Research has shown that a positive and conducive office space can promote workforce efficiency and productivity. Julian Tan looks at the options of renting a serviced office with the perks that comes along.

What’s the difference between full-time and part-time offices? Says Michael Ormiston, business development director, Asia Pacific, of serviced office operator Regus: “A full-time office is for someone who stays on a more permanent basis, like one to 12 months, while a part-time office can be used by the day or week as and when needed.” Bingo.

When it comes to setting up office, frazzled business travellers (rarely, luckily!) will wish to have – besides more time and good ol’ Brand’s chicken essence – a superpower, that is. Sir, welcome aboard the Continuum Class! If only one could bend the space-time continuum like Hiro Nakamura, the geek in American sci-fi hit series, Heroes.

In BTAP’s quick guide to renting a serviced office, whether you’re launching a new business venture, testing a new market or looking to accommodate a project team quickly, three serviced office providers we interviewed offer solutions to the best workplaces around.

REGUS

WHAT IS IT? A single business centre in Brussels, launched in 1989 by British entrepreneur Mark Dixon, has morphed into today’s network of offices for “over half of Fortune 500” companies, along with thousands of small- and medium-sized companies.

WHERE IS IT? Regus’ growing network of 950 locations in 400 cities features offices in the CBD, including Hongkong’s swish 100 QRC (Queen’s Road Central), Kuala Lumpur’s Petronas Towers, Singapore’s Centennial Tower, Shanghai’s The Bund Centre, Sydney’s AMP Centre, Copenhagen’s Soborg, Hanover’s Podbielskistrasse and Place Vendôme in Paris.

SERVICES AVAILABLE: Ready-to-use day offices, virtual office and meeting rooms of various sizes for rent, broadband internet access, videoconferencing, trained administrative and IT personnel and secretarial assistance like faxing, photocopying and hotel and airline booking among others. There are also well equipped cafés and pantry areas where you can steal some time for a coffee break. For a company planning to enter a new market, a virtual office offers a dedicated business address and a trained receptionist for answering telephone calls in the company’s name, and an added benefit is that clients can enjoy access to the meeting rooms and offices.

THE EXTRAS? The Regus Network Access allows members entry to any of its business lounges worldwide. Perks include members’ rates on office rental, shipping and business supplies, assistance from an on-site business support team, free internet access, meeting room upgrade and gourmet tea or coffee.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “When travelling on business, it can be hard to find an appropriate location to check your emails and do some work. Our business lounges are located in prime CBD locations so you don’t get the noise of a street or internet café,” says Ormiston.

COST: Depending on the market costs – for example, prices in Japan would be higher than those in the Philippines. At the 17-storey Silver Centre in Shanghai’s Putuo district (Regus’ largest facility at 20,000 sqm), daily offices are sold on a per workstation/person basis from CNY3,000 (US$394).

CONTACT: www.regus.com

SERVCORP

WHAT IS IT? An Australian public-listed company operating since 1978 and headquartered in Sydney, catering to one- to 10-man businesses the world over.

WHERE IS IT? In 20 cities across 12 countries, including Sydney’s Chifley Tower and MLC Centre, Bastion Tower in Brussels, Louis Vuitton Building on Champs Elysées in Paris, Auckland’s ASB Bank Centre, Dubai’s Emirates Towers, Tokyo’s Shinagawa Intercity Tower, Beijing’s Oriental Plaza, Bangkok’s Centralworld Tower and by end of 2008, seven new locations in India.

SERVICES AVAILABLE: A dedicated personal assistant well versed in PC applications, translation and bookkeeping, the Servcorp Smart Office high-speed internet connection, IT helpdesk and state-of-the-art technology product Hottdesk for online requests and access to files and emails among others.

THE EXTRAS? Servcorp’s “Test the Water” programme helps clients set up a virtual office anywhere in the world for business expansion. A local team is available to provide services like supplier recommendations, accounting help, local contacts, suggestions on accommodation, travel agents and advertising.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “The serviced office industry is growing exponentially because of several key reasons,” says Marcus Moufarrige, chief information officer at Servcorp. “First, flexibility and technology enables clients to have absolute mobility to run their operations and sales across the countries; convenience and efficiency, whereby Servcorp provides all the expertise and support for our clients locally together with our infrastructure that will ensure the smooth running of their business in that city; and a reliable service provider having an international standard and experience in providing the level of service that will not fail the clients’ expectations.”

COST: Two types – fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs include office rental and the number of phone connections, while for the latter, clients pay for what they use such as booking of meeting space, secretarial services and renting of videoconferencing facilities. Depending on real estate prices, a one-to two-person office can range from US$1,500 to US$3,000 per month between different markets.

CONTACT: www.servcorp.net

THE EXECUTIVE CENTRE

WHAT IS IT? CEO Paul Salnikow and his immaculately suited team at The Executive Centre (TEC) have transformed what they call the “traditional” office into a high-powered space, based on the mantra of “work smarter, not harder”. The serviced office operator started out in 1994 as a half-floor operation in the Bank of America Tower in Hongkong’s Central district. 

WHERE IS IT? Its portfolio currently boasts offices in 20 locations in 10 cities – Hongkong, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore (most recently at One Raffles Quay alongside tenants like UBS and ABN AMBRO Bank), Jakarta, Sydney and Sofia, Bulgaria.

SERVICES AVAILABLE: Each workstation is equipped with a European ergonomically designed desk system with a filing cabinet and executive chair, wired and wireless high-speed internet connection, tailored VPN solutions and networked document centre printing. Videoconferencing is also available, as is a capable team of client service associates.

THE EXTRAS? TEC provides the standard five days’ free usage of one workstation desk in any of its centres when clients rent an office with them.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: “The rationale of outsourced business models for executives is compelling from bottom line reasons as well as balance sheet, removing headaches from sourcing, managing and dealing with traditional office/technology issues,” says James Lee, group general manager of TEC. “This avoids the necessity of managing or owning any elements of a traditional office.”

COST: From US$500 to US$1,500 per month, dependent upon which city, for a broad-brush workstation.

CONTACT: www.executivecentre.com