The Way Forward for Workspaces in Latin America

Most companies in Latin America no longer operate the way they did 10 or 15 years ago.

Yet many continue to pay for office space as though nothing has changed.

Today, the reality is different:

• Hybrid teams that split time between home and the office.
• Part-time or rotating schedules that mean not everyone is there at once.
• Team members working from other cities or countries.
• Empty desks half the month.

And meanwhile, the lease keeps running at the same price it always has.

This isn't a philosophical question or a "work trend"—it's operational efficiency.

What's Happening Across Latin America?

In cities throughout the region, the story repeats itself: offices built for 50 people, but with only 15 using them on average.

The numbers don't add up. Fixed costs are disproportionate to actual usage.

Here are some real-world examples we're seeing:

• Companies paying over USD 6,000 monthly for offices they use only twice a week.
• Spaces with up to 60% of square footage sitting idle.
• Teams that prefer meeting in coworking spaces for proximity, flexibility, and comfort.

Meanwhile, the budget gets eaten up by square footage that adds no value.

What Are Smart Companies Doing?

Companies that figured this out didn't eliminate the office.

What they did was change how they use it:

1. From long-term contracts to flexible arrangements They reserve desks, meeting rooms, or private areas only when needed. They pay for usage, not occupancy.

2. Hybrid setups with a clear purpose Instead of a central office that sits half-empty, they combine coworking spaces, hourly conference rooms, and day passes. Every meeting has a reason: key discussions, workshops, team culture.

3. Cost optimization plus better experience It's not just about spending less—it's about improving how the team works. Fewer unnecessary commutes, spaces designed for specific tasks, and the freedom to work from wherever they're most productive.

The Payoff

Companies making this shift see three immediate wins:

• Lower fixed costs: they stop burning money on empty square footage.
• More flexibility: they can scale their spaces up or down with each project or team.
• Better work experience: employees feel the infrastructure supports how they actually work, rather than forcing them into a rigid setup.

It's not about ditching the office. It's about using it smarter.

The mistake isn't having a physical space—it's paying for empty desks just because "that's how we always did it."

The future isn't endless leases. It's spaces that adapt to how teams actually work. And in that flexibility lies the difference between dead money and an investment that truly drives business growth.