The Evolution of Office Spaces Driven by Data

Under the shock of the pandemic, the growth momentum of technology companies has been remarkable, and more companies are starting to focus on innovation as a driving force — not only in their business, but also in optimizing real estate strategy through "speed" and "agility" to support company growth. According to JLL's 2019 Analysis and Outlook of Office Demand Characteristics of Technology Companies, the tech industry became the mainstream demand in the office building market and a driving force of future development. Meanwhile, traditional companies are paying ever more attention to digital transformation, hoping to empower growth through cross-border technology.

How to provide a comprehensive solution for all kinds of innovation-driven companies is precisely the core that Yihang keeps exploring. From a company's startup stage, through its growth stage, to maturity, data-driven development potential is enormous and is steadily reshaping the evolution of corporate office demand.

"Startups value flexibility above all; a small office that 'has everything it needs' is the first choice."

Startup stage

Keyword: Flexibility

The startup stage is full of unknowns. Companies at this stage are relatively cost-sensitive, which places high demands on office flexibility. Weighing the market and cost as two major drivers, new companies tend to choose "rent-and-go" fitted offices, incubators, and similar spaces. In a co-working space, they find the best foothold for the company, using highly flexible, extensible office furniture to boost efficiency and spark innovation in a good communication atmosphere.

Besides co-working, renting a small office is also favored by entrepreneurs at the startup stage. In this type of office fit-out, choose highly flexible office furniture so that the same floor area can hold different capacities through different furniture configurations. Moreover, systematic office furniture solutions look good and work well without extensive hard or soft fit-out, saving entrepreneurs significantly on costs. Developing multiple functions for a single space — work, meetings, and leisure all effectively handled in one place — creates a low-cost, high-efficiency space that "has everything it needs", a cost-effective choice for startups to move projects forward quickly.

Yihang office furniture — Ran Zhi Qu (Natural Delight) Series

"Growth-stage companies focus on attracting talent, placing greater emphasis on office quality and innovation capability."

Growth stage

Keyword: Attractiveness

Companies entering the growth stage have their own standard office. What matters more at this stage is the company's attractiveness in terms of reputation, talent, and innovation. The reason: attracting talent builds talent reserves and boosts competitiveness, while accumulated reputation and innovation also help win market support.

How can a company strengthen its attractiveness?

According to the report, when choosing office space, growth-stage companies place more emphasis on "quality and image"; within the office space, they value "independence and privacy". In the course of a company's growth, a place "where one can think independently" is an important factor in maintaining growth momentum and quality improvement. At this point, office space must not only meet daily work needs, but also give employees ample personal space to help talent grow.

Yihang office furniture — Qiandao (Thousand Islands) Series

"Mature companies focus on conveying corporate culture, strengthening brand identity through the power of the environment."

Maturity stage

Keyword: Branding

Out of their own occupancy needs, mature companies that have built their own campuses have more customized requirements for facility planning, conveying corporate culture everywhere and forming a brand effect. Different functional departments maintain the same corporate tone.

As companies grow, new departments and new businesses keep emerging. One-size-fits-all office design has long gone out of fashion; mature companies focus more on optimizing the employee experience, using the power of the environment to strengthen employees' and society's identification with the corporate culture.

Click to view the Tencent project case

The corporate environment is itself undergoing "growth and transformation" — driven by market and cost, office design keeps being optimized.

Yihang believes that corporate office space, together with the market and cost, will become a driving force of business growth!