What is an office fit out and why does it matter?

Every company deserves a space that best suits the needs of its employees and operations. Regardless of the company’s age or the nature of its business, it’s crucial to have a functional and comfortable workspace.

The process of customizing a workspace to serve the business better is called an office fit-out. The scale of a fit-out varies depending on the circumstances of a business or building.

Office fit out

Creating and maintaining an ideal office space is a complex process. Regardless of the success of a business, some elements of operations are unpredictable. The new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has fundamentally changed the way employees and executives alike view the workplace. The impact this global crisis has had on companies across the world has been monumental. What this event has highlighted is the importance of preparedness and successful management of logistics.

Generally speaking, an office fit-out involves planning, design and construction. This process is a collaboration, according to Vestra Workspace fit out professionals. Teams dedicated to this process include project managers, interior designers and contractors. These experts work with a business to understand what needs to change about an office to maximize its potential. 

There are many scenarios in which an office fit-out is necessary to improve a business’s ability to meet its objectives. Office fit-outs play a critical role in the following areas of business development. 

A changing workforce and culture

As the demographics of a business’ workforce change, the office must adapt accordingly. Generation X, millennials and now Generation Z are currently dominating the workforce. As a result, many industries are adopting new philosophies to cater to their strengths. Office cultures are changing, and strategies like gamification are being introduced in companies worldwide. 

Businesses everywhere are adopting a more collaborative approach to their day-to-day operations. In many cases, cubicles are being replaced with open office layouts. There is much debate over whether this is an effective layout, but either way, companies find value in experimenting with their spaces. These transitions between layouts are big projects in any scenario. 

Engaging a team of experts in office fit-outs will ensure that a planned conversion happens efficiently and serves all the business’ operational requirements. 

Company rebrands and evolutions 

No matter what industry a company belongs to, there is always a chance it can face a big pivot. This shift can be one of its fundamental values and mission or merely adding new product and service offerings. 

Large-scale organizational changes like mergers or acquisitions can trigger an overall rebrand. An office should reflect such changes whether they are large or small. Sometimes, it’s necessary to redesign a company’s image to modernize to track new up-and-coming talent and partnerships. Fit-out teams can work with a business to design an office “face-lift” to match new branding. 

Professional fit-out teams best manage even aesthetic changes to an office. These fit-out teams can design and create office furnishings to style and functional specifications.

Exciting company growth

Companies expand and grow. Sometimes a company needs to remain in the same space, or sometimes it needs to move to another location. Either way, there will be a significant change to the workplace. 

Office fit-outs encompass every element of project management and logistics necessary for such growth. This process covers the addition of desks, fixtures, and enclosed offices where needed. If an entire workspace relocation is required, fit-outs involve the planning and execution of transporting existing office supplies and equipment and integrating them into the new space. Fit-outs will also encompass any construction or renovations to an old or new space. 

If a second office or branch needs to open, fit-outs lead the workspace creation from scratch. Fit-out professionals are exacting in their strategies to optimize spaces. They will determine the best use of office square footage and natural lighting. 

Evolving operations and technological requirements

Sometimes one of an organization’s biggest priorities is privacy. Setting up an office that must house sensitive documents or intellectual property requires special consideration. Office fit-outs include planning primary secure storage and strategies for moving sensitive materials in the future. Also paramount to confidentiality is the strategic design of executive offices and meeting rooms. 

On top of operations and privacy, workplace technology can also dictate the set-up of an office. Fit-outs can account for creating adequate server rooms or containment of any additional electronics and equipment. 

Office fit-outs planned and executed by experts can allow an organizations’ leaders to focus on the bigger picture. They can provide relief and satisfaction to any company, making them much more than a simple office renovation.