31 March 2025, 08:24 PM
When the coworking bubble burst in 2019, Smartworks made a bold bet that would redefine India's flexible office market. While competitors chased freelancers and startups, the Gurugram-based company pivoted decisively toward enterprise clients, offering customized, tech-enabled workspaces that combined the agility of coworking with corporate-grade professionalism. This strategic shift—backed by Neetish Sarda's real estate expertise—proved prescient. As hybrid work took hold post-pandemic, Smartworks' premium managed offices attracted blue-chip clients like Microsoft and Tata, achieving 90% occupancy while rivals struggled. The company's secret? A hospitality-inspired approach featuring biometric access, IoT-enabled meeting rooms, and data-driven space utilization—all packaged in flexible lease terms. From near-collapse to managing 8 million sq. ft. across India, Smartworks' ₹2,000 crore comeback story offers a masterclass in market adaptation, proving that in commercial real estate, enterprise demand—not startup hype—drives sustainable growth. Their evolution mirrors India's broader workplace transformation, where flexibility now coexists with enterprise needs.