The Western Development Commission (WDC)

The Western Development Commission (WDC) is a statutory body in Ireland dedicated to fostering social and economic development in the Western regions of the country. Through significant initiatives like the Atlantic Economic Corridor, the WDC promotes the shift to remote and distributed work, unlocking significant potential for rural and regional growth. Connectivity and sustainability have always been central to their mission of supporting and creating sustainable businesses that benefit communities across the Western Region.Research & Findings

The initial focus of the WDC was on the Atlantic Economic Corridor along the West Coast of Ireland. This initiative quickly identified a broader need for a nationwide network of coworking spaces. The findings highlighted a diverse range of operator types, including Enterprise Centres, Coworking Hubs, and Broadband Connection Points. However, it also became clear that the quality of these spaces' online presence varied significantly.

One of the most pressing issues was the lack of automation in the booking process. Many operators relied on traditional methods, with some using a “hacked” e-commerce module or off-the-shelf booking systems that offered little to no flexibility. This revealed a significant gap in the market for a standardized, yet customizable, solution to manage these coworking spaces efficiently.

Challenges

The WDC faced several key challenges in their mission to streamline the management of over 400 coworking spaces across Ireland:

1. A Centralized Platform: There was a need for one central aggregator that could manage all 400+ flex spaces efficiently.
   
2. Standardized Online Presence: Providing a consistent and professional online presence for every space was essential.
   
3. Autonomy for Individual Spaces: While standardization was necessary, it was equally important to allow each hub to maintain full autonomy over its operations
   
4. Ease of Management: Simplifying the booking process for hot desks, dedicated desks, own door offices, and meeting rooms was crucial.

Why BaseWorx?

Stephen Carolan of the Western Development Commission explains why BaseWorx was chosen: 

“The team’s extensive technical knowledge and domain expertise mean that the system is built with an intimate understanding of operating hubs' countless nuances and intricacies that cater to a broad spectrum of client types.”

BaseWorx offered the precise solution needed to address the diverse requirements of the hubs while ensuring a seamless user experience.

The Solution

The solution was a central aggregator system, combining the hybrid user experience of booking platforms in the hospitatility and corporate real estate indusries. A simple onboarding wizard was created to allow hubs to quickly populate the platform. Ensuring content quality was a top priority, so an approval system was put in place to guide and assist hub managers during the setup process.

Each hub was provided with a standardized profile page, complete with a suite of booking tools that allowed managers to handle everything from day pass hot desks to full-time dedicated desk memberships and meeting rooms. Flexibility was key, enabling each hub to tailor its offerings based on its unique resources.

A core part of the project was fostering economic growth by connecting the community of hub users. This was achieved through the addition of Events and Blogs features, which allowed hub managers to contribute content to both global and local listings, depending on their target audience.

Solution Highlights

• Standardized Hub Presence: All hubs now have a standardized presence on Connectedhubs.ie.
• Dynamic Map Search: Users can easily find and book spaces through a dynamic map search feature.
• Scalability: The platform is infinitely scalable, accommodating the needs of an expanding network.
• Comprehensive Booking Engine: The online booking engine supports a wide range of offerings, integrated with a payment gateway and custom billing solutions.
• Member Management: A complete member management system, including corporate member single billing, is now in place.
• Admin Management Portal: The portal features an intuitive onboarding wizard for hub managers.
• Member SelfService: Members have access to a selfservice booking portal, with options for website embeds and mobile app integration.
• Advanced Features: The platform includes access control integration, a contract marketplace, a jobs board, an internal social network, and a corporate/brokerage system.

Impact

Tens of thousands of users across Ireland now visit www.connectedhubs.ie to book hot desks, dedicated desks, and meeting rooms quickly and easily. The rollout was completed two years ahead of schedule, with over 360 locations live under the Connected Hubs brand. Connected Hubs is driving innovation and facilitating flexible working across Ireland.