The pandemic has upset the short-term plans of most companies in the field of office space and property planning. Will it be a sustainable movement or not? It is hard to say exactly, as the parameters have changed so much:
• Will remote working continue to have the same influence on the use of office space as it does at present?
• Do we really need to reduce surface areas, or should we rethink them with other spaces?
• Will coworking really have an impact on medium and large companies or will it remain a niche market for start-ups and micro-businesses?
• What will be the managerial decisions regarding conduct and presence in the ‘new normal’?
The quality of space and location will certainly play a major role in the future. The following elements are likely to be at the heart of the discussions:
• Are our offices flexible enough to adapt to new requirements?
• Should our offices be close to public transport hubs?
• Under what circumstances and for what activities should our staff be required to be present?
• Will our clients follow us if we move to another location?
• Should we have one large building with all the possible synergies, or should we have smaller satellites close to where our employees live?
• What will be the mobility constraints?
This is of course an equation with many unknowns and there is no one right answer. Nevertheless, some bets on the future will have to be made by decision-makers. For example: is it better to sign short- or long-term leases? Should we sail with the mainstream or against the tide in this area? The impact is not only financial but also on the recruitment of new talents, on the image and simply on the efficiency of the company.
Let us bet that most small and medium-sized business owners in Switzerland (and they are the majority!) will “wait and see” unless very concrete opportunities present themselves. Let us just hope that decisions will be taken after the broadest possible internal and external consultation.
Good luck, good thoughts, and good reading.