The office furniture industry has started the ORGATEC year with a strong tailwind. Around three months before the leading international trade fair for modern working environments takes place in Cologne (October 25 to 29), manufacturers can look back on a successful first half of the year. Above all, holistic workplace design has become decisively more important to employers during this period, as shown by demand and sales.
Sales increase due to more holistic solutions
Overall, the Office and Workplace Industry Association (IBA) reports an increase in sales in office furniture production of 10 percent - compared to the same period last year - to just under EUR 1.2 billion for the first half of 2022. After a long period in which demand was primarily for seating furniture and the focus was on furnishing individual communication zones in addition to equipping home office workplaces, demand is now shifting. This is underlined by a 15.4 percent increase in office furniture, which increasingly includes more complex equipment in addition to the classic work desk and cabinets. However, sales of seating furniture have also risen since the beginning of the year, but only by 4.2 percent.
Overall concepts for new demand profiles
“全面的办公解决方案都需要考虑到有吸引力的，通常是混合办公室工作场所的不断变化的要求。雇主希望在这里进行投资，除设备外，还要求我们的成员和我们的合作伙伴从计划中提供合格的咨询服务ManBetX赞助商和专业贸易。” IBA董事长Helmut Link说，他解释了当前的趋势。鉴于这种环境，该行业非常期待科隆的高产。
Increased demand at home and abroad
Companies throughout Europe have recognized this and are focusing on a suitable redesign of their office workspaces. While many employers were still hesitant in the previous year, in recent months not even the volatile general conditions could slow down the desired change so far: both in Germany (plus 11.9 percent) and abroad (plus 4.8 percent), there was an increase in sales compared to the previous year. The average export ratio fell slightly from 26.8 percent at the turn of the year to 26.0 percent now.
Well thought-out interaction thanks to consulting expertise
As the IBA and its members emphasize, when it comes to shaping the upcoming transformation, it's not just a matter of finding the right products, e.g., for teamwork spaces, project-based work, hybrid meetings and new learning worlds.
In addition to creating functional conditions for work in the office, in the home office and in third locations, it is also becoming increasingly important to strengthen employee loyalty to the company, to make culture visible and tangible, and to present oneself as an attractive employer. This requires specific impulses that fit each company.
Anticipation in challenging times
ORGATEC now once again provides the opportunity to experience possible design solutions for sustainable workplace design in person. In this context, exhibitors are hoping for further impetus for the industry economy, in addition to many personal contacts and discussions.
IBA Forum as a digital industry platform for ORGATEC
ORGATEC前夕,IBA也creatinga supplementary digital feature to the trade fair. Exhibitors have the opportunity to expand their trade fair presence with a presence on the IBA Forum, the digital industry platform and competence center for the working world of tomorrow. Here, products and design concepts can be experienced in the virtual showrooms even beyond the trade fair period.
