The Difference between Shared Workspace and Co-working Space

A flexible workspace aims to promote efficiency and keep employees' comfort as an important factor. There are many models of a hybrid workforce with different modifications that aim to improve productivity and meet the work regulations of a modern workplace. This sudden change and emphasis towards implementing a hybrid working model in a workplace is a result of experiments that happened during the pandemic.

Many organizations observed the benefits of working from home. From keeping a safe social distance to making employees feel comfortable in their own homes, the modifications of flexible workspace all speak for the betterment of organizations in the future.

One of the most advanced and cost-saving aspects of the hybrid working model is the shared workspace vs coworking space. Although there are many terminologies associated with these similar practices, hot-desking is also a famous one. For people asking what is hot-desking and how will it even work? Many types of research and even desk booking software make this transition towards a modern workplace easier.

If you are looking for the right fit for your organization between shared workspace vs. co-working space, then start by differentiating them both and learn how each system will work for your organization.

Shared Workspace

A shared workspace is a concept where your company willingly shares some of the space from your workplace with others. You might share the kitchen or even have a common reception area within the same building. This allows multiple businesses to share a cost of a service or a system to ensure the overall budget expenses are reduced. Shared workspace seems like a small step, but it plays a vital role in keeping organizations free from extra burdens and expenses on their shoulders.

When it comes to shared workspaces, there are various types. These types range from the physical collaborative workspace, shared physical workspace, virtual collaborative workspace, and virtual shared workspace. Each shared workspace varies from the other, but the general concept remains the same. There are many pros as well as some cons of the shared workspace.

Pros

• It enhances your business’ social connections with other organization
• It increases productivity for employees
• It saves cost
• It shares the cost of services
• It reduces the square footage for your office

Cons

• There might be some distractions
• Some employees might feel uncomfortable
• It might get cluttered sometimes
• There could be a risk of competitors finding your strategies

Whenever there is a concept implementation such as shared workspace or hot-desking, some hot-desking etiquettes need to be stuck by. Following certain rules make this transition easier and smoother.

Co-Working Space

In this scenario, different people sit together and work. But they aren't working on the same project and in some cases nor even for the same company. Co-working is the space sharing between various employees working independently and doesn't have any connection with each other.

A co-working space offers flexibility at the best since there needs to be no physical office, and you can get rid of a long-term lease and major binding agreements. The coworking workspaces are work desks with all the facilities that an employee would need.

People who use co-working as their workplace set-up usually purchase comfortable wholesale office furniture and make sure employees don’t find it hard to adjust to this phase. Co-working offers many opportunities other than saving costs and lowering down the expenses. It has many advantages over traditional work mode however some employees or even employers find it unhelpful.

Pros

• It enhances your networking
• You could learn from other workers
• It offers flexibility
• Ideal for remote or part-time workers
• Ideal for temporary projects at a new location

Cons

• People who need to work on a project together might get disturbed
• You never know who will be sharing space with you
• It may get noisy or uncomfortable
• There is a lack of privacy
• Increased competition
• Updated Softwarsoftwarerdware is needed

Difference between Shared Workspace and Co-Working Space

These two terms are often used hand in hand, but it does not mean they are the same. However, many people are wrong about the difference between shared workspace and coworking space. Before you run to apply either of these terminologies in the workplace, it is important to learn and remember the difference between both.

• Co-working spaces offer private offices as a workspace; on the other hand, a shared workspace is often for a direct meeting or work with your client. A shared workspace gives greater privacy than co-working since you can make calls and even have peaceful meetings.
• Shared Workspace is similar to having private meetings in a café or a restaurant where you need to chat with a client, but a public place does not offer much quiet, so this is where a shared workspace comes in handy. Many businesses can use a conference room or a meeting room as a part of their shared workspace plan and use desk booking software to allocate their slots.
• Co-working spaces often do not have any fixed hours. Rather they are a combination of people working independently to complete your work on time or as they please. Coworking workspaces do not offer privacy and may be an issue for some people as noise is common in these places.
• Another major difference between coworking and shared workspace is the target audience. Co-working is usually used by freelancers, startup businesses, and entrepreneurs who need a place to work but cannot afford to have their own office yet.
• Moreover, the majority of co-working spaces are standalone structures with no connection to a geographic site. The majority of shared office facilities are located in service business centers, with other workspace options such as interactive or private offices.
• A coworking workspace offers you some basic amenities, for instance, a nice warm cup of coffee or snacks while you work. A suitable Wi-Fi connection and a cable system to charge your devices. You can pay for these services and even pay some extra to get more than the package offered.
• Co-working spaces often emphasize fostering a sense of community among their participants, and as a result, they often host a variety of networking activities. Thousands of people will surround you and, as a result, make a steady stream of new acquaintances.