MARCH 20208IN MY OPINIONWHY MODERN INDIA NEEDS TO WELCOME CO-WORKINGBy Sammeer Pakvasa, MD, Eleganz InteriorsA strategist, visionary, and an entrepreneur, Sammeer pioneers in creating remarkable interior solutionsone are the days when the working-class functioned within the 9-5 time frame. Today, the corporate world is defined by start-ups, flexible working hours, and the ease of space. This in turn, has revolu-tionised the way we work, including our office space. To this extent, co-working as emerged as one of the fastest grow-ing trends in the work environment. This is further validated by a JLL report that states that the share of co-working in to-tal office leasing spiked from 8 per cent in 2018 to 12 per cent in the first quarter of 2019. These flexible work spaces were ini-tially popular among freelance profes-sionals, and start-ups, but today, have become a big part of the corporate office structure. Many in the field have realised the numerous advantages that they hold, and have embraced the change. Not only do these cre-ate an enabling environment that allows professionals to channel their creativity, and boost productivity, but it also allows one to network with likeminded and di-verse professionals, from a cross section of industries. It is no wonder then, that the co-working segment is today a booming real estate business for landlords and plays a vital part of the strategy to attract occupiers. In fact, co-working spaces have become so popular in In-dia, that a report by real estate consultancy firm CBRE stated that the segment witnessed a 70 per cent in-crease on a quarterly basis, touching 2.9 million sqft by the end of Q1 2019. Here's why co-working will continue to grow in popularity, and modern In-dian should embrace this trend: Co-working allows Productivity to be Increased, and Creativity NurturedResearch shows that being surround-ed by likeminded individuals can greatly increase one's productivity. In fact, a survey by CBRE's Research and A&T Occupier Group found that 50 per cent of the respondents saw their productivity increase, as well as collaborations, since they started us-ing shared workspaces. Additionally, co-working com-panies offer facility management which enables users to reduce their operational costs, and maximise pro-ductivity. The introduction of Artificial Intelligence in co-working habitats allows for smart desks that work-ers can use to control lights and heating, and as this technology further develops, it will define co-working in the future. GSammeer Pakvasa, MD
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