Cobot

Running a coworking space involves a surprising number of small jobs: invoicing members, stopping two people booking the same meeting room, deciding who may open which door, and working out whether the place is actually filling up. Cobot is software that gathers those jobs in one system for coworking spaces, office hubs and other flexible workspaces.

From paperwork to a single dashboard

According to the founders, they once operated a coworking space themselves and remember the stacks of paper, spreadsheets and half-working apps that came with it. Cobot grew out of that experience. Its billing side automates invoices and tracks payments and transactions, while the booking calendar lets an operator set capacity, special rates, discounts and opening hours for each resource, from desks to meeting rooms.

Members, visitors and doors

Members get customised plans and a mobile app that lets them manage their own experience and connect with each other. Day passes and drop-in visitors are handled as well, and the company states that unlimited visitors and day-pass users are included. Access control works through permissions and integrations with access providers, so a space can decide who enters which area and when. A lightweight CRM stores contact records for both members and prospects, and an on-demand coworking feature covers casual use.

Measuring the space

Occupancy, usage and growth figures are built into the dashboard, and add-ons exist for operators who want other data. Revenue tracking sits next to the figures on meeting room use.

Connections to other systems

Cobot links with billing, accounting, access and hardware platforms, and the company says it extends the toolkit on request, free of charge and with help from its development team. Operators with unusual needs can ask for a custom offer.

Support and how it is sold

According to the company, spaces in more than ninety countries use the software, and it has more than a decade of experience helping spaces open and grow. Support by chat is included for everyone, along with multi-language guides, product demonstrations and optional training packages. A space can use it free until its opening day and pay only once it starts charging its own members. The vendor also lists reduced rates for non-governmental organisations and for spaces in low or middle income economies, and says there are no minimum contracts or cancellation fees.