Technology at Work: Empowering the Coworking Movement With AI, Automation, and Tech

A workplace revolution is happening, one where the Future of Work technology takes centre stage. As flexible working continues to be the norm and demand for coworking spaces accelerates – AI, automation, and technology illuminate the path towards happy, healthy, and more connected shared work environments. Providing a key foundation of coworking, technology at work empowers coworking communities to feel included and nurtured across the board.

A space for wellness and tech

“Technologies will act like a forcing function in how people live, work, and play,” describes Future of Work expert, Antony Slumbers, on the rapid advancement of generative AI and its outstanding impact on the world around us. Slumbers delves into the significance of AI in personalising workspaces, explaining: “This can include adjusting lighting, temperature, and desk arrangements, providing a more comfortable and enjoyable work experience.”

Sensored lighting and temperature in smart buildings have been on the ESG agenda for a while now, as the office real estate industry strives to better conserve energy consumption and costs. But workspace conditions also have an impact on coworkers’ happiness and health too. It’s a critical topic due to the rise in work-related mental ill-health.

Susana Babic, an expert architect and advisor in lighting, talks about the importance of sensory stimulation on a panel during Clerkenwell Design Week 2022. She points out how ‘30-40% of the global workforce are neurodiverse,’ and require the right amount of light – lots of natural lighting or warm artificial lighting – and acoustics – not too loud, intense, or overwhelming – in workspaces. It’s pivotal to be inclusive of the neurodiverse community rather than pushing them to work in isolation at home. As architect Emma Morley echoes: “Businesses of the future will absolutely be designed for wellness.” AI can adjust workspace conditions to accurately reflect the community in real-time.

The power of tech doesn’t end there. Coworking spaces typically provide more holistic offerings than just existing as a space for work, including wellness-related services. UK coworking space, Work.Life, is at the forefront of well-being in the coworking movement. In all locations, Work.Life hosts a free weekly Yoga class for its community to “energise and unwind from a productive day.” Healthy food is available in the kitchen, and on-site bike storage enables coworkers to cycle in each day. Future of Work technology can serve to facilitate these amenities.

Making flex work for everyone

Coworking services are typically shared amongst the entire community who occupy the space, including individuals using hot desks and companies leasing offices. Coworking software serves to automate the daily running of the space. Hybrid technology facilitates resource management, from booking meeting rooms to event spaces, and clears up any potential scheduling conflicts. The community can use it to plan their office visits, with an overview of who is coming into the workspace and which spaces are being used for which activity.

Digital collaboration tools connect a distributed group of coworkers across physical and virtual spaces. Chat apps, for example, “help members [get to] know each other better which, in turn, may spark conversations and engagement down the line,” says our CTO Adrian Palacios in a recent Allwork.Space article. Coworking is all about community collaboration, and there’s no better way to build it than by unlocking the potential of technology at work.

As we continue to navigate around when and where to work, having hybrid technology available at our fingertips can make flex work. It’s a general expectation that everyone is technologically proficient, but a Future Learn report reveals this isn’t necessarily the case. “People aged 40+ were most likely to say they’d felt held back from jobs due to their lack of tech skills.” Stressing the importance of technology education for job prospects, the report reveals that reliance on tech is only going to increase. Interestingly, some respondents highlighted they hadn’t received adequate tech training during their education at school or in college.

Recognising the sheer importance of tech skills for job opportunities, some coworking spaces go above and beyond to provide the necessary tools and education for professional development. London-based workspace Townsq Islington hosts regular educational workshops about technology and entrepreneurship, amongst other topics. The invite extends beyond its coworking community to include members of the wider local community too. By advertising events on its website and social media channels, these opportunities are made accessible to the wider community, and in addition to learning from experts on a range of topics, guests can experience coworking for the rest of the day. Townsq is committed to preparing them for the Future of Work.

Experience-driven data solutions

The conversation around Future of Work technology cannot be complete without mentioning how data drives the coworking movement forward. Speaking at a London Coworking Assembly breakfast show, coworking technology expert, Fiona Ross, advises operators to use data for decision-making “not for data's sake.” This means thinking carefully about what kind of data you’ll analyse towards making any business improvements.

Putting the community first is absolutely essential. Advising coworking operators to “use data analytics tools and real-time reporting to maximize your space utilization with real-time occupancy insights,” SALTO Systems, an access management solution, explains how: “This will provide you with a better understanding of how people are using your workplace with historical data to show occupancy trends and space utilization.” As the coworking industry continues to evolve, providing the best possible coworking experiences requires accurate feedback gathering.

Are the community using your dedicated wellness spaces every day, or would these be better off as adaptable multi-purpose spaces catering to a wider range of activities? Is the community using all the workspaces – including phone booths, collaboration spaces, dedicated desks, and meeting rooms – or is there an area of the workspace that’s underused? As the flexible workspace industry continues to refine its understanding of user preferences, data collection stands as the pot of gold for workspace utilisation and dynamics. Asking questions like these put the community experience first.

In the ever-evolving flexible working landscape, coworking spaces can harness the power of AI, automation, and technology to create more personalised workspaces shaped around the community experience, that foster a greater sense of well-being and community. These advancements not only allow coworking spaces to adapt and flourish. They also contribute to a dynamic, inclusive, and empowered workforce in the years to come.

At Nexudus, we’re passionate about creating fully customisable, easy-to-integrate software that manages your entire space - from reception to rooftop. For over 11 years, our award-winning tech has helped workspace owners and operators be more efficient, provide members with an unforgettable experience and gather advanced analytics for better decision-making. Discover how we can help you today.

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