At the Flexible Space Association conference, Yardi's Justin Harley sparked industry debate by suggesting flex workspace operators should "disintermediate the brokers" to improve profit margins, noting that only 46% of flex operators are currently profitable according to Deskmag research. Harley proposed creating a Rightmove-style platform for the flex market, though he acknowledged such development could take up to 10 years.

However, Workthere's Tom Leahy countered that intermediaries democratize market access and level the playing field for operators of all sizes through their knowledge and efficient user experience.

The debate reflects growing tension in an industry where nearly 20% of operators aren't profitable and another 36% barely break even, raising questions about whether direct-to-consumer models are inevitable or if brokers remain essential in the fragmented ecosystem.