OFFICE

BY MONIQUE DU TOIT

sk any entrepreneur what their biggest challenge is , and chances are the topic of finding a suitable office space will feature on the list . Co-work spaces have become increasingly popular in major cities around the country , as more and more companies realise the benefits of having access to an office only when they need it . But what good is this if office spaces aren ' t easy to find ?

A new mobile app-based solution promises to solve this problem once and for all . According to Dillon Swartz , Director of Airbase , their mission is to give users the ability to rent a desk or an office on a more flexible basis : “ We ’ re allowing users to work when they want , where they want , without having to pay for space they don ' t need .”

Being an IT company , the founders decided to harness the power of the fast-growing flexible workspace model , rather than developing their own . Swartz explains : “ We wanted to develop a solution and financial model that would encourage such spaces to give users the ultimate flexibility . Our network of facilities is represented nationally in the major metropoles . And it ’ s growing .”

How the idea came about

The idea for the app was conceived by one of the founders , while finding himself a couple of hours early for a meeting after a long commute . With changes that needed to be made to a presentation , the tried-and-tested method of finding a coffee shop and getting to work just wasn ' t going to cut it . He started to imagine a flexible and truly mobile workspace solution : What if you could have access to a fully kitted out workspace , on a pay-as-you-use basis ?

By using the app , users are able to find workspace to rent on an hourly , daily , weekly , and monthly basis . Swartz also explains that , for those days where you just don ’ t know how long you ’ ll need , you ’ re able to make use of a system that only charges you for the time you ’ ve used .

The bigger picture

It ’ s clear that the way forward for the business world and country as a whole , is encouraging more entrepreneurship . At the same time , property prices have reached a fever pitch , with commercial property rentals being unaffordable to many . Airbase of-

fers its users the chance to have access to state-of-the art offices and board rooms , without the monthly overhead . “ This deals with that large cost , without compromising the look and feel of the entrepreneur ’ s ability to showcase his business or idea ,” says Swartz .

Tying into a more mobile economy , the app also allows for integration with other apps . Users are able to invite all attendees to a meeting via the platform , giving everyone quick access to the location and time slot . Uber is also integrated , meaning an easy solution to transport from the user ’ s current location to the meeting address .

For corporate clients , the app also allows management to offer employees access to workspace wherever they may be in the country . “ Corporates no longer need to hold leases in different cities . Instead , they can buy corporate bundles and issue these to their staff to work in our various partner facilities nationwide ,” explains Swartz .

Looking ahead

As the number of mobile workers rises , the need for instant access to the right space at the right price will become a non-negotiable . With urbanisation showing no signs of slowing down , and new ideas being thought of each day , it seems inevitable that we ’ ll all be using a co-working space within a few years .

Speaking about the future of the company , Swartz explains that they see a huge opportunity for its application further into Africa . “ Of course , over time this mobile worker may very well be the next million rand business . But for now they command their own destiny and control a cost previously forced on him ,” Swartz concludes .

THE BASICS

Airbase is free to download on iOS and Android . Hourly rates start from R57 for a hot-desk . Users are able to rent an open plan hot desk , meeting rooms , private offices , board rooms , and auditoriums . Locations range from Sandton , to Umhlanga and Claremont .

46 APRIL / MAY 2018 SA Real Estate Investor Magazine