When people think of coworking spaces, they often associate the concept with individuals: freelancers, solo entrepreneurs and the like. But these days, more and more companies are choosing coworking spaces for their employees as an alternative location to the standard corporate office.

Online loan provider MoneyMe is one such company – and they’ve found a home at Dashworks. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons corporate businesses like this one are choosing coworking spaces for their teams and employees.

1. Flexible working arrangements

Flexibility is becoming an ever-more important asset in the modern workplace, for businesses and individual workers alike. Flexible working arrangements allow a healthier work-life balance for employees, boost productivity, aid in the quest for gender equality, and much more.

Having the option of a coworking space gives your company a flexibility advantage right off the bat, ensuring you’re keeping up with the times for the benefit of your employees and your business as a whole.

2. An alternative to employees working from home

One of the most common ways companies introduce flexible working arrangements is allowing employees to work from home. However, this doesn’t necessarily work for everyone. That’s where a coworking space comes in.

Having a dedicated company space in a coworking facility removes all the productivity-killing distractions of the home office. Plus, it reintroduces the convenience of office amenities (high-speed internet, ergonomic desks, breakout spaces, and did someone say coffee on tap?!), while still remaining fresh and separate from the traditional corporate environment. It’s the best of both worlds. 

 

3. Increased productivity

Sometimes all you need is a space to focus entirely on a project, and that can be hard to find in an often-distracting traditional office environment. But it’s a different story with coworking. Employees have a workspace that feels much more like their own, and a schedule to match – all of which generally leads to a big increase in productivity.

Coworking spaces also introduce an increased sense of autonomy and freedom and a more relaxed atmosphere, contributing greatly to employees’ mindsets and mental health. Forget the rigid, uncomfortable corporate attire and environment – we’re talking jeans and tees, ambient tunes playing, breakout spaces and lounge pods… Teams get their best work done when they’re feeling their best, and that’s often much easier in a coworking space.

4. Increased employee engagement

Speaking of feeling your best… A happy employee is an engaged and motivated one, so it’s no surprise that many corporate employees who have the option of a coworking space are better able to engage with their work. This mode of work can reduce the travel time and stress often associated with a typical CBD office commute and schedule. The result? Employees have more time for family, exercise, self-care and all those other things so important to health, wellbeing and happiness – giving them the capacity to be more switched on and engaged at work than ever.

The flexibility and atmosphere of a coworking space also contributes towards a positive, cohesive workplace culture, which in turn encourages engagement. This is one of the reasons MoneyMe chose Dashworks as an expansion point for their team. “While MoneyMe is now six years old, a lot of our current staff have been here from the beginning and are very much in touch with our start-up culture,” says Jake Havey, Credit and Payments Manager. “We were firm believers that having our Newcastle team start in a similar environment would be a great way to keep in touch with our company culture.”

5. Employee retention/Travelling employee base

In yet more benefits for employees, the increased availability of coworking spaces gives companies more options than ever for retaining and facilitating the talent on their teams.

Got a team member who’s moving to a new location? There’s no need to lose them – just get them set up at their local coworking facility as a remote employee. Have travelling employees who need somewhere to base themselves? Secure them a coworking space and watch their productivity flourish, even when they’re on the road. It’s a win/win all round.

6. Increased knowledge of new technology and trends

Technology is the industry most commonly associated with coworking spaces, so it’s pretty much a given that you’ll be working alongside tech professionals, founders and start-ups when you use such a space. This close proximity, paired with the regular events often held in coworking communities, provides your company with increased exposure to new tech and trends.

This is something that’s proven true for MoneyMe. “Collaboration for a company such as ours is extremely important. We value the ability to learn, collaborate and grow by learning from those around us,” says Jake. “A coworking environment has allowed our team to learn from others that they may otherwise not have had the chance to engage with. Whether it be through the regularly scheduled speaker series, once-off events or just a friendly communal lunch, our team has greatly appreciated the chance to chat and learn from some inspiring people.”

7. Space to test a new market

If your company is ready to branch out and test the waters in a new area, what better way than to set up a satellite office in a coworking space? Whether it’s one employee or an entire new team, having a presence within a shared workspace in your new location can help increase your reach and market share. And as a bonus, your satellite worker or team will be situated among like-minded businesses and people.

“There were a number of reasons why MoneyMe decided Dashworks was the right choice for our expansion into Newcastle,” says Jake. “Expansion can always be a little tricky, and with a brand-new team, selecting the right working environment was important. Our intention was to surround the new team with dedicated, like-minded people all driven towards similar goals and objectives.”

The close proximity to other companies can also offer increased opportunities for B2B sales. Situating a sales or business development staff member in a coworking space is an easy way to foster important connections and grow your network and client base.

 

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Looking for a coworking space for your company? Why not join a host of other national and local businesses at Dashworks? Click here to book your free 5-day trial.

From increasing productivity to improving your mental health, there are so many ways coworking spaces can benefit remote workers. If you’re a remote employee who’s never tried out a coworking space, read on for seven great reasons to do so!

 

1. Boost your productivity and creativity

It’s clear from the ever-rising numbers of remote workers that escaping the traditional workplace is an attractive prospect for many. But as the Harvard Business Review points out: ‘Too much autonomy can actually cripple productivity because people lack routines.’

If you’re a remote employee who needs a little support to ensure your workdays stay structured and productive, or if you’re simply looking for an environment that will boost your creativity, a coworking space is a great choice. There’s been loads of research into coworking spaces in recent years, including the ways such spaces can boost productivity and amplify creativity.

2. Eliminate the distractions of working from home

Any remote employee will be familiar with the struggles of working from home. The home office definitely has its benefits (lunchtime beach walks? Never having to wear shoes to work again?! Count us in). But it also has its drawbacks – first and foremost of which is the dreaded D word: distraction.

No matter how focused you are, the truth about working from home is that it’s an inherently more distracting environment than any other workplace. You might think you’re being as productive as possible, but when you add up all those times you stopped to put a load of washing on or to have a ‘quick’ (read: hour-long) social media break, you’ll often find that you’ve been more distracted than you thought. Working from a coworking space cuts through this distraction, giving you all the benefits of a more formal work environment without taking away the remote-work flexibility you love.

3. Participate in growth and development opportunities

Coworking spaces often run a program of events to help foster the professional development of their members. Often, remote workers may find it difficult to access the same development opportunities as in-house employees. And that’s where these kinds of coworking event programs come in handy, helping remote workers stay on top of – and ahead of – the game.

At Dashworks, for example, we run 12 ‘Speaker Series’ events each year – special sessions designed to fuel your growth and increase your skills. We enlist knowledge experts and key speakers to discuss the latest trends, insights and education in areas relevant to you. (And did we mention lunch is on us?!)

 

4. Network (and make new friends)

We all know the importance of networking in business. No matter your profession, the people you connect with can have a huge impact on your professional growth and success.

When you’re a remote employee, networking opportunities tend to become a little lighter on the ground. But joining a coworking space is an easy way to increase those opportunities. You’ll become part of a community of like-minded individuals and immediately open yourself up to the potential for connection and collaboration.

Professional networking aside, the simple act of meeting new people and potentially making new friends can also be a boost – both for your business and your state of mind. Which brings us to our next point…

5. Improve your mental health

Humans are social creatures. We thrive off interaction with others. But when you’re a remote worker, regular social contact might be a rarity in your workday. This can be detrimental to your mental health, resulting in a lack of stimulation and feelings of isolation. But there’s a solution. Enter the coworking space: a perfect balance between the flexibility of a remote workspace and the social benefits of a community environment.

‘Social interactions in coworking spaces may come in various forms,’ says one research paper published in Frontiers in Psychology. ‘On the one hand, people may simply work alongside each other or engage in rather casual conversation. On the other hand, coworkers may engage in networking, seek and obtain feedback, share ideas, or collaborate.’

6. Pay less than you would in a commercial office space

There’s no getting around the fact that commercial office space can be expensive, and that this cost can be restrictive for remote workers. But with the right coworking space, you can get all the features you need in a workspace for just a fraction of the price of traditional office space. (Dashworks’ flexible memberships start at just $300/month – check out our membership pricing here.)

As a remote employee, you might even be able to seek assistance from your company to pay for your monthly membership fee. Again from the Harvard Business Review: ‘Workers with company-subsidised [coworking space] memberships feel that their employers take their needs seriously – regardless of where they are located.’ As the rise of remote work continues, employers will be keen to stay with the times and ensure their remote workers feel just as valued and supported as their in-house employees – so it’s worth asking about!

7. Work in a beautiful contemporary environment

Coworking spaces have come a long way in recent years. Featuring more thoughtful design and a wider range of resources than ever before, coworking environments have never been more inviting to the modern worker.

As the USYD Business School points out: ‘[Commercial] serviced offices … tend to be designed for the travelling senior corporate business person, and thus often resemble traditional corporate spaces.’ But remote employees aren’t traditional corporate workers. That’s why the fresh, contemporary alternative offered by a coworking space is so appealing. Think enterprise-grade facilities, breakout spaces, first-rate meeting rooms, handy outside-the-box amenities like kitchens and showers… All this and more is on offer when you choose the right coworking space.

 

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If you’re a remote worker looking for a space to focus, connect and boost your productivity, why not give Dashworks a try? Join over 120 other professionals and entrepreneurs – book your free 5-day trial here.

For today’s brands and businesses, there are few things more important than the customer experience (CX). Success can be built or broken by customers and the way they perceive, interact with and remember your business. So what are the key things business owners and marketers need to know about this modern marketing cornerstone?

To find out, we sat down with the two customer experience superstars behind local digital marketing agency, Method+Marketing, to chat all things CX. Co-founders Angela Henderson and Katie Cowling gave us their best insights into what customer experience is, how to measure it, and what steps you can take to create a customer-centric strategy for growth and success.

What is customer experience and why is it so important?

It’s easy to conflate customer experience with customer service. However, they’re not one and the same – rather, customer service is just one part of the overall customer experience.

‘I think it’s really important to define that customer experience is a whole lot bigger than just customer service,’ explains Angela, Method+Marketing’s Director of Client Services. ‘[Customer experience] is the overall impression that your business or your brand leaves with a customer, based on how they’ve interacted with your business across all of the multiple touchpoints in that customer journey, and what they think of that experience.’

With advances in technology, increases in online reviews and a larger wealth of consumer choice than ever before, it’s never been more important to get proactive and prioritise a positive customer experience.

How can you measure customer experience?

In order to understand the positives and negatives of your current customer experience (and how to make improvements), it’s vital to be able to measure that experience. But what are the best ways to do so?

‘Asking for feedback is important,’ says Katie, Method+Marketing’s Director of Digital Services. In the online age, of course, it’s also important to stay keyed in to your online traffic, stats and performance: ‘You can look at bounce rates and where customers drop out in the buyer journey,’ Katie points out.

Secret shopping services that evaluate the customer experience can be hugely beneficial, too, giving you firsthand insight into the personal and emotional beats of the customer journey. ‘In the big picture, when customers buy, it’s hugely subconscious and driven by emotions,’ Katie explains. ‘So a lot of it is hard to measure, but actually getting real, insightful feedback, like [using] a mystery shopper or doing customer feedback surveys, is what really helps.’

As well as choosing the right measurement methods, Angela adds that it’s just as important to be consistent in your cycle of measurement, analysis and improvement. ‘It’s an ongoing process of measuring and optimising so you can continue to keep your customer journey promise,’ she explains. ‘The trick is to make it a consistent, continuous thing that’s a part of the culture of your organisation – to be consistently wanting to improve it and make it better.’

Four top tips for CX success

For anyone needing to kickstart their CX overhaul, here are some of Angela and Katie’s top tips…

1. Plan, plan, plan

The first step for any business is to create a solid plan for enhancing the customer experience – one that takes a holistic approach to improvement and growth.

‘Try to figure out what you’re going to put in place in all the different areas of your organisation – your customer service, your sales, your marketing, your product – to make sure you’re delivering that really positive experience across all of the interactions your customer has with your brand,’ advises Angela.

2. Create a customer journey map

A particularly helpful visual tool that can be used in your planning is a customer journey map.

‘A customer journey map is basically a visual representation of the process that the customer goes through to achieve a goal with your company,’ explains Katie. ‘So, for example, if they are looking to buy a product, that might be the goal; then the journey that they take up to that point – and beyond, for that matter – is something you can plot out in a customer journey map.’

Breaking down the customer journey helps to identify and clarify their needs. It also illuminates where along the way customers experience the most motivation, and where there might be some pain points that can be improved.

3. Get your employees on board

It’s vital to communicate your vision for a great customer experience to your employees, and to highlight their role in providing that experience. As well as keeping everyone on the same page, this makes for a motivated team with a unified purpose.

‘If your employees understand how important their role is, and they feel really valued by your business, they’re going to be so much more willing to help you create that experience for your customers,’ says Angela.

4. Be authentic

The M+M team’s final tip is a simple one: be authentic and human in your approach to the customer experience. Everything from back-of-house operations to marketing and sales should reflect the authenticity and integrity of your team and business.

‘You should have a really clear brand strategy that outlines what your brand personality is, and make sure that you inject that into your engagement with customers throughout that customer journey,’ Katie advises.

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Members of Dashwork Makespace, Method+Marketing is a Newcastle-based agency focused on driving business growth and ROI through customer-centric digital marketing. Co-founded by Angela Henderson and Katie Cowling in 2016, Method+Marketing offers a range of services, strategies and workshops to help create meaningful marketing that customers love.

If you’re looking for a space to work on your new customer experience plan, why not give Dashworks a try? Book your free trial here and get your First Month Free! (Offer valid until 15 August 2019. Applies to Annual Memberships only. Use promo code 1FREE).