Mumbai: The flexible workspace operators are looking to expand their portfolios by more than 30 per cent in next two to three years as per FICCI-CBRE ‘Future of Flexible Workspace’ report released here recently. The report is based on a comprehensive survey of the leading flex space operators in the country. It highlights fluidity of the workforce, portfolio re-optimization, Hub- and Space Models, enhanced financial gains, rising numbers of strategic partners/ acquisition, demand-backed expansions, focus on tech, health, and safety as some of the key factors which will drive the growth of this emerging industry.

Addressing the virtual ‘Flexible Workspace Summit’ organized by FICCI, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Chair, FICCI-Maharashtra State Council, said that the flexible workspaces are going to witness a lot more traction in this post COVID era. She also mentioned that it is exciting to understand various sustainable business models that can be built on flexible workspaces, advantage to various stakeholders and trends of flexible working with respect to acceptance in smaller towns.

Abhinav Joshi, Head of Research - India, Middle East and North Africa, CBRE, presented the key findings of the study and the changing landscape of the flex spaces in India especially in the context of COVID 19 pandemic.

Raj Menda, Joint Chairman, FICCI Real Estate Committee and Corporate Chairman, RMZ Corp, stated that flexible office space is the need of the hour especially for those companies which are new and not looking for long term commitments. Although during pandemic times the small buildings of 20-25,000 sq feet have witnessed huge vacancy, as start-ups have moved back to homes or shut down their operations.

Sparsh Khandelwal, Founder, CEO, and Managing Director, Stylework, highlighted the issues with the traditional offices model and work from home concept in the corporate world. Anil Gupta, Managing Partner and CEO, AN Corporate Transformation, stated that he is very happy to see the shift in focus on flexi space. India and Germany would be leading countries and aggregators would be expanding the whole marketplace to expedite the supply side, he added.

Due to pandemic, companies have learned that employees can work from anywhere. However, productivity levels of work from home environment haven’t been good as they were in the beginning of the pandemic. Therefore, flexible spaces can play a big role in ensuring that safe environment is provided for enhancing the Productivity level. Flexible Workspace operators bring in a quality work environment, which is fully functional, collaborative where employees are able to perform and deliver, said Ram Chandnani, MD, Advisory and Transaction Services, CBRE. /BI/