Part of being a top-tier coworking space operator is providing your members with an unforgettable and undeniably unique user experience. To achieve this, you need to invest in hospitality, go the extra mile whenever possible, and equip yourself with technology that creates a seamless experience for your members.
This is why white-labeled apps are so popular in the coworking industry – they give you the power to create a branded, technology-forward experience while putting the user front and center. In this article, we'll explore why every flexible workspace needs a white-labeled app, starting with the basics.
What is a White-Labeled App for Coworking Spaces?
A white-labeled app is a mobile application for iOS and/or Android that's built by a third party but operates under your brand. It's used by coworking spaces to manage bookings, payments, messaging, and more. Let's say you operate a multi-location coworking space, and you want to make it easy for members to make bookings on-the-go. You need a mobile app, but you don't have the resources to develop your own – a lengthy process that could take months and cost thousands of dollars.
With a white-labeled app, you can pay a third party to develop and manage your app for you. That means you get a fully functional, tried-and-tested app at a fraction of the price. The best part is, it makes no difference to your members. It shows up in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store as your app under your brand name. To your members, the app is 100% yours.
How Much Does a White-Labeled App Cost?
The cost of a white-labeled app depends on the platform you decide to work with. Most white-labeled apps will cost anywhere between $100 to $250 a month. The monthly fee covers the ongoing maintenance and bug fixes required to maintain the app. At Optix, we price our services based on the size of your organization, with a white-labeled app starting at $99 a month. That includes the cost to develop and maintain it, including releasing new features and updating it with new functionality regularly.
What Are the Features of a White-Labeled App for Coworking Spaces?
White-labeled apps serve as a one-stop shop for anything your members need to do in and around your coworking space. This includes:
- Room bookings and resource bookings (think booking podcast rooms, desks, phone booths, etc.)
- Purchasing membership plans
- Making one-time or recurring payments
- Messaging other members
- Seeing events
- Checking in
- Purchasing products
- Submitting feedback requests
All of the features of a white-labeled app are typically customizable. You can create your own resources, set your own prices, create your own membership plans – the list goes on. Whatever a member needs to do in your space, it can be done with a white-labeled app.
The Benefits of Having a White-Labeled App in Your Coworking Space
Coworking businesses and flexible workspaces gain several advantages by using a white-labeled app in their community.
- You Can Launch a Better App at a Faster Rate: Build vs. buy is an age-old problem in business. Most people don't realize just how long it takes to create a custom app from scratch, from the architecture and design to the building and testing. For many coworking spaces, this process could take several months and thousands of dollars.
- Your Brand is Front and Center: When you implement a white-labeled app to help you run your coworking space, everything is branded as your own. This includes your app icon, organization name, the name and logo that appears in the app store, and UI including colors, buttons, and iconography.
- Your Coworking Members Can Do Everything on the Fly: Your members need to be able to do anything from anywhere. This is especially true if you're looking to attract remote workers, as they require flexibility and agility when it comes to making bookings and payments.
- Mobile App Maintenance is a Breeze: A custom app solution may be tempting, but building out your own app solution comes with the promise of tech debt. Large organizations with robust development teams may be able to handle the continuous work that comes with owning a custom app. However, this is only worth it when specific needs can't be met by any other means.
Get a White-Labeled App for Your Coworking Space with Optix
At Optix, we've overseen the build of the white-labeled app experience for over three years. In our view, there are very few use cases that could justify the maintenance required to keep a custom app up-to-date and running smoothly. That's why we offer a tried-and-tested solution that fits your unique needs – without breaking the bank or derailing internal business processes.