Aug 11, 2026
4 mins read
Future of Work
For years, the software industry sold customers on a simple promise:
“Choose one platform, and you’ll never need another.”
The idea was compelling. One vendor. One contract. One ecosystem. Everything working together under a single roof.
But today’s technology market is telling a different story.
RealPage’s acquisition of Cherre offers an important signal about where the industry is headed. Instead of folding an integration platform into a closed ecosystem, RealPage announced that customers would continue using the property management systems they already rely on. The platform would remain open, connecting technologies rather than replacing them.
That’s more than an acquisition strategy. It’s a reflection of what customers want.
Not long ago, software vendors competed by keeping customers inside their ecosystem.
The more products you used from one company, the harder it became to leave, which was often positioned as “convenience.”
Today, operators see it differently.
They want the freedom to choose the technology that delivers the best results for their business, not the technology that’s simply bundled into a larger suite.
The value proposition has shifted from: “Use everything we build.” to “Use whatever works best for you.”
That’s a significant change, and one that’s reshaping technology decisions across commercial real estate and coworking alike.
For years, all-in-one platforms had a legitimate advantage because integrations were expensive, and connecting different systems required custom development.
Adding specialized software often created more complexity than value. But today, that’s no longer the case.
APIs, and more recently, MCPs, have transformed the way software works together. Best-in-class solutions can integrate seamlessly, allowing businesses to expand their capabilities without replacing the systems that already power their operations.
Instead of forcing businesses to choose between flexibility and simplicity, connected technology makes both possible.
The coworking industry is experiencing the same shift.
Operators need operational software to run their business, but they also need technology that helps optimize pricing, improve lead conversion, automate marketing, increase meeting room revenue, and create better member experiences.
Those goals don’t always require replacing existing systems.
More often, they require adding specialized capabilities that integrate with the technology they already have in place, which is a very different way of thinking about software.
The conversation around software is changing.
Businesses are no longer rewarding platforms that create the highest switching costs. They’re rewarding platforms that create the greatest business value.
That means openness, interoperability, and flexibility, which is exactly how we think about technology at Flexspace AI. We’ve long believed that coworking operators should have the freedom to choose the best tools for every part of their business, while keeping those systems connected through seamless integrations.
That’s because the strongest technology stacks aren’t built through vendor lock-in. They’re built by combining best-in-class solutions that help businesses grow.
And now we’re seeing that the market is sending a clear message. The future isn’t closed ecosystems. It’s connected ones.