Submitted by: David J. Middleton, Vice President,  YourOffice USA

Have you taken a good look at the world of work lately?  Options for workspaces are changing dramatically, all in a way to help you work better and work smarter. Most importantly, the alternative workplace choices are making the journey exceedingly more pleasant. Here’s how:

According to a recent study by USA Today, 30 million white-collar knowledge workers are conducting business from a “third place,” an environment separate from home and central workplace. That number is expected to grow 10% annually. Last year, IT research firm IDC projected that in three years the total number of external office-based, non-office-based and home-based mobile workers in the U.S. will grow to nearly 1.2 billion people! This represents more than a third of the world’s workforce. So where are these people working?  Anywhere, everywhere…and virtually.

The Workplace Options

  • Cafés, coffee shops—Many people like the opportunity to work casually, take their laptop or iPad in, have a good cup of java, and work on a project or meet with a few others. It lacks privacy, but you can’t beat the atmosphere and the price.
  • Co-working centers—Part art-house, part café, part social networking site, part workspace, this growing trend appeals to independent programmers, writers, entrepreneurs, and others looking for interaction, a sense of community, and a vibrant, open workplace environment. The long-term viability of this stand-alone business model remains to be proven, but this style of working is not going away any time soon.
  • Virtual offices—Virtual office plans are perfect for home-based professionals, road warriors and others who don’t need or want a fixed, daily office. As a virtual office client you benefit from a prestigious business address, full administrative support as needed, professional phone answering in your company’s name, voicemail and more. In addition, you have access on an as-needed basis to meeting rooms and day offices for client meetings, sales presentations and training sessions.
  • Serviced offices—If you need use of an office more consistently, a serviced office provider allows you to forget all the worries and distractions of having to rent, set up, staff, equip and maintain an office. The best providers create a supportive environment focused on maximizing your productivity and provide you a wide choice of office and workspace solutions: single or multiple offices, team/conferencing/meeting spaces and virtual office packages. You typically will have access to a complete array of office support and concierge services as well as state-of-the-art business technology. Agreement terms and office plans are flexible, ensuring the right set-up for your business today and multiple options to support future growth.

Today’s workplace options truly represent endless possibilities to enhance an entrepreneur’s or company’s growth, effectiveness, productivity and fun! The face of the workplace is changing to adapt to the global community of today and tomorrow.

David Middleton is Vice President of YourOffice USA, a national serviced office provider with a newly-renovated center in Center City Philadelphia.  To find out more about alternative workplace strategies, contact him at 919-697-8105, david.middleton@youroffice.com.