Managing and scaling a coworking operator: lessons from Flex-O's journey to SaaSOffice
When Christophe Courtin founded Flex-O, an eco-responsible flexible office operator, in 2020, in the midst of the COVID crisis, he quickly realized a major problem in the sector: there was no tool to manage the entire value chain of a coworking operator: from lead acquisition to accounting follow-up, including sales, invoicing, space management, service offering and access to KPIs.
He then turned to Didier Fornetti, CTO of Santiane (another company founded by Christophe), to help him design a complete management tool. This tool enabled Flex-O to grow rapidly, remain independent and become profitable.
4 years on, Flex-O is :
- 17 sites in major cities,
- 60,000 m² of managed space,
- more than 2,000 customers,
- an independent, highly profitable operator.
After four years of R&D, testing and daily optimization with one of France's leading and most dynamic coworking firms, and with the arrival of Brice Arnavon, SaaSOffice was born: an all-in-one software solution designed to revolutionize the management of coworking spaces and flex offices. This solution led to the creation of an independent company in early 2024.
The birth of SaaSOffice
Flex-O's success is not just based on the creation of attractive, eco-responsible workspaces. It was also made possible by in-depth technological reflection. Early on, Christophe Courtin understood that the key to scaling a coworking operator lay not just in the location or design of the offices, but in the ability to effectively manage every aspect of the business.
So, together with Didier Fornetti, they decided to create a solution that didn't yet exist on the market: an all-in-one, modular platform designed for venue operators. After proving itself internally at Flex-O, this solution was structured as an independent company.
This is how SaaSOffice came into being, with a clear ambition: to offer operators a single, secure and integrated platform, enabling them to grow with confidence.
Quote Julien Fritz, former Operations Manager at Flex-O " When we first launched the software, we immediately noticed a real change in our organization. The operational management of our spaces became much smoother thanks to the centralization of information and the automation of many tasks. Having unified data has enabled us to eliminate the use of multiple tools and avoid double entries, resulting in significant time savings, greater efficiency and lower costs. It also enabled us to better track our performance indicators, more easily identify upsell opportunities and optimize space occupancy rates. Very quickly, our teams were able to concentrate more on customer relations, which had a direct impact on satisfaction and loyalty. "
How SaaSOffice is redefining coworking software solutions
All-in-one coworking software
The coworking and flexible office market is booming. But with this growth comes a challenge: management complexity. Most operators are still juggling several tools - CRM, billing software, access control systems, marketing tools - which either don't communicate with each other, or do so poorly. This fragmentation slows down decision-making, generates errors and adds to costs.
SaaSOffice is a radical game-changer. Its strength lies in its ability to offer end-to-end value chain management:
- Acquisition: inbound lead tracking, scoring, qualification and automated nurturing.
- Sales: clear sales pipeline, quote generation, integrated closing cycle.
- Contracts: integrated generation and electronic signature, management of amendments and renewals.
- Spaces and options: fine-tuned management of private offices, coworking stations, meeting rooms and additional services (parking, concierge service, catering, etc.).
- Invoicing and payments: real-time tracking, automatic invoice generation, seamless accounting integration.
An optimized customer experience
On the customer side, SaaSOffice offers an intuitive application that centralizes all aspects of the relationship: contracts, room reservations, adding options, invoices, communication with the operator. The coworker becomes the actor of his experience, with a modularity never before seen on the market.
It's this dual promise - a powerful back-office and a seamless customer experience - that positions SaaSOffice as the next-generation software for flexible space operators.
SaaSOffice, a decision-making tool
Data-driven strategic decisions
A coworking operator faces an infinite number of micro-decisions every day: should the price of a private office be adjusted? Invest in a new marketing campaign? Extend a contract or reallocate vacant space?
Traditionally, these decisions were based on Excel spreadsheets laboriously compiled from disparate data. With SaaSOffice, all this information is centralized and made available in real time.
Each department has immediate access to its key indicators:
- CEO: quickly identify which centers are underperforming and understand why (location, pricing, services, competition).
- CFO: know the exact cost of acquisition per marketing channel, so you can allocate budgets intelligently.
- COO: optimize occupancy rates, forecast peak demand and adjust pricing per m².
- CCO: analyze the services that generate the most recurring revenue (parking, meeting rooms, catering) and strengthen the most profitable offerings.
- CMO: measure the ROI of digital campaigns in real time and adjust marketing investments.
- Head of Sales: monitor sales performance and check whether the pipeline is on track to meet quarterly targets.
From operations to strategy
By centralizing this data, SaaSOffice not only simplifies management, it also becomes a genuine strategic decision-making tool. Managers gain in reactivity and confidence, two essential elements in a market where speed of execution is key.
This operational intelligence also enables us to better anticipate the future: expansion into new cities, launch of new services, or even more pertinent real estate arbitration.
SaaSOffice, a company in its own right
Independent governance
Although born within Flex-O, SaaSOffice soon became independent. Today, it operates as a separate company, with its own governance, product roadmap and dedicated teams. This independence is essential to guarantee neutrality vis-à-vis external customers.
Security and confidentiality
Several safeguards guarantee this independence and data security:
- 100% RGPD compliant, to ensure the protection of personal data.
- ISO 27001 certification in progress, guaranteeing the highest standards in cybersecurity.
- Information barrier separating Flex-O from SaaSOffice and all other customers, to guarantee absolute data confidentiality.
A broader view of the market
SaaSOffice now addresses a broader market than coworking. Thanks to its modular, scalable approach, the solution has already been adopted by other segments of the flexible real estate market, from real estate companies to hotels, from large head offices to warehousing companies. The ambition is clear: to become the software reference for the management of hybrid and innovative spaces.
With a team of 50 employees, SaaSOffice continues to evolve rapidly, integrating new functionalities and adapting to market needs. Each update is designed with one objective in mind: to simplify life for operators and enrich the end-user experience.
A tool for the future of land management
SaaSOffice is much more than software: it's a new way of designing and managing flexible workspaces. By transforming a successful in-house experiment (Flex-O) into a universal solution, Christophe Courtin and Didier Fornetti have paved the way for a new generation of operators capable of scaling rapidly, while remaining profitable and customer-focused.
At a time when companies are looking for ever greater flexibility in their locations, SaaSOffice is an essential partner for operators who want to turn a corner.
Its evolution towards other verticals - corporate, hospitality and storage - confirms its potential to become the benchmark platform for European proptech.