It’s not just about ping pong tables and free beer anymore - and, no, we are not merely referencing that special sauce of community. Coworking spaces are getting serious tech upgrades and more! Here is a glimpse into the cutting-edge stuff that will simplify your life and make your workday feel as if you're in the latest AppleTV sci-fi series (NO, NOT Severance!):

• Virtual Reality (VR) Meetings & Augmented Reality (AR) Integration: Meeting with colleagues across the globe?  No problem - VR lets you collaborate in a virtual space, as if you are side-by-side. It can be used for remote collaboration and team building, allowing geographically dispersed teams to work together in a simulated environment. AR can be used for wayfinding within the coworking space, displaying real-time information about amenities and resources. It can even can become your personal office assistant, finding the nearest printer or even (virtually) displaying project details on the wall in front of you.

• Smart Spaces:  Imagine an office that anticipates your needs. Sensor-based systems can adjust lighting, temperature, and even background music based on occupancy and preferences. These spaces could be managed through “smart-glasses” (such as the Ray-Ban Meta-Wayfarer / XREAL 2 Air Pro) or other emerging technologies that can allow for seamless booking of conference rooms, adjusting ergonomic furniture or ordering lunch.

• Digital Access is Great. Biometrics is Even Better: Forget fumbling for your phone and searching for apps – high-tech biometric access systems will handle it seamlessly. However, similarly to how your iPhone works, spaces will recognize your face or fingerprint. Buildings, office doors, conference rooms and more – all this, literally at your fingertips and welcoming your smiling face.

• AI-powered Community Management: Chatbots powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) can answer member questions, handle basic administrative tasks, and even facilitate networking by suggesting potential collaborators based on interests and expertise.

That's not all! Business models are getting an overhaul too:

• Work When You Want, Where You Want:  Need a quiet corner to write or a collaborative zone to brainstorm?  Activity-based working lets you choose the perfect spot for the task at hand, and you only pay for what you use.

• Companies Get Coworking Too:  Big companies are offering their employees the flexibility of coworking spaces without the hassle of managing it themselves. Some are even enlightened enough to provide a reasonable monthly allowance for a coworking office. Coworking as a Service (CaaS) providers will set up and run dedicated coworking areas within the space, or building common areas.

• Micro Coworking on-the-Go:  Need a workspace for a few hours while you're waiting for a flight?  Micro-coworking spaces are popping up in airports and busy areas, offering short-term rentals by the hour – perfect for the super mobile worker or the Digital Nomad.

Here's the Deal: Coworking spaces are getting super personalized using fancy data tricks.

• Your Coworking BFF? An App Can Help:  Imagine an app that combines building access, member portal, and personalized office setting such as HVAC and lighting.  It will suggest events you'd love based on your interests, recommending the perfect workspace layout for peak productivity, or even finding you collaborator matches!

Wellness is becoming a bigger and bigger focus.  Forget the office burnout – the newest high-end spaces are all about feeling your best:

• Fitness on Demand & Power Naps Welcome:  Reserve equipment at the on-site gyms, purchase healthy food options, meditation spaces, and even nap pods are becoming the norm. We’re already starting to see this amenity become popular – at least in theory, even if not yet commonplace in practice. In any case, a happy and healthy you is a productive you!

The future of coworking is evolving quickly and these trends will continue to foster an environment that's flexible, innovative, and healthy.  Embracing these bleeding-edge trends should position forward thinking coworking spaces as the go-to solution for a future workforce that demands such features. Incorporating one or more of these features into your new, or even existing spaces, can be the ticket to staying current and continuing to grow your coworking community.