Beyond the CBD: the Power of Satellite Offices

In Asia’s evolving work landscape, satellite offices are now a competitive advantage. Here’s how to make them work for your business.

It’s 2025, and the tectonic plates of the working landscape continue to move: this time beyond the central business district (CBD). For growing businesses looking to expand as well as established organisations catering to hybrid work needs, the satellite office is more than just a nice-to-have. Combining the benefits of a main office with the proximity being closer to home,  the satellite office is fast becoming a competitive advantage. How are satellite offices gaining momentum across the region, and how can they transform your business operations?

The Satellite Office: What is it, and why now?

A satellite office is essentially a branch office. It’s separate from an organisation’s headquarters—which may be nearby, across town, or in another city altogether—and yet it offers many of the benefits of a head office.

The satellite office is one answer to the return-to-office conundrum that many organisations are facing.

Globally, many big tech organisations and Fortune 500 companies are demanding a return to five days a week in the office, while others have announced a three-days-in-office policy. In Singapore, meanwhile, LinkedIn’s research found that eight out of 10 people consider flexibility to be top of their list of priorities, and new guidelines came into effect in December 2024 requiring organisations to fairly consider all requests for flexible working arrangements.

So, while organisations may be seeking to bring people back to the office, flexible work is here to stay. And this is where satellite offices can help, by offering workers an appealing place to work that’s closer to home, thus sidestepping rush-hour traffic and long commutes.

Location and Beyond: Why satellite offices work

Geographical convenience is one thing, but satellite offices also offer plenty of other benefits.

• Employee experience: 

Bringing the office to the people is a key benefit.. By reducing commute times, satellite offices can contribute in a meaningful way to work-life balance and employee satisfaction. Satellite offices can also cater to flexible working arrangements, while giving workers somewhere to come to connect and collaborate when they want or need to be at the office. This translates to streamlined workflows, better teamwork, and higher talent retention rates.

• Talent attraction: 

It’s easier to attract the right person for the job when your business is where the talent is. A decentralised location gives your business an edge when it comes to tapping into new and different talent pools.

• Facilitating new partnerships: 

Having a physical presence in a new location opens your business to connection with new commercial partners and clients that work nearby, minus the geographical constraints of a head office that’s miles from where they are.

• Business agility and scalability: 

As projects shift and change, and as businesses expand and contract in response, that ability to adapt—and fast—is crucial. Satellite offices can support this by providing a space for businesses to expand into, without having to add square footage in costly CBD locations, plus minimising the need for expensive renovations of existing space.

• Cost optimisation

Decentralised locations typically offer cost savings compared with CBD office space. Leasing terms are often more competitive, and more flexible, as are operational expenses. At the same time, satellite locations still offer premium facilities and services, allowing your business to maintain its high standards and attract top talent.

What it takes to set up a satellite office

Successfully establishing and sustaining a satellite office requires thoughtful planning and execution. Here’s what to keep in mind.

• Location:

The ideal satellite office should be easily accessible by public transport. Also consider parking facilities and accessibility for workers with mobility impairments. In addition, it’s worth considering the neighbourhood surrounding the satellite office—are there places for your workers to eat, drink and squeeze in a gym session nearby? Is it close to clients, potential clients, possible partners?

• Professional environment: 

Even though it’s located outside the CBD, a satellite office should maintain the same professional standards when it comes to well-appointed meeting rooms, comfortable workstations, and other amenities that support daily workplace operations.

• Infrastructure and technology: 

Every office requires robust digital infrastructure—and even more so when it’s a satellite office that needs to be in constant communication with the head office. Therefore the ideal satellite office requires high-speed internet, secure server rooms, and state-of-the-art video conferencing facilities.

• Premium facilities and services: 

These are the extra bonuses that make the satellite office even more appealing to existing and prospective talent. This might include in-house barista services, wellness rooms that double up as yoga studios and meditation zones, nursing rooms, and outdoor spaces such as terraces and gardens.

• Community and culture: 

A satellite office should foster a strong sense of community and company culture. This is the way to build strong teams that want to work together, and to encourage people to not only come to work, but to want to do so. Look out for thoughtful design elements and shared spaces that encourage the collaboration that makes the magic happen.

CSuites powered by The Great Room at Paya Lebar Quarter: Your Satellite Office Solution

For businesses looking to establish a satellite office in Singapore, The Great Room’s newest location at Paya Lebar Quarter offers premium, customisable workspaces for teams of 50 to 100 people. Here, organisations can benefit from premium amenities such as high-speed connectivity, state-of-the-art ergonomic furniture, private manager cabins, sound-proof meeting rooms, and light-filled spaces.

Offering flexible leasing terms that align with your business strategy, our built-to-fit spaces at Paya Lebar Quarter combine the convenience of a decentralised location with the sophistication you’ve come to expect from The Great Room.

Connect with our team to discover how we can create a satellite office that works for your business.

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