As the manager of a coworking space, you walk a fine line. Your site must offer security while helping members and guests feel welcome. The following seven tips promote digital and physical security without interrupting ease-of-use. Create a Warm, Automated Welcome Automated attendance trackers deliver convenient yet controlled access to your shared workspace. Combine Kisi and KUBE door access systems to manage member and visitor logs as well as billing details. There is no need to have users register and pay for common use areas in advance. Users pay as they go, minimizing cancellations and billing disputes. As an added convenience, any user with a mobile device can begin working automatically. With access and billing aside, your reception staff can focus on welcoming clients, answering questions, and placemaking. Offer Private Wi-Fi As an alternative to shared wi-fi networks, private networks provide excellent digital security. Each user receives a unique code that doesn’t overlap with fellow users’ access. Consider linking access with membership. A single code issued to all members and guests does not provide the protection you need. Link access codes to users’ unique membership level as an additional layer of security. Have that code expire with the membership or expire after a certain duration of time for guests. Switch Up Guest Access If individualized wi-fi credentials for guests seems tedious, consider a simple guest wi-fi network and password. For added security, update log-ins at least every quarter, if not every month. Encourage Privacy with Filters Install an IP filtering system that can minimize undesirable data sharing and burdensome traffic loads. Not all data theft occurs digitally. Applying privacy screen filters on your in-house computer monitors limits the access of wandering eyes. Benefit from Member Education Education is key to risk mitigation. During new...

Editor’s note: The following interview originally appeared in GCUC UK and is reprinted with permission here. Tony Freeth has seen the evolution of the office space industry firsthand. Co-founder of Phoenix Broadband and creator of Medusa, a product that handles premises infrastructure, Freeth has played a pioneering role in bandwidth management and workspace wifi solutions since the late-1990s. Recently, Medusa was acquired by global real estate technology company Yardi. Freeth, who was at the first Global Coworking Unconference Conference (GCUC) in Austin, Texas in 2012, has now taken the role of Director of Coworking Europe at Yardi. With two decades of experience, Freeth provides a unique and valuable perspective on the now-booming workspace industry. We spoke with Freeth about the evolution of the industry, Yardi’s acquisition of Medusa, and how commercial real estate has now adopted coworking as an asset class. Here are the highlights of our conversation. What’s your coworking story, Tony? How were you introduced to what was then a small movement? Tony Freeth: In 2010, I was talking to someone at Steelcase who told me I needed to go to Coworking Europe. While there, I came across a bunch of people who had a very different idea of how people could work in a space, based on collaboration and community. We tried to sell that message to our conventional customers for many years, and for a long time their response was, “No that’s not what we do. Everyone wants a door.” We told them when you put millennials behind doors, it’s like depriving a plant of light—they just wilt. I met [GCUC producer] Liz Elam at Coworking Europe and she invited me to Austin for GCUC. It became clear that U.S. coworking seemed extremely vibrant and extremely well-organized. I imagine your...

No longer the sole domain of freelancers, micro busineses and start-ups, coworking is taking the Asia Pacific by storm as large companies jump on board the trend, says Yardi’s Neal Gemassmer. According to research by Cushman & Wakefield, coworking has accelerated rapidly throughout the Asia Pacific region, with roughly 750,000 sqm of space leased over the last two years alone. America’s largest coworking company, WeWork, now has 300 offices in 62 global cities, while China’s Naked Hub and Ucommune are also making waves around the region. Gemassmer, Yardi’s vice president for international business, says demand from corporates has been the one of the biggest coworking drivers. He points to research from Cushman & Wakefield, which finds the number of coworking enterprise-level companies – those with more than 500 employees – has doubled in the last 12 months. Meanwhile, the share of freelancers and independent workers has dropped by nearly 15 per cent over the last three years. “Large companies are on the hunt for space that is flexible, that enhances collaboration, and that fosters a creative culture – all characteristics of a coworking environment,” Gemassmer says. So, what are the three coworking trends to watch in 2018? Innovation acceleration “An innovation culture is an essential ingredient in a modern workplace, particularly as disruption continues to drive many companies out of business,” Gemassmer says. “Nurturing new ideas is critical to any company facing industry disruption.” Google has established community hubs, which it calls “campuses” to cultivate a community of entrepreneurs. Coders and creatives, innovators and investors can work together while locals catch up for coffee. Similarly, Unilever has set aside an entire floor of its regional headquarters in Singapore for start-ups to set up shop, and for its own team members to connect. “Coworking can...

Europe is a vibrant, culture-rich continent that combines world-class cities with future-focused professionals who are growing the coworking industry. As of 2016, there were over 2,500 coworking spaces throughout Europe, comparable to, if not exceeding, the amount in North America. Let’s take a look at 6 amazing coworking spaces in Europe, some in major tourist hubs, and some on roads less traveled. Volumes – Paris, France Paris needs no introduction. It is one of the cultural, historical, economical and tourist capitals of the world. In the center of the city you’ll find Volumes. What’s most unique about Volumes is that it combines coworking, a makers space, and a food lab. Makers Space is an onsite workshop fully equipped with a laser cutter, milling machine and a 3D printer (check out their website for details on this, it’s fantastic). The food lab is ideal for restaurant startups, amateur chefs, and anyone who wants to break into the culinary field. It is as unique a set-up as any coworking space Europe offers and in an amazing location as well. Remix – Paris, France Another top spot coworking spot in Paris is Remix. Remix boasts 5 locations throughout the city, all with ample space, huge conference rooms, multiple smaller meeting rooms, and kitchens. Their membership prices are posted directly on their site and they all provide 24/7 availability, which is huge. Work.Life – London, UK A major tourist destination, as well as a booming entrepreneur hub, London is home to some of the most unique coworking spaces on Earth. Check out Work.Life which has 6 locations in the city. Work.Life specializes in shorter term memberships and more intimate spaces, with hotdesk plans available even by the hour. For as little as £4 per hour, you can grab a...

Yardi Matrix has completed the first report that quantifies the amount of office space dedicated to coworking in office buildings with 50,000 square feet or more in 20 large U.S. markets. “Coworking represents a small yet growing segment of the office market,” the report says, noting that that 20 markets contain more than 1,100 coworking space encompassing almost 27 million square feet of space.  This total represents 1.2% of the total office space in those markets. Shared workspace originated in the 1990s to provide space for self-employed workers and employees traveling or working remotely. The practice expanded after the Great Recession, driven by a growing gig economy, cost-cutting strategies and other factors. Today, the report says, “coworking represents a small yet growing segment of the office market” that helps companies accommodate remote employees, attract talent, promote work satisfaction and reduce leasing costs. Eleven of the 20 metros in the Yardi Matrix study have more than 1 million square feet of coworking space for lease, led by Manhattan, N.Y., with 7.65 million square feet in 245 spaces and the Los Angeles office space market with 3.7 million square feet of coworking space in 158 locations. Nine other metros have at least 1 million square feet dedicated to coworking. Miami has the most coworking space as a percentage of total stock, at 2.7%. “Demand is high in markets with concentrations of knowledge workers—especially IT but also new media or industries such as biotechnology and telecommunications—that are friendly to startups [and] in metros where space is at a premium,” the report says, and lower in metros such as Dallas and Houston that have low barriers to construction and high vacancy rates.  The practice is more prevalent in urban settings due to the concentration of workers there and...

The year 2017 marked the largest growth in coworking, and produced all-time highs in number of spaces as well as number of members. As the industry grows and evolves, what are some of the major Coworking trends to look for in the next year? Here are five trends that will shape the continued expansion of coworking in 2018. Increasing Demand It’s estimated that 50% of the population will be working independently by 2020. If this comes to fruition, the demand for shared space will continue to rise at a fast pace in the next year. According to some estimates, there could be up to 37,000 Coworking spaces worldwide by the end of 2018. Those interested in joining the movement see that Coworking has become a symbol of community, connectivity, efficiency, and networking. Not to mention it’s a cheaper alternative than leasing in a traditional office space. The demand will only continue to increase in 2018. Health Another trend we could see in the coming year is the value placed on health, both mental and physical. Sure, we’ll continue to see the added benefits of some Coworking locations such as workout spaces and yoga classes. But mental health has been brought to the forefront and working from home, or even in some traditional offices, can create isolation, among other negative factors. Today’s society is searching more and more for the positivity of community, a huge benefit of coworking. Larger companies Coworking spaces tend to gear toward small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs. However larger companies have started to pick up on the trend and realized the added value of working in cross-functional teams instead of in more traditional set ups.  Not only does working within a coworking space offer corporations a more cost-effective alternative to test new...

Yardi announced today the acquisition of WUN Systems, an award-winning and fast-growing leader in the coworking and shared space market. WUN Systems is a provider of a workspace management platform delivering all the tools needed to manage a smart and connected workspace. WUN’s mission is to provide the blueprint for growth and efficiency in their members’ workspace. “We are excited to be part of such a dynamic and growing market segment,” said Gordon Morrell, executive vice president of Yardi. “With shared workspace on the rise, this gives commercial and residential real estate companies the flexibility to explore new revenue streams and customer retention strategies.” WUN Systems’ intelligent workspace management platform delivers the software, hardware, and support services required to open new shared workspaces, improve existing spaces, or monetize vacant or underutilized real estate with the goal to increase revenue, maximize productivity and build community for its members. WUN Systems now serves more than 80,000 members in 700 locations globally. The company’s team of over 90 engineers, programmers, service specialists, project managers and specialists will continue to operate from its offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico and India. “Yardi’s commitment to its clients and wanting to continually improve, innovate and grow is inline with our mission to fuel the space-as-a-service evolution. The synergy between the real estate market and the coworking and shared workspace market makes this relationship a natural fit and strengthens both of our offerings,” said Dale Hersowitz, CEO at WUN...