Cyber Cafes: Coffee, Comfort, and Computers

Three years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted our lives in several ways. Among the many changes included the transition from in-person working to online. Many technologies, like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, were introduced to transition the workplace virtually. Ultimately, these past three years demonstrated the success of the largest Work-From-Home experiment ever. According to the Forbes article, “How The Cafe Industry Can Use Remote Work To Strengthen Post-Pandemic Revenue”, this success pushed corporations to ask why they were originally spending money on office space.

Several companies have answered this question by informing employees they never have to return to the office. This decision has its benefits, including the protection of the health of employees, a cut down on commute time, and an efficient use of resources. However, Forbes notes that especially among younger workers, there is a communal desire to befriend and connect with their co-workers, which is restricted from remote work.

Now, a new common space has replaced the traditional office building location: cybercafes. Cybercafes differ from shops that have consumers who come in, buy a cup of coffee, and work on their laptops. The cafes range from open spaces with computer stations to workstations integrated with coffee shops, as reported by the LifeWire article, “How to Find and Use Internet Cafes”. Specifically, in foreign countries, cybercafes provide internet access to the community. More widespread, these cafes have developed into co-working spaces where entrepreneurs and employees are collaborating, as mentioned by the Wrkspace blog, “The Rise And Rise Of The Internet Cafe”. According to Wrkspace, coworking spaces allow like-minded people to create a community due to their similar drives and passions shared in a work environment.

Forbes states that coffee shops themselves have been an informal place where a range of artists and activists have shared their thoughts for centuries. Free WiFi has also become more and more popular amongst coffee shop workspaces around the world. This social yet focused environment provides the perfect oasis for an employee working from home. Coffee shop workspaces have been an unofficial office space for years where students and professionals alike go to answer emails or study for exams. Additionally, there is an unspoken tie between coffee and work to provide a boost of energy and focus on solidifying coffee shops as an acceptable work environment.

Cybercafes tend to vary in their usage of technology. According to Encyclopedia.com's article, “Cybercafe”, many cybercafes are interconnected globally and customers are offered an email address through its domain. This technology, combined with the laptops, printers, microphones, and web cameras, attract various types of customers. Businesses are also drawn to the cafes' ability to market new products. Software developers, for instance, can experiment, in-person, with certain software programs before committing to purchasing them. As a result, there's been a rise in on-site software experts in cybercafes, ready to lend a helping hand. Furthermore, Taylor & Francis Online article, “Cybercafés as constellations of social practices: Exploring ‘place’ and ‘technospace’ in cybercafés in Mexico”, explains that young adults often use the desktops for sending emails or checking social accounts. Younger groups of children utilize cybercafes to play video games. No matter what your need is, cybercafes hold the technology to accommodate them all.

Cybercafes can liberate the hassle of carrying around laptops, offers flexibility regarding location, and provides a collaborative environment. Although cybercafes take on costs for implementing equipment or redesigning the cafe with private office spaces, the welcoming and productive environment ensures consistent revenue due to customer loyalty.

While some employees may never be able to return to their office buildings, public workplaces are far from gone. Cybercafes have developed into the modern workplace, offering a balance between remote and in-person work. Cybercares benefit through increasing revenues, but more importantly, consumers are advantaged by cybercafes the opportunity for human connection and an inspiring work environment.