Market Trends of India Co-working Office Spaces Industry
Cost Optimization is Driving the Significant Growth in the Sector
In India, startups mainly prefer co-working spaces for cost-effectiveness. Users only pay for what they use and rent, nothing extra, and there are no hassles or spending on infrastructure maintenance and repair, which conventional offices include. Since startups initially function on limited capital, lower costs of performing work are in their favor. Companies not bound by long-term lease contracts with strict terms in a regularly changing economic environment will be better positioned. Co-working spaces offer flexible tariffs that can combine service packages, such as choosing precisely what suits users' needs. In case users need to reduce or, on the contrary, increase the project team, for example, if companies enter a period of rapid growth and need more employees, using co-working spaces can always do it.
The companies' bottom lines are a crucial factor driving demand for co-working space. Based on locations nationwide, co-working offers a 12-72% cost reduction compared to traditional office space. The cost of traditional office space quickly adds up. In addition to lease payments, prices for conventional office space include utilities, internet, and tech support and maintenance. Conversely, utilities, internet, tech support, and maintenance are typically included in co-working memberships. Businesses of all sizes have caught on to the cost savings of shared workspace.
Increasing Number of Startups and Freelancers in the Country
Co-working ecosystem, initially the go-to option for startups and freelancers, has become a prerequisite for SMEs. The biggest chunk of 10.3 million seats out of the total 12-16 million potential seats is ascribed to large companies. There is a quality divide of 1.5 million each among freelancers and SMEs.
As of October 3, 2023, India cemented its position as the third-largest startup ecosystem globally, boasting over 112,718 startups recognized by DPIIT across 763 districts nationwide. Regarding innovation quality, India ranks second globally, excelling particularly in the quality of scientific publications and the caliber of its universities among middle-income economies. Innovation in India transcends specific sectors, with startups addressing challenges across 56 diverse industrial domains. Notably, 13% of these startups operate in IT services, 9% in healthcare and life sciences, 7% in education, 5% in agriculture, and 5% in food and beverages.
The most minor lot is formed by startups at 100,000 seats. With a substantial shift from traditional offices to flexible workspaces attaining widespread acceptance, more SMEs are embracing coworking due to cost efficiency, flexibility, tech integrations, superior infrastructure, enhanced productivity, plug-and-play solutions, and networking opportunities. Thus, they can concentrate on their fundamental business minus the hassle of managing real estate.
