Introduction

As India inc slowly returns back to work from grappling second wave of COVID 19 one question that all the business owners, stakeholders would be debating is what is the right office for their respective organization. It might have come as a surprise to many of us during COVID-19 that considerable amount of work that usually takes place in offices did carry on when they are closed. Many has discovered they can be more productive and enjoy freedom of a relaxed schedule. Few openly mourn their morning commute.

As a Startup organization you would mostly have people at the start of their careers, they have probably more desire to be with more people because they’re still learning and want to experience social life that goes along with it. In the ever-evolving office space landscape below are the factors that can help you decide on office space.

Employee Health & Well-being

Health and Well-being have never been such important as it is Post COVID-19, as an employer it has become imperative to prioritize employee health and well-being the two matter more than ever. Many employees want the assurance today that the building and its systems keeps them safe, productive and healthy in office. So as a startup opt for buildings which have improved air filtration systems, and natural light availability alongwith contactless security, elevator and access technologies will become standard practice moving forward. You can assess workplace productivity by analyzing how investments in healthy, sustainable workplaces offer opportunity to cost savings.

Office Lease or Co-Working Space?

Office lease are generally more expensive and tie an organization for a longer period of time, but also give you freedom of what you can do with that space. Its seen having a personalized space with branding makes a significant difference to your team’s morale and image that you present to clients.

If you have a limited working staff who needs to work from office for a limited period of time, Co-working spaces offer better solutions. These spaces often end up providing the lively atmosphere to be productive for office goers!

Proximity to Talent

While remote working has broken the myth that work can be done without physically being present in office but even in current pandemic times there is need for team to assemble once in a month or Bi-weekly to discuss/deliberate ideas, current working and future ahead. If your maximum pool of employees belongs to a certain location it makes sense to rent a flexi space in the nearby vicinity. Also, as you grow and need to hire more people across industries its a good bet to target area around schools and universities. Old perks like transit and amenities still matter but it depends on needs of your people and organization. You can use appropriate analytics and data and come up with factors that matter most to your employees and your business.

Leveraging Incentives

While choosing a location it is important to find out the incentives your business can receive in form of direct grants, advantages of tax relief, forgivable loans, employee training and more. Relocating to a lower-cost market with desirable talent pool can help you save money and attract and retain skilled employees. You can explore markets and compare scenarios to identify right one for your business.

Client Convenience

One thing that has definitely changed and looks like something that is permanent for the future is the bleak future of Face-to-Face meetings. There is no denying even when pandemic is completely over the client’s would still prefer to do Zoom/MS teams as to meeting in person however there is a definite attraction in In-person discussion and often is a deal clincher in some cases. It would be of wise prudence to have an office location where your majority of clients are present so that its easier and comforting for them as well.

Who is the Office for

While renting an office you need to answer the question who is the office for, do you require office for regular meetings/discussions within your team setup or a biweekly/Monthly catch or when you have client visiting the premise for a discussion. These are the factors that help you decide space you need such as a receptionist versus swipe cards, number of conference rooms, how you need to lay out work areas etc.

Local Amenities

Business owners have many things to consider while selecting an office, but not a cost of hiring and retaining top talent. From there it’s balancing act of access to transit or parking, aesthetic design, functionality of building etc.

Convenience and Brand Association

Think about your employees and from where they are commuting. Make sure it works for their personal lives. Will you see customers at your location? Is there a need for you to have a brand association with the location? Consider the neighborhood, nearby services other factors that matter

Finding the right size of office and location can set up your business for long-term success post pandemic. The Points above will help you put together the right strategy that aligns to your Organisations need and objectives, also further leveraging technology and foreseeing and preventing possible challenges.