Bangkok--24 Dec--Spark Communications
- Unused office space provides cost-saving opportunities
- Flexible working more likely to attract and retain talent, enable fast business scaling
International Workplace Group (IWG), the world's leading flexible workspace provider, hosted its first 'Speed of Change' summit. As digitization and new technologies transform how we work, guest speakers discussed how businesses should adapt to meet the needs of a changing workforce and take advantage of the transformations in modern work culture.
The summit, held at Spaces creative workspace at Empire Tower, brought together business and industry leaders, including entrepreneurs and executives from both Thai and international organizations, as well as representatives from the European Association for Business and Commerce (EABC), the Netherlands-Thai Chamber of Commerce (NTCC), the German-Thai Chamber Commerce (GTCC) and CanCham Thailand.
Leading the talk through experience sharing at the Speed of Change Summit was Lars Wittig, Country Manager of Spaces, Regus & HQ by IWG, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, S. Korea who said: "The world as we know it is evolving at a very fast pace. Fortune 500 companies today will not remain as they are in the next 15 years. Adaptability and agility are fast becoming the new norm, and businesses must learn, adapt and corporate in order to succeed."
According to research conducted by Regus, 55% of worktables at an average office are empty or go unused at any one point in time. "This statistic makes a lot of people happy," said Lars. "CFOs see this as a cost-saving opportunity to reduce the amount of office space and fixed costs, while HR managers can use flexible working space as an attractive recruitment tactic as our Global Workspace Survey indicated that 83% of workers around the world said they would turn down a job if it did not offer flexible working. Flexible working has also been proven to retain talent, as well as attract the best. This feeds the ever-present need of millennials who love to stay connected and part of a community," he added.
In addition, another recent survey by JLL predicted that 30% of all office space will be flexible by 2030. IWG provides a unique advantage for businesses to scale up or down at will, without the added frill of a fixed cost or startup capital, with a variety of workspace configurations to suit every type of business.
The event also welcomed guest speaker, Jan Eriksson, President of EABC who outlined the regulatory changes Thailand may need to consider to keep up with the speed of change. Topics discussed included resolving issues regarding the tax regime, attracting more foreign investment, the workings of the legal system and the rule of law, access to work permits and visas, and human capital development and anti-corruption practices.
To end the session, Lars concluded with a quote from famous scientist Charles Darwin that sums up challenges posed by the Speed of Change, stating: "It is not the strongestof thespecies that survives, nor the most intelligent thatsurvives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change."
Currently, IWG operates a network of flexible workspaces and office solutions in up to 3,400 locations, across 1,000 cities in 120 countries worldwide. Customers in Thailand can choose from an extension of the three IWG brands offered including: Regus, Spaces and HQ that located in prime areas across Thailand in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Si Racha that is ideal for entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, and even multinational corporations. IWG recently opened Spaces at Phahonyothin 19, its newest Thailand property.
Find out more about IWG Thailand and leasing opportunities, at www.regus.co.th and www.spacesworks.com
About IWG, International Workplace Group
IWG believes that business success is underpinned by the effectiveness and happiness of its people. So, they made it their mission to help millions of people have a great day at work – every day.
IWG has drawn upon its 30-year heritage in flexible workspace to create a world leading commercial real estate platform. Its portfolio of operating brands, including Regus, Spaces, Signature by Regus, HQ and No18, offers an unrivalled level of choice for businesses of all sizes and budgets. With over one million workspaces and a presence in hundreds of countries, cities, towns, and transport hubs worldwide, IWG has the world's largest network of flexible workspaces and a full suite of business support services to enable people to focus on their core business and enjoy a great day at work.
www.iwgplc.com