZBook.