Office On The Go: A concept to move cubicles

The IT City, already accustomed to whiz kids earning in lakhs from their skills on their home laptops,  is apparently seeing another  shift , this time in favour of a  'Office On The Go' or 'Office On The Move' concept thanks  to entrepreneurs tired of doing  brainstorming and business talk in mundane office spaces.

Many are reportedly now willing to  ditch their office cubicles for a more genial environment, that also meets their needs of an office such as furniture, printers, and Internet, while allowing them to de-stress. Fulfilling this apparently new craving are Dialogues Café and a host of other similar outlets that have emerged of late to offer  all the comforts of an office in a more leisurely ambience.

"Our target clients are entrepreneurs, dreamers and professionals, who want to indulge in brainstorming. We offer them all the comforts of an office space along with a cafe -like feel," says Ankit Gupta, co-founder of Dialogues Café, explaining that the uniqueness of the cafe lies in the fact that it charges by time.

The charges cover snacks and a variety of beverages, including coffee . “We charge Rs 190 for the first hour and then Rs 3 a minute. The maximum we charge for a day is Rs 1,000,” he reveals, claiming that in  three  months of opening the cafe has already broken even.

Says Ms Shivani Kakkar of CoWork India, which also works on similar lines,  "Bengaluru is more evolved than other metros and has a head- start in adapting to new trends. Also, the requirements of people and entrepreneurs are evolving in terms of their need for not just work spaces, but the whole ecosystem. Hence this concept is fairly new, but is doing great. Our clientele includes accountants, architects, entrepreneurs, researchers and freelancers.”

Mr Durgesh Kaushik of BHIVE Workspace believes the new trend is catching on thanks to professionals and investors, who have returned from the Silicon Valley in the USA to be part of the Indian start-up ecosystem. “They have learnt first- hand  how open, vibrant and diverse the Silicon Valley culture is and want to work in a similar  set-up here," he maintains.

The "Office on the Go" concept also does away with the need for long commutes, which is always a hassle,  he points out.  “Many now prefer to cut down the commute time and get to work as soon as possible and hence the need for these new  spaces. Also, employees' demand for high standard of the work- space has increased markedly in the last couple of years with start-ups and other companies  trying to become more efficient to drive their  profits. The flexible work space models that can be scaled up or down depending on their  requirements seem to suit them," Mr Kaushik explains.

As for BHIVE, he says it believes in work-life integration. “We want to help people feel at home, even when they are at work. Every moment spent at BHIVE will make you feel happier, more accomplished and more productive. A great work space is much more than the graffiti painted walls, swanky decorations, sleeping pods, and massage chairs. It is defined by its culture, the feeling of well-being and the excitement of being part of a vibrant and diverse community. And this is what we offer," he claims.