GoSPCE was launched as a mobile app that allows users to search and book shared work and shared play spaces (for rent).
According to Randy McGraw, co-founder of ALTUS Digital Capital – the owner-operator private equity firm that is behind the creation of the GoSPCE – the platform is “both a discovery and booking experience for consumers as well as a full end-to-end hospitality operations application for space owners.”
Space owners or any commercial establishments including real estate or property management firms with valid tax identification numbers (TINs) can sign up as a host by submitting their corporate profile. These can either be co-working space operators with single desks and rooms to rent, hotels with spacious meeting rooms, open areas and pools, bars with unused second floors, restaurants with function rooms or dead space between lunch and dinner seatings, building owners with parking lots that can double as a practice space for teams or bands, or an open field that can be repurposed as a soccer pitch.
Once the application is approved, the host can set up the space. The GoSPCE app can help design and promote the host’s space, find customers who are interested to rent or potential bookings using its digital marketing tools. The app also offers real-time discounting tools to conduct targeted sales and manage inventory, as well as in-app communication tools to reach guests both during and after their stay. Apart from these, the platform has permissions-based dashboard analytics designed to understand guest behavior and requirements better. It can also help widen market reach.
“Owners of any type of space that can be used for work and play purposes can list, shape, price and market their spaces – whether conventional or unexpected spaces – define what activities can be conducted there, and find interested consumer segments by using online marketing tools offered by the platform or via our own marketing in their behalf,” said McGraw.
Currently, over 4,900 different types of spaces located in the National Capital Region (NCR) have been applied by over 400 Metro Manila-based hosts that range from large group of companies, hotels, bars and unconventional hosts. By the end of second quarter 2018, any hotel, co-working space operator, hostel, managed service apartment or other hospitality-centric operator will be able to fully automate every aspect of their operation through the GoSPCE platform.
In looking for the ideal place to work and play whether for an hour, a day, a week or even a month, GoSPCE can help guests or seekers meet their requirements for accommodation. Guests can enjoy the following features of the app: search, book and pay for shared work or play spaces on the go; spaces to choose from catering to almost work and play requirements; write or read reviews and ratings; exclusive perks and freebies from listed generous hosts; and secure and reliable payment gateways.
The platform accepts the following mode of payments: credit card; online banking transfers (tied with BancNet); over-the-counter (bank) & ATM; over-the-counter (non-bank); and cash or check.
The GoSPCE app offers tools that enable a host to respond to guest’s inquiries and requests, according to McGraw. In case there is a complaint about bookings, it will attend to it, conduct investigations and provide refunds. The platform also grants requests for ocular inspection of the space; and attend to cancellation requests.
The new workplace concept currently attracts millennials, start-up businesses and SMBs which constitute majority of co-working space users, according to McGraw.
McGraw noted that Altus Digital Capital, which is driving the regional expansion of the new workplace app, will launch the platform in Singapore next year. With Web site now available, the application can be downloaded from Google Play, and soon to be launched on iOS.
