Office Pods: Buying Guide and Considerations

Are you struggling to balance productivity and privacy in your open-concept office?

Wondering how to create a more conducive environment for focused work amidst the hustle and bustle?

Join us as we delve into the comparison between office pods and traditional renovations, sharing cost-effective solutions to your workplace dilemmas.

Office Pods V.S. Office Renovations and Build-outs

By now, you might be thinking, “Can I just renovate my current office to include more breakout rooms?” Largely, modular pods are much, much more cost-effective than building out an office space. Inbox Booths, for example, are fully certified, so you do not have to worry about the hassle of electrical construction, HVAC needs, or building permits.

Before you start breaking ground and knocking down walls, have a look at how they measure up in terms of cost, flexibility, and overall workplace benefits.

Office Pods are Budget-Friendly

Minimal construction: Pods require minimal or no construction compared to traditional office renovations. This results in reduced labor and material costs as well as extended construction deadlines.
Quick installation: Pods can be installed relatively quickly, minimizing downtime and operational disruptions. You will not have to close your office for the setup, unlike renovations.
Long-term savings: The upfront cost of pods is often significantly lower than a full-scale office renovation. This cost-efficient approach frees up your budget for other crucial business needs. Plus, you can take them with you when you leave.
Asset: These pods are an asset you can keep forever or re-sell when you need to.

Traditional Office Renovations Can be a Hefty Investment

Extensive construction: Renovations typically involve extensive construction work, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Extended downtime: The renovation process can lead to prolonged office downtime, impacting productivity and causing inconvenience to employees. That being said, our post-pandemic world is better equipped to handle work-from-home orders; however, employees are happiest when they have options.
Higher initial investment: Traditional office renovations generally require a large upfront investment. You will have to factor in things like architectural fees, construction costs, and project management expenses. The pro to this con, however, is that if you own your office space, you may be able to increase your resale value. But (and it’s a big but) if the next buyer wants to use the space differently from how you have, they will have to renovate your renovations, so it may not matter in the end.

Office Pods are Dynamic, Modular, and Flexible

Versatility: Flexibility is a key factor in the modern workplace, and pods can be modular and adaptive.
Easy relocation: Pods are designed for adaptability and can be relocated or reconfigured with minimal effort, making them ideal for businesses with growth in the future.
Quick adjustments: They allow businesses to make changes to their workspace layouts in response to evolving needs without the long lead times associated with renovations.
Efficient use of space: Their space-saving design ensures you will maximize your available square footage.

Office Renovations Have No Flexibility

Permanent changes: Office renovations involve permanent structural changes to the workspace, making it challenging to accommodate future shifts in requirements.
Inflexible layouts: Once renovations are complete, the layout becomes less adaptable to changing business needs.
Resource-intensive: Renovations are resource-intensive and require a significant investment of time, money, and effort.

Office Pods are Instantly Gratifying in Many Ways

Immediate impact: Pods provide instant benefits like privacy and noise reduction.
Enhanced employee experience: The quick implementation of pods leads to a more positive employee experience, boosting morale and productivity. When you have an issue, an immediate fix is much more gratifying than a long waiting period. Your employees are going to see you addressing their issues right away and appreciate you for it.
Immediate installation: These booths can be set up in a day. Inbox Booths, for example, offers installation services for a nominal fee, too.

Key Considerations When Buying Pods

It is easy to get swept up in imagining office phone booths dotted around your office. Before you dive head first in, you should talk to your interior designer about getting these booths spec’d into your space. Before you make an impulse buy, there are a few crucial factors you need to think about.

Price

Before embarking on your pod journey, you are going to want to shop around. Take a look at what each supplier offers, along with the price of the pods. Do they offer fast lead times? Quality materials? And have a reputation for customer service?

Remember, all of this should be wrapped up in the price. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. But you also shouldn’t be paying above market average.

Budget

Your budget is going to play a role in which pod you buy. Office pods come in price ranges, so understanding your financial limits will help you narrow down your options. Be sure to see if the supplier has a financing option, too. This can help widen your options.

We have financing partners who can help you upgrade your space without the stresses of large upfront costs!

Space

Size matters when it comes to pods. Before making a purchase, evaluate your available office space with the dimensions of the pods you like in mind. You want to make sure they fit before they are dropped off.

Be judicial with potential issues like overcrowding or hindering traffic flow. The last thing you want is an office so full of pods no one can walk around.

Our booths come in wide range of sizes. Pick the ones that suit your office space the most.

Intended Use

Your specific needs and preferences should guide your choice of pods. Consider the features that are essential for your team’s productivity and comfort. And if you are unsure, ask. Do they need advanced technology, soundproofing, adjustable lighting, or specific furniture configurations? Then, shop for the features that will deliver on your work requirements.

Our Inbox Booths have furniture included and are built with quality components, including tempered glass and a high-powered ventilation system.

Hidden Costs

Read the fine print. You need to know exactly what is included in the purchase of your office meeting pods. Before you buy, ask a sales rep if the furniture comes with it or is an additional cost, if the shipping cost covers unloading, and whether there is an extra cost for things like assembly and warranty.

At Inbox Booths, we share our pricing transparently from the get-go. You will know exactly what you are paying for and what you will get for your money.

Shipping

Are you in a rush to get your pod? Then you better make sure you read the shipping fine print. Many manufacturers are overseas, so you’ll have to buffer time between ordering and receiving your pod.

Shipping with Inbox Booths takes place within 48 hours, as we stock our products in North America. You can expect your pod to arrive within 1-2 weeks and have an open communication line with our team.

Delivery and Assembly

You’re going to need to understand what’s expected of you when your pods are delivered. These are large pieces of furniture, often requiring a forklift or a pallet jack to unload the pallets and two or more people to move the pieces into your office.

However, that isn’t the case for our Inbox Booths. Each of our booths comes with an easy-to-follow user manual that makes installation effortless. Choose to install the booth yourself or avail of our installation services for a nominal fee.

Warranty

Stuff happens. Sometimes, things come damaged, or there’s a faulty mechanism in your pod, or, for whatever reason, it simply doesn’t work the way it should. Find a supplier who offers a full warranty so you’re protected against manufacturing defects or shipping accidents.

Our office pods and modular meeting rooms offer a 2-year limited warranty against manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship on Inbox booths.

Where to Buy Pods

Now that you know what pods can do for your business and what to look out for before you buy, you need to know where you can purchase them.

Here are a few common options other business owners have used to buy pods.

Our Inbox Booths Showrooms and Website

By far the most popular option, office pod showrooms provide convenience and functionality. You have the option to test out the booths yourself in an office setting and make an informed decision based on your experience.

You can also purchase our booths online and read reviews from businesses like yours.