Will COVID-19 eliminate the concept of coworking spaces? This would seem to be the logical prediction in the new era of virtual working and social distancing.
Shared spaces which prompt people to leave home could permanently lose their sheen, or at least demand won’t return at the expected spectrum to what it was just a few months ago.
In this post, we will discuss three important reasons why the coworking industry should emerge from the COVID-19 crisis not only stronger but also more important and necessary.
Virtual working needs to set up its base somewhere!
Resource coordination for start-ups and small businesses
Hybrid Avatar of Coworking space
Community is the key to recovery
Virtual working needs to set up its base somewhere!
As many experts have observed that pandemics should prompt the stuck workforce to resume their work remotely or via telework. Shared working spaces play a key role by hosting the relocated remote workers and helping them plug into the local scene.
In addition, the big corporations will likely disorientate their office space – both to help their employees manage the crisis and to recover from the untimely disruptions.
Resource coordination for start-ups and small businesses
Coworking doesn’t just serve freelancers or independent professionals, they are crucial support functions to solopreneurs, small businesses, self-employed, and start-ups. In particular, coworking spaces are the lifeline for small businesses that bank on the periphery of local economies.
Coworking spaces help small businesses to deter significant barriers to accessing infrastructure capital or local business networks.
Hybrid Avatar of Coworking space
Coworking spaces offer flexible subscriptions where the office-goers must have an edge over making the payment for the number of hours they use the space.
Realtors and shared office space investors are already promoting the hub-and-spoke model. For instance, shared office spaces in Mumbai accommodates several small companies instead of offering its space to a couple of large corporations in its erstwhile multi-storied building.
Community is the key to recovery
The most important aspect for recovery and rebound is the community ties as we move into the new age which will be defined by the ominous level of social distancing.
Solopreneur, business owners, and independent freelancers will need social networks and collaborations at work more than ever to establish their footing.
We’re already witnessing some degree of communities rallying around their local businesses through pleasantries and other sources of support. That’s a great sign; hopefully, it persists.
When this pandemic is over, it won’t be plug-and-play for businesses. While some won’t resume; some entrepreneurial dreams will be permanently dwarfed. It is the sense of community that will prevail and helps people build new business networks, and support each other.
That’s what ideal coworking spaces do – they breed communities, an essential source of collaborations that will be the key ingredient in recovering from the crisis in the post-pandemic world.
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