Shaping the New Normal: The Woman Redefining Flexibility in Workspaces

Meghna Agarwal is the Cofounder of IndiQube, India’s leading Flexible Workspace Startup.

Her entrepreneurial journey, that spans over one and half decades, has been affirmed by challenging the status quo, believing in her own self and standing against all odds.

Meghna Agarwal initiated her first venture at the age of 25. She has since forayed into diverse sectors which include hiring automation, manufacturing & even commercial real estate.

An MBA in Finance from IMT Ghaziabad, Agarwal also holds a company secretary degree from the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. She is an angel investor, an active member of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) and a Shepreneur award recipient.

Through her brand IndiQube, Meghna not only provides ‘Workspaces for Everyone’, but also takes pride in encouraging and nurturing an ecosystem of Women Entrepreneurs.

She shared her thoughts with BW Businessworld.

How has the flexible workspace culture developed in India?
In India, the need for flexibility over the traditional model of office leasing has always been there. Companies often looked for increased flexibility and agility, be it with scaling up or down their office space, modifying lease tenures, flexibility in pricing & access to a-la-carte services. The pandemic has helped in bringing this flexibility into the mainstream and has accelerated the adoption of flexible workspaces not just in India but across the globe.

What are the biggest advantages of flexible workspaces?
The on-demand revolution that has disrupted food, travel, logistics & hospitality industries has made its foray into commercial real estate with flexible workspaces. The biggest advantage with this model is the flexibility and agility that gets bundled to a conventional office real estate. From a clients’ perspective, they get onboard the ‘workspace as a service’ experience where they focus on their core business while the flexible workspace operator takes away the hassles of their day-to-day workspace operations.

When it comes to IndiQube, what makes them different from many other players in the market?
IndiQube has a unique “Office-In-a-Box” solution that encompasses the entire gamut of plug and play offices, interior design-build and workspace management services. Leveraging inhouse technology stack, MiQube, we create a consistent employee experience across our PAN India centres. We take a sustainability first approach in our properties leveraging Solar roof tops, STPs, WTPs, Rainwater Harvesting, motion sensors; and reduce freshwater consumption by 80% in addition to reducing power usage by upto 30%. Our 52 Week employee engagement calendar takes care of holistic requirements for our clients and nurtures a thriving employee community. In short, we are a One Stop Workspace Solution with Green Buildings, a Thriving Community and an Amplified Employee Experience.

Do you as a woman feel that flexible workspaces can create safer working spaces for women?
Woman safety is paramount to any office space and flexible workspaces are no different. With amenities like Creche and Wellness Rooms, value added services like city wide transport and security escorts, flexible workspaces nurture an ecosystem where women thrive.

What are the key features of IndiQube flexible workspaces?
IndiQube workspaces have flexibility at the core, be it with pricing, interiors, or services. This way we are able to provide accessible, affordable and personalized workspace solutions to clients all the while keeping their employee delight at the heart. PAN India Network, Green Building Ecosystem, Best in Class Amenities, Smart Technology, Integrated Services and a Vibrant Community are some of our key features. A combination of these has helped us grow to $100 Mn ARR.

Have flexible workspaces grown post Covid, as companies are looking to cut operational costs and preferring hybrid work culture?
COVID-19 has pioneered the adoption of flexible workspaces that were anyways gaining popularity even before the pandemic. Given the current macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, companies are wary about investing any upfront capex and feel the inherent need for flexibility to scale up or downsize whenever the need arises. More than cost cutting, the inherent need to have flexibility to cater to evolving business needs is driving the growth and adoption of flexible workspaces.

What in your opinion makes flexible workspaces the best bet today?
Flexible workspaces today offer an ideal combination of on-demand workspaces with zero upfront Capex. Large enterprises were traditionally unaccustomed to the concept of flexible workspaces, but today, this awareness gap has reduced substantially, and we are witnessing many large enterprises embrace the concept of flex at scale. Flexibility to choose services, agility to expand or contract, Zero upfront capex and single window clearance are all making flexible workspaces the best bet today.