Operated offices: when the office becomes an experience

Faced with the hybridisation of working methods, companies are now looking for more flexible and responsive real estate solutions that are adapted to the diversity of their uses. The traditional 3-6-9 commercial lease model is showing its limitations : lack of flexibility, cumbersome management, and a lack of integrated services. It is in this context that operated offices are emerging, halfway between traditional offices and coworking spaces.

But what exactly does the concept of an operated office mean? It is an office space that is fully managed by the landlord, including fit-out, maintenance, daily services and contractual flexibility. Everything is included in the lease agreement. The client company can focus on its core business, free from administrative and management constraints. It benefits from a turnkey office that is ready to use with no set-up time.

There are many advantages to an operated office: shared space, cost control, time savings, enhanced attractiveness and an improved employee experience. In a world where the workplace is becoming a choice, the operated office offers a hybrid solution that makes people want to come, interact and create.

Operated offices: when real estate becomes a service

Square footage is no longer enough. Companies are no longer just looking for well-located office space, but a complete, inspiring and fluid working environment. Operated offices are part of this transformation of operated real estate, incorporating the codes of the hotel and retail industries: personalisation, comfort and ease of use.

We are moving from a property ownership model to a subscription model, with or without options. It is no longer about renting space, but about signing up for a service contract that includes workstations, meeting rooms, shared spaces, digital services and events. A whole range of services designed to optimise performance and well-being.

Real estate departments gain time and clarity: less operational management, more strategy. Indicators are also changing: satisfaction and productiviti , and intensity of use are replacing the traditional square metres or lease term. Better than home? That’s the goal: to offer a stimulating work environment, a place for socialising, learning and innovation. And that’s exactly what the operated office model delivers, whether it’s a shared solution or a private workspace.

The Covivio approach: the experience of operated offices applied to all formats

Hospitality at the service of more human real estate

At Covivio, this evolution has been underway for several years. The group has successfully anticipated changes in the real estate sector by placing the user experience at the heart of its approach. Its strength lies in transposing the codes of hospitality into the office world, with assets designed as places to live, far beyond their primary function.

Whether it’s flexible offices, operated spaces or traditional leasehold projects projects, the culture of service is omnipresent: welcome, personalisation, quality of the environment. A consistent approach, aligned with the needs of start-ups, SMEs and large groups.

Workplaces designed as living spaces

In Berlin, LOFT is rolling out modular workspaces bathed in natural light and designed with ergonomics and aesthetics in mind. In Düsseldorf, ICON combines design, environmental certifications and premium services in the heart of a changing business district.

In France, Urban Garden in Issy-les-Moulineaux offers a comprehensive serviced real estate solution with green terraces and cultural programming. In Saint-Ouen, So Pop offers an agile and innovative environment. And in Paris, L’Atelier explores new uses, combining creativity and functionality.

Wellio, the example of an all-in-one operated office

Created in 2017, Wellio embodies Covivio’s office offering. Present in several European cities, it offers flexible, all-inclusive “plug & work” spaces designed for business performance and user well-being.

Everything is included in the lease: design, shared services, technical management and support. This comprehensive approach shifts the focus from square metres to cost per user, covering all expenses. This model of serviced office rental is attracting more and more companies seeking simplicity and efficiency.

The future of office-as-a-service: towards a replicable model?

An urban foothold at the heart of new ways of working

The serviced office is no longer thought of in isolation. It is part of an urban ecosystem, linked to mobility, local services and mixed uses. Its flexible, intensely service-oriented format reinforces the fluidity between professional and personal life.

Towards a consistent but personalised office experience

The challenge ahead is to guarantee a consistent service experience without falling into uniformity. Operated offices must reconcile standardisation of services with personalisation in order to meet the expectations of new generations and the flexibility requirements of businesses.

A sustainable real estate model designed for businesses

With its managed offices, Covivio is sketching out a new way of working: more human, more fluid, more sustainable. It is a long-term real estate solution designed to engage employees, stimulate their creativity and strengthen their sense of belonging.