The Future of Flexible Work: Lessons from 15 Years of Preferred Office Network

15 years ago, “coworking” was synonymous with shared desks, startup energy, and the promise of a new way to work. Few could have predicted that flexibility would evolve from a fringe concept into a cornerstone of global workplace strategy, embraced by some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated organizations. 

Founded by three coworking operators in 2010, Preferred Office Network’s multi-location office network has remained true to its mission, vision, and values. Preferred offers enterprise office solutions with a streamlined way to access flexible workspace on one low-risk agreement, managed by one point of contact, and with a single streamlined invoice covering all locations. This filled a much-needed gap in the market and has proven successful. While the world of work has most certainly changed, Preferred Office Network’s model has remained a consistent and trusted solution for companies with flexible workspace needs. 

At Preferred, we’ve had a front-row seat to the transformation that has taken place in workplace strategy. As we celebrate 15 years in business, we’re reflecting on what we’ve learned — and, more importantly, where we believe flexible work is headed next. 

1. Bigger Isn’t Better 

Preferred Office Network was built to provide an alternative to large, commercialized spaces through a multi-location office network. By curating a network made up of smaller, independently owned flexible workspace operators, enterprise companies were excited to experience an enhanced level of service, account management, and hospitality. Preferred has grown slowly and steadily to offer over 1,300 locations across the globe. 

We’ve learned that impact matters more than footprint. For enterprise clients, scale only matters when it delivers measurable value — agility, speed to market, and an experience that supports performance. 

True success lies not in being the biggest operator, but in being the most trusted partner. One who can listen, adapt, and build solutions that evolve with a client’s business offering enterprise office solutions that simplify rather than complicate. 

2. Problem-Solving Begins with Listening

The most innovative solutions we’ve offered began the same way — with a conversation. Enterprise needs are complex, and no two organizations think about space the same way. That’s why our approach has always been to listen first, then get creative. 

Whether it’s reimagining a hybrid footprint, designing regional hubs, or crafting managed solutions that reflect company culture, creativity in workplace strategy starts with empathy — understanding what people need to do their best work and building from there. 

What we’ve learned over the years is when landlords and operators come together to optimize space offerings, everyone wins. When clients ask for the impossible, Preferred Office Network delivers simply by having a client-first mentality and a network of trusted spaces that are willing to go the extra mile. 

3. Challenges Create Space for Innovation

Every major shift in our industry — from economic cycles to the global transition to hybrid — has reinforced one truth: there is always opportunity in change. Bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions, pandemics, and changing work preferences are just a few of the challenges commercial real estate has had to navigate over the last 15 years. 

Perhaps the biggest pivot in the flex took place during the pandemic in 2020. With restrictions in place limiting in-person gatherings and companies advising employees to work remotely, the flexible workspace industry took a big hit. 

This resulted in temporarily low space utilization which forced companies to make decisions to terminate leases. Unfortunately, some operators and locations did not survive and had to close their doors. Behind the scenes, forward-thinking companies knew a remote-only organization was not a long-term solution, and many began the shift to a hybrid work format once it was safe to do so, eventually completely shedding their corporate HQ footprints. 

While this posed a challenge for traditional real estate models, it catapulted flexible workspace growth in a never-before-seen way. For the first time, many companies were embracing a flexible workspace strategy. Industry growth skyrocketed and is projected to continue as companies adopt flexible options as employees expect them as an employee benefit. 

4. The Future Is Built by People

Technology may power flexibility, but it’s people who make it meaningful. Our team, and the industry operators we partner with, are the reason we’ve thrived for 15 years. 

The future of work isn’t just about smarter buildings or shorter lease terms. It’s about creating environments where people feel connected, empowered, and supported to perform. In an era of automation and AI, the human element remains our greatest differentiator. 

As companies further embrace a hybrid workplace strategy, collaboration across departments backed by people who inject life into the workplace will drive meaningful connections, boost productivity, and make the workplace a desirable environment. 

From Coworking to Flexible Work — A Redefined Industry

When we began, “coworking” meant shared space and community. Today, that word no longer captures the sophistication and diversity of what flexible work has become. 

We prefer “flexible workspace” because flexibility now extends far beyond shared offices. It includes fully branded enterprise suites, managed campuses, hybrid hubs, and portfolio strategies designed around people, not just places. Flexibility in configuration is only one piece of the puzzle, however. Flexibility in lease terms, headcounts, and space utilization are all key drivers to the current landscape of the workplace. 

Flexibility is no longer simply “nice to have”, its become a must-have to remain competitive. 

Evolving Relationships, Evolving Strategies  

Broker partnerships have also evolved. What once centered on lease transactions now involves strategic collaboration — advising on hybrid workplace models, portfolio agility, and experience-led design. Brokers are partnering with trusted platforms to help them deliver better and more efficient solutions to their clients. Preferred Office Network can be a tool brokers use to deliver added value to their clients, without disrupting the traditional commission-based model. 

Companies aren’t just asking, “Where should we work?” They’re asking, “How can our space help us perform better?” The flexible workspace model answers that question — providing enterprise-grade solutions with the agility to adapt as quickly as business itself. 

Collaboration is the key to success, and the most successful opportunities have been a joint effort between brokers, clients, operators, landlords, and trusted companies like Preferred who tie everything together.  

Looking Forward 

As we mark 15 years, we’re proud of how far the industry has come. WeWork and Industrious are now household names. But the next chapter of flexible work is just beginning. 

In the coming years, we see a world where workspace becomes a living, adaptive ecosystem — where data, design, and human experience converge to create environments that evolve in real time with business needs. 

Our mission remains unchanged: to help companies harness flexibility not just as a real estate strategy, but as a business advantage. 

 Here’s to 15 years of evolution — and to shaping what’s next, together.