Automations, the newest Optix feature that helps operators automate day-to-day tasks like invoice follow-ups and member onboarding, is now free for spaces using their technology.

I asked for a bit more info, and Kelly Karn was kind enough to elaborate that the number of free automated actions depend on your plan scaling up to 1000 free actions per month, and that a number of default automations also do not count against these free actions.

Daniela Mallarino from Kisi was also wondering if coworking has become too commoditized, with both landlords and operators looking to monetize space more efficiently. For a different set of opinions, she asked some of the platforms in the space for their thoughts.

Alberto Di Risio (Archie) shared thoughts about the impact on member retention, Helga Moreno (Spacebring) looked at challenges of differentiation, and Kelly Karn (Optix) dug into how spaces who do more than standard desks are succeeding.

How KWENCH is automating member communication, invoice follow-ups, task management, and more in their coworking space using an integrated tech stack and Optix Automations.

I love how the brand set up 30+ automations, and reduced their teams workload by over 5000 actions in just 60 days. Task automation (and data-synchronization) is going to define the new kings and queens of community-focussed spaces. Calling it.

In honour of International Coworking Day, Optix created this superb video celebrating the people who do it all – community managers.

The Optix team sat down with Mitchell Purdy to learn about his journey into coworking, his philosophy on community building, and what it takes to operate Suite Genius, a successful network of coworking spaces, for over a decade.