Phone booths and pods need a spot in your coworking software

Coworking spaces give people freedom while enabling focus. 

It’s easy to talk about “flexibility,” but what does that look like beneath fluorescent lights, phone calls, and after-lunch video meetings? The answer, increasingly, is private pods and soundproof booths. 

But here’s the real question: should operators treat these pods as ad-hoc accessories, or bring them directly into the core of their management systems, letting users book them like any other resource? 

Where do booths and pods belong in coworking culture?

Most coworking operators know the drill: open lounges, sunny flex desks, and a phone booth in the corner. 

Sometimes those booths are first-come, first-served; sometimes there’s a scrap of paper and a “reserved from 2-3pm” scribbled on it. It feels homespun, maybe even cozy. But as remote work grows up, so do the expectations for privacy and professionalism. 

Today’s members want reliable, bookable access to truly private space for calls, coaching sessions, podcasting, or interviews, all without unsettling interruptions or frazzled front desk staff.

Smart pods like PrivacyPod haven’t just made booths quieter; they’ve made them smarter. With built-in booking, payments, and wireless access hardware, these pods turn dead corners and echoey alcoves into purpose-built productivity machines, ready to be scheduled and monetized. 

From frustration to frictionless: booking pods without the “who’s got the key?”

Most people need phone booths for two things: privacy and reliability. 

If the booth’s occupied—or worse, always “occupied” by the person who treats it as a personal office—frustration mounts and trust drops. This is where management software like Coworks comes in.

By tying pods into Coworks, every booth or pod gets an availability calendar, real-time reservations, and rules that operators can update at the tap of a button. No more chasing after keys, unlocking doors for guests, or wondering who’s used the pod for three hours. Instead, users can grab a slot from their phone or laptop, see what’s available, and unlock the pod with a tap.

• Reservations are instant, remote, and come with payment.
  
  
• Operators control pricing, types, and access right in the Coworks dashboard.
  
  
• Occupancy and use data roll up automatically, so you always know ROI (and actual pod demand) without staring at spreadsheets.

A pod for every body

Don’t forget the principle of universal design when considering booths and pods. The seven principles apply not just to facility design, but also to products and environments in general. 

Whether you're placing a single S Pod in a common area or a full fleet of L Pods for on-demand team collaboration, PrivacyPod's smart integration makes managing the experience turnkey.

ADA-compliant pods are part of the lineup too. Look for Accessible Pods that are designed with universal entry in mind, and they’re just as smart, stylish, and easy to book.

How to set up Privacy Pods in the Coworks platform

Let’s get tactical. Integrating pods within Coworks isn’t rocket science. It’s precise, but painless.

1. List each PrivacyPod within the Coworks room directory, naming pods by location, capacity, or type (S, L, XL, Accessible).
   
   
2. Configure booking parameters: hourly or daily pricing if applicable, minimum/maximum durations, rules for members or drop-ins.
   
   
3. Connect the pod’s smart access hardware to Coworks using wireless setup instructions. There’s no wiring, no API coding; Coworks and PrivacyPod are built for out-of-the-box compatibility.
   
   
4. Push availability live. Users book their time from the Coworks app, paying and unlocking with their devices.
   
   
5. Use Coworks reporting to monitor occupancy. Adjust prices, highlight pods in marketing, or test new layouts based on real-world numbers.
   
   

Every step is designed to make pods a full-fledged part of the space. And because the integration is wireless and mobile-centric, there’s nothing to install permanently. Move pods as your business grows, or test locations until you nail the perfect vibe.

Pods mean business, not just quiet

Operators who treat pods as managed, trackable assets get something that surpasses mere “quiet space.” They get a real lever for retention and profitability. 

Members stick around when the amenities work for them. According to a 2024 GWA (Global Workspace Association) survey, 63% of coworking members cite noise as a major disruption, and over 42% have actively searched for quieter alternatives when their space didn’t provide it. 

In fact, noise was ranked as the #1 complaint among shared workspace users—outranking internet speed and lack of meeting rooms.

It’s easy for pods, booths, and even software to feel like isolated upgrades. The real opportunity comes when they work together. 

Picture a visitor arriving for a job interview. She scans for quiet space in the app, reserves an ADA-compliant pod, gets a confirmation code, and walks in. No front desk wait, no surprises. She leaves thinking, “This place gets it”—and just might become your next full-time member.

You don’t just add pods. You add possibility.

The future of coworking isn’t about adding more desks. It’s about making every corner smarter, more valuable, and easier to use. Taking time to integrate pods like PrivacyPod into management software doesn’t just streamline logistics; it opens doors to revenue, retention, and better member experiences.

If you run a coworking space where noise is beginning to drown out opportunity, the next chapter might look like this: a pod booked in seconds, paid for today, and speaking volumes about the kind of value—quiet, privacy, professionalism—you deliver every day.