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2025/04/30
NEXT | Space Redesign as a New Path to Cost Efficiency and Productivity

In the current context of global economic volatility and declining corporate profits,

is the cost of office space still remaining high?

 

The increasing cost of operations and the inefficient allocation of spatial resources have emerged as critical challenges for enterprise development. Statistics indicate that more than 30% of office space in a typical organization remains underutilized. In China’s first-tier cities, commercial rents can reach 7–8 RMB per square meter per day, meaning that inefficient space usage significantly undermines profitability.

 

How to achieve cost reduction and efficiency enhancement in parallel?

 

Enhancing efficiency is typically achieved by amplifying value to fuel business growth. Optimizing space utilization and boosting employee productivity not only contribute directly to measurable benefits such as improved customer satisfaction and expanded market share, but also support cost reduction in a broader sense—through lower rental costs and reduced employee churn.

 

 

Intelligent Systems Empower the Co-working Model

Driving Cost Efficiency Through Smart Solutions

 

 

With the rise of hybrid work models, co-working has become the new norm. However, this shift also brings challenges such as frequent desk booking conflicts and chaotic cross-area equipment usage. Intelligent technologies are now quietly transforming the co-working model, offering fresh and improved shared work experiences.

 

Developed by NOVAH, the Effice Smart Management Platform real-time allocates workstations and storage spaces, turning traditional cubicles into shared resource centers. By unlocking private spaces, it reduces unnecessary leased area, while optimizing space scheduling to avoid operational inefficiencies.

 

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Recently, the NOVAH NEXT team collaborated with a leading technology company to drive an intelligent co-working transformation. In a workplace serving thousands of employees, the shared office model is now operating efficiently thanks to intuitive user experiences and seamless backend management.

 

The Effice smart system not only accurately matches dynamic workspace demands, but also moves the shared model from concept to a measurable and sustainable operational stage. This transformation has significantly improved space utilization efficiency, while further supporting the company’s ESG strategy by reducing carbon emissions.

 

A Dynamic Collaboration Corner with Adaptive Flexibility

Elevating Space Utilization to the Next Level

 

 

In traditional office layouts, inefficient areas such as corridors, pantries, and large meeting rooms that remain locked for most of the time are silently consuming space costs. According to a survey by the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), these underutilized spaces are used for less than 1.2 hours per day on average, yet they account for more than 30% of a company’s rental expenses.

 

By replacing "single-function spaces" with "multi-functional collaboration corners," these overlooked areas can be revitalized. Modular collaboration solutions transform corridors into spontaneous brainstorming zones. The FourUS booth serves as a semi-private hub for cross-departmental collaboration, while Nobius delivers an optimal acoustic and lighting environment, offering employees a quiet pod for focused work.

 

 

This concept of "spatial elasticity" not only enhances the value generated per square meter of leased space, but also promotes a relaxed environment that inspires informal communication — turning chance encounters in the pantry into moments of creative insight.

 


  

Space Scenes at Your Command

Quickly Adapt to Changing Spatial Needs

 

 

Traditional office spaces are often divided by fixed glass partitions, leading to single-function areas. This "one room, one use" approach limits the potential for reducing leasing costs.

 

By breaking away from this rigid spatial logic, companies can embrace a more flexible approach — where mobile and modular furniture becomes the key to transformation. Movable partition walls can quickly define temporary discussion zones, turning open-plan areas into tech-equipped war rooms within minutes. The highly integrated Mobit multifunction unit enables instant collaboration corners, while the rapidly deployable Campers workstations flexibly adapt to business changes and team dynamics.

 

This adaptable spatial approach not only reduces rental waste due to inefficiency, but also fosters creativity through continuous reorganization. In a modular setup, space transforms from a fixed cost into a fluid environment — a true "laboratory for innovation."

 

 

 

Achieving a Revolution in Efficiency through Human-Machine Synergy


 

An increasing number of companies are realizing that every minute an employee spends adjusting office equipment to suit their personal needs acts as a "time tax" quietly eroding organizational efficiency. When employees no longer have to compromise with ill-fitting tools, comfort ceases to be just a welfare expense — it becomes the "invisible lever" driving organizational performance.

 

In a project with a leading tech company, the NOVAH NEXT team conducted research on employee work behaviors and workstation setups. The study found that factors such as height differences between equipment, the layout of storage systems, and the ergonomics of keyboards and mice all significantly impact user experience. By optimizing the office environment and workstation systems, not only is employee fatigue and discomfort reduced, but overall productivity is improved — effectively lowering a company’s hidden operational costs.

  

 

 

 

Office spaces are no longer just a cost — they have become tools for enhancing efficiency. As intelligence reshapes the workplace, spaces are becoming adaptable rather than fixed. Modular furniture meets dynamic demands, and tools better support personalized workflows. Cost reduction and efficiency improvement now move forward together, driving sustainable growth for enterprises.

Industry Insights