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Dedicated Desk vs. Hot Desk — What’s Right for Your Business?

Dedicated Desk vs. Hot Desk — What’s Right for Your Business?

Because the world of work has changed, more and more companies are renting co-working spaces, affording them considerable flexibility and significantly reducing overheads. It’s predicted that coworking will have a yearly growth rate of over 21.3% each year as larger corporations, and not just start-ups and freelancers, adopt this contemporary way of work.

For business owners, there is sometimes confusion over a hot desk vs dedicated desk, especially when it comes to how they can benefit a company. Let’s take a brief look at the difference between the two, so you can make an informed decision.

What’s a Hot Desk?

Hot Desk Coworking Space

Having originated in the 1990s, hot desking is a prevalent and flexible work arrangement where professionals take whatever desk is available to them instead of occupying an assigned space. Common in co-working spaces, hot desking offers a noncommittal office in a collaborative environment away from home.

Pros & Cons

There are some hot desking advantages and disadvantages, which keep professionals on their toes. Here is the intangible advantages of community:

  • Increased collaboration: Since employees aren’t confined to a desk, they’re more likely to meet and mingle with different professionals, finding inspiration and ways to troubleshoot tasks.
  • Affordability: There’s no long-term lease. You pay for desk space as you need, making it far more affordable than traditional lease agreements.
  • Zero office clutter: Chances are your team will rotate desks, so there isn’t really an opportunity to leave personal belongings lying around.
  • Flexibility: If your company needs to scale, you can just rent more desk space, or upgrade to a private office space at 620 N LaSalle.
  • Lifestyle: Hot desking is perfect for companies that offer remote working, entrepreneurs, small businesses, freelancers, and consultants as it caters towards a flexible working lifestyle with modern conveniences needed to operate a successful business.

As might be expected, there are some drawbacks to hot desking as well:

  • Disruptive: When it comes to a dedicated desk vs. a hot desk, the latter is often disruptive to those who prefer their personal space or need a quieter working environment.
  • Lack of Hierarchy: With everybody sitting at the same desks, it’s challenging to maintain a sense of hierarchy, especially if this is critical to your business operations.
  • Disjointed communication: Teams that work together may find it frustrating trying to locate an area large enough for them to sit next to each other.
  • Limited privacy: This is often a deal-breaker for companies, so be sure to find a coworking space with private phone booths.

What Is a Dedicated Desk?

Companies and individuals get the best of both worlds with a dedicated desk, meaning they receive the perks of a co-working space but with their own desk, chair, and sometimes filing cabinet. Dedicated desks are perfect if you like co-working but perform better with structure and routine.

Pros & Cons

Just like hot-desking, there are also many benefits to renting a dedicated desk:

  • Amenities: Most dedicated workspaces offer amenities like complimentary beverages, shared office equipment, and private storage facilities. Some even come with added lifestyle benefits like gym access, tenant lounges, and boardrooms.
  • Dedicated team space: Because staff work at the same desk every day, they don’t have to waste time trying to find a space to sit, enabling greater productivity.
  • Personalization: Dedicated desks allow professionals to personalize their spaces, which is beneficial for companies needing additional monitors or equipment.

But, there are also disadvantages too.

  • Increased overheads: Dedicated desks cost more than hot-desking, which may be unfavorable for companies looking to keep expenses down.
  • Decrease in collaboration: With everyone at their own desks, there’s less chance for cross-departmental or random collaboration with other professionals in the coworking space.
  • Less flexibility: Team members don’t have the option to choose a workstation that suits their working style.

How Are Hot Desks and Dedicated Desks Different?

Hot vs Dedicated Desk Difference

Ownership

While neither hot desking nor dedicated desks offer ownership, dedicated desks do provide a permanent space for the length of your membership, while hot-desking works on a first-come, first-served basis.

Interaction

Hot desking increases the chances of collaboration as workers rotate desks from day to day, whereas dedicated desks diminish the cross-pollination of ideas and collaborative opportunities outside a company’s staff.

Cost

Hot desking memberships are cheaper because you’re not using one desk permanently; you pay for the time you need and choose whichever desk is free. Dedicated desk memberships are more expensive because there’s a degree of permanence, and they often come with secure file storage cabinets.

Flexibility

Hot desking is ideal for companies that are scaling or can’t guarantee they’ll need to rent a permanent desk. On the other hand, dedicated desks are perfect for businesses that don’t require as much flexibility but still don’t want to sign a long-term lease.

Combined Approach

Finally, you don’t have to choose between a dedicated desk vs. a hot desk work arrangement; you can have both. This works especially well for dynamic and flexible companies who have work-from-home policies but still want a contemporary office space.

Conclusion

Dedicated desks and hot-desking are benign solutions for businesses adapting to 21st-century work culture. At 620 N LaSalle, we offer both dedicated and hot desks for rent in our coworking space in River North, Chicago. Contact us today to find out more!

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