Serepok Opens a Coworking Space: Who Is Coworking For?

Coworking spaces are probably no longer unfamiliar in Vietnam. But what services do they actually offer, and who are they for? Many people may still not know the answer.
Join VN Cooking as we find out!

What is a coworking space?

In 2005, Brad Neuberg felt that traditional offices were too isolating and lacked a sense of community. He came up with the idea of a workspace where "people work in the same space, but independently". That was the original definition of coworking: sharing space.

In other words, a coworking space is one where employees and businesses share the premises as well as the facilities.

Types of services in a coworking space

Today, these services cater well to startups and freelancers. Here is what the coworking model offers.

Individual desks

Individual desks mainly serve freelancers and small working teams.

The first thing this service provides is space. For freelancers, where to work is a real headache. Cafés are too noisy and may lack proper facilities. Working from home is too lonely and spoils the sense of home as a place to relax. A coworking space solves all of these problems: free drinks, fully equipped desks and an airy space for thinking, at a pretty reasonable price (on average about the cost of a cup of coffee a day, with everything you need for work). A place dedicated entirely to work.

Second, at a café or at home, freelancers have fewer chances to meet people: others in the same field, contacts that lead to work. For office workers this may not matter much, but for freelancers, people are a major source of work. Working in a shared space lets freelancers meet more people, from those looking to hire to fellow professionals. That means it can generate work, as well as more interaction within the freelance community.

Private offices

The second type of service coworking spaces offer is private offices for small businesses and startups with just a few members.

Unlike traditional offices, where rent is charged per square meter, private offices here are priced per person. This is a way to make the most of the space. Coworking spaces offer smaller offices for small startups with few employees.

The next saving is that everything is provided. For freelancers this isn't essential, but for businesses it is. Not having to invest in fitting out an office or buying desks and chairs is a big saving. On top of that, these spaces provide a complete "office services" package: utilities, printers, meeting rooms and more.

In the same space, whether there are many people or few, the facilities stay the same. That's a plus when these businesses need to scale up or down.

The second plus, of course, is the community. Customers, investors and partners can all be found here, and a startup ecosystem brings together companies from a wide range of fields to support one another. With so many startups in one place, it becomes a magnet for investors.

It's easy to see why many large businesses are now moving into coworking spaces too.

Other spaces

Making the most of their premises, many coworking spaces also use their space for other purposes, such as event venues and meeting rooms.

The key to coworking is that it gathers a customer base with similar needs. Startups and freelancers come for the facilities and because it suits them. This particular customer base in turn attracts services aimed at freelancers and startups.

For example, coworking spaces create a freelance community. Companies that hire freelancers see a place where freelancers gather and want to use coworking events to build their name among them. Through hosting events, coworking spaces end up connecting freelancers with the companies that need them. And those companies, in turn, add value to the coworking space and to the people who use it.

Creating spaces with the best design, technology and services

Serepok Anh Minh Tower covers 2,500m2 in the Anh Minh Tower building at 56 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

This is a strategic move to establish its position in the real estate market and expand step by step.

With capacity for more than 500 people, it can meet every business need.

Serepok's office spaces are designed to improve focus at work, energize members and inspire creativity

Serepok believes success means delivering the best product to its customers and leaving them satisfied.

Serepok helps clients save time and money on finding office space, managing it and negotiating with landlords.

Serepok's innovative designs bring plenty of ideas that help improve skills, boost focus and, above all, bring individuals closer together to create.

Through its locations and member network, Serepok helps clients recruit and retain top talent.

Flexible space solutions help clients reduce cost risks when they downsize, without limiting growth when the business needs to expand.