At the 2026 Headquarters Economy Conference and the Sixth Forum on Building Economy and High-Quality Urban Development, held on September 11 in Beijing as an official CIFTIS event, WeWork China's Beijing City General Manager, Zhou Jinchun, delivered a presentation during the roadshow segment. His speech highlighted how the company is leveraging technology to reshape flexible office solutions in China.

Zhou opened by posing two questions to the audience. In the age of AI, many high-growth companies in emerging markets are reaching IPO status within just two or three years, potentially achieving trillion-yuan valuations. This pace is no longer surprising in China. However, entrepreneurs from the previous generation typically needed ten, twenty, or even more years to reach similar milestones. The first question, therefore, is whether our current office spaces can keep pace with such rapid development. The second question pertains to the large volume of existing real estate assets that need revitalization—why do many enterprise clients still struggle to find satisfactory and suitable workspaces? Zhou emphasized that neither question has a definitive answer.

WeWork China has spent several years exploring the intersection of space and technology. Zhou traced the company's journey in China, beginning with what he called the 1.0 stage, which focused on three core capabilities: design, sales, and operations. Design involves creating beautiful, attractive, and appealing spaces; sales brings clients through the door; and operations retains them through meticulous day-to-day services. These fundamentals remain essential for competitors in the industry.

Over the years, WeWork China has served a diverse clientele, including major firms such as Microsoft, Nike, DeepSeek, Xiaohongshu (RED), and China's Toutiao. Through these engagements, the company identified an increasing demand for office flexibility, regardless of a business's size, stage, or background. Clients now prioritize adaptable time arrangements, elastic space solutions, and a shift from fixed costs to controllable variable costs, which is particularly crucial in today's hyper-competitive environment.

Returning to his second question, Zhou pointed out that while both supply and demand exist in the market—with some clients even visiting thirty or more properties without making a decision—there is an effective mismatch between them. The demand side is advancing rapidly, perhaps faster than the supply side can adapt. To address this pain point, WeWork China has positioned itself as a connector for flexible workspaces. On one end, it links existing or controlled resources to solve long-standing challenges in China's office building market. On the other end, it connects consumers, enterprises, startups, and operational companies. The company also considers creating a platform to connect different buildings, enabling collaborative solutions for the current oversupply challenges.

Zhou shared WeWork China's current footprint, covering 12 cities with over 70 communities and partnerships with more than 20 cooperative buildings. The company has served over 7,000 enterprise members and more than 100,000 individual members. As of last month, the average occupancy rate across the country reached 80%. This year, new projects have opened in Shanghai and other regions, reflecting continued rapid growth.

Beyond scale, WeWork China emphasizes using technology, operations, and products to bridge the two market pain points. To make it easier for client companies to access these existing spaces, the company launched an innovative product called FLEXJOY (Youzuo) in June of last year. Available via mini-program and app, FLEXJOY has accumulated over 100,000 registered users and more than 290,000 bookings since its launch. The interface is simple: users select a workspace location, choose single-use, hourly, or daily options, and book as easily as ordering coffee, with access to meeting rooms and office spaces across various cities. Currently, the platform connects over 2,000 flexible workstations, more than 1,000 meeting rooms, and over 300 dedicated offices nationwide, all at highly affordable prices. Additional information can be found through customer review platforms.

Zhou also showcased WeWork's community at the World International Plaza in Beijing, located in the core CBD area with direct access to Subway Lines 6 and 10. The renovated project, themed "Spirit of the Earth," integrates environmental protection, innovation, and natural elements throughout its approximately 8,000-square-meter space. It caters to long-term office needs, on-demand meetings, and flexible workstations, and has become a hub for AI, technology, and healthcare companies. A notable feature is an 800-square-meter rooftop terrace, ideal for corporate events and launches.

Highlighting the conference's focus on urban renewal and transformation, Zhou presented this case as an example of revitalizing existing assets to generate ongoing value. Additionally, WeWork China is integrating technology into its spaces. Last month, the company partnered with Apple at a launch event in Shanghai's International Media Port, where Apple used the venue as an experiential setting outside retail stores, showcasing cutting-edge workflows, tools, and services. Zhou emphasized that WeWork China does not just bring in tech products; it cultivates these advanced tools to enhance clients' productivity.

Returning to his opening questions, Zhou stressed that with companies achieving in two to three years what previous generations took ten to fifteen years to accomplish, the office space industry must respond at an equally rapid pace. There is no choice in this matter. The industry must work harder, collaborate more closely, and explore better communication. Zhou expressed gratitude to the organizers for facilitating such exchanges.

In closing, Zhou outlined WeWork China's three core objectives: connecting space and technology, accompanying enterprises throughout their growth journeys, and ensuring spaces generate sustained value over time. He invited interested attendees to connect with him for further discussions.