Did you know? A little-known feature available on most cloud-based phone systems, hoteling, also known as hot desking, refers to a flexible office arrangement where employees do not have assigned phones or desks, but instead choose their workspace on a daily basis. The phone sits in a “neutral” state at each available desk until an employee logs in to the device, which will then assign that person’s extension and profile to the phone until they log out. This concept has several benefits for businesses, including:

1. Cost Savings

Hoteling can reduce real estate and equipment costs for businesses. Since employees do not have fixed desks, less office space is required, leading to savings in rent and maintenance expenses.

2. Increased Innovation and Collaboration

Hoteling promotes cross-team interactions as employees from different departments or projects may share the same workspace. This can foster collaboration, idea-sharing, and knowledge transfer, leading to increased innovation within the organization.

3. Flexibility

Hoteling allows employees to choose a workspace that suits their daily needs and preferences. It accommodates different work styles, promotes a dynamic work environment, and enables teams to adjust seating arrangements based on project requirements or team compositions.

4. Improved Space Utilization

With hoteling, office space is utilized more efficiently. Instead of having empty desks or idle phones due to absent or remote workers, the available desks can be used by anyone in the office on a given day.