In today’s hard business environment, having the right workspace can mean a lot, impacting productivity, innovation, and overall employee satisfaction.
At this space comes Sergey Kudryavtsev, Founder of INEX and Beon active office, a visionary entrepreneur who, hailing from Russia, has chosen the picturesque city of Paphos in Cyprus as the headquarters for Beon Active Office. With a keen eye for potential and a deep-rooted love for Paphos, Kudryavtsev has embarked on a mission to transform the office landscape, creating a unique blend of historical charm and state-of-the-art technology.
Paphos has always held a special place in Kudryavtsev’s heart. The city’s well-established infrastructure, light traffic, beautiful nature, and plethora of golf fields offer a perfect work-life balance. Recognizing these unique qualities, Kudryavtsev envisioned Paphos as an ideal hub for modern businesses and decided to bring his vision to life through Beon Active Office.
In this exclusive interview, Kudryavtsev shares his journey of establishing Beon Active Office in Cyprus, shedding light on the initial challenges and the myriad opportunities within the local market. He discusses the innovative features that set Beon Active Office apart, including smart technologies, flexible workspaces, and a strong emphasis on community engagement. Kudryavtsev also elaborates on the critical importance of data security in today’s tech-driven environment and the comprehensive measures taken to protect user privacy.
Looking ahead, Kudryavtsev outlines ambitious plans for both local and international expansion. With upcoming projects in Cyprus and the exciting development of Beon Active Office in Belgrade, Serbia, the future holds immense promise for this trailblazing venture.
This is a story of passion, innovation, and the unwavering belief in the potential of Paphos as a thriving business hub.
Landing in Paphos
You originate from Russia and chose Cyprus, specifically Paphos, for Beon active office. What factors influenced this decision?
I moved to Cyprus with my family over 7 years ago, and Paphos was always our top choice. I want everyone to see what I see in this city. Paphos has what other Cyprus cities lack: well-established infrastructure, light traffic, beautiful nature, loads of golf fields and a perfect work-life balance. With ongoing development and growth potential, Paphos is becoming attractive for businesses, including foreign companies seeking relocation. Recognizing this opportunity, we decided to contribute by opening an ideal office space crafted to meet the needs of modern businesses in the area.
What have been the biggest challenges you’ve faced in establishing Beon active office in Cyprus, and what opportunities do you see in the local market?
I must confirm, that we did encounter some complications. One of the primary difficulties while refurbishing the old Bank building has been navigating the local regulatory environment, which includes understanding and complying with various legal and administrative requirements.
It was also not easy to supply the whole building with multimedia equipment while preserving its history. Some ideas were unique technical solutions developed by our team. We created many innovations from scratch. We added modern ideas without losing what made the historical building unique and balanced everything to perfection.
Despite all of these, the local market offers numerous opportunities. Cyprus’s strategic location provides a unique advantage for international business. The country’s favourable tax regime and pro-business policies make it an attractive destination for investment. Moreover, there is a growing demand for innovative and technology-driven solutions in various sectors, presenting loads of opportunities for Beon active office to introduce its services and establish a strong market presence.
Who is Beon active office
How do you assess the potential audience for Beon’s active office? Who do you consider your primary users?
As I’ve mentioned before, Paphos is my favourite city, and I never understood why people often choose Limassol instead. Meanwhile, Paphos lacked large office spaces with all the necessary amenities for comfortable work. We identified an opportunity and seized it! We decided to build the best office space in the city.
Our primary users are businesses from SMEs to corporations seeking innovative and technology-driven solutions to enhance their operations. We also offer a limited number of memberships to individuals seeking a comfortable place to work, as Cyprus hosts many professionals who work remotely.
Can you share how much has been invested in Beon active office so far? What are the expected operating expenses, and when do you anticipate recouping this investment?
While we cannot disclose specific details, Beon active office is performing well. We are proud to have Exness and Owlcat Games – international well-known companies as residents in our office space, highlighting the strong potential of our project. We have a fully operating coffee bar RAY where every Friday we celebrate another successful week and by the end of the year, we plan to open a gastro bistro MODE, enhancing our amenities. Additionally, we aim to construct another extension for rental to accommodate more businesses.
Beon active office is described as an innovative workspace. Can you elaborate on the key features and technologies that set it apart from conventional office spaces?
Beon active office stands out as an innovative workspace thanks to its seamless integration of technologies and modern design principles. Here’s what sets it apart:
From smart lighting and climate control to automated systems, our space is equipped with a centralized control centre that enables users to interact effortlessly with various functions and smart engineering features. Access to the office and lockers is facilitated through Face-ID, and we’ve developed an application that streamlines office operations. This app allows residents to invite guests, order coffee, remotely access their lockers, and much more, while also aggregating statistics for the company to know its employees better.
We designed the building to offer both flexibility and contemporary aesthetics. Our spaces range from private offices to collaborative areas, accommodating diverse business needs. With flexible architectural layouts and specialized zoning, our office adapts to dynamic team interactions without the need for extensive construction or reorganization.
Our focus is on maximizing the benefits of an active digital environment, enhancing productivity and collaboration for all.
Beon active office includes spaces for community events and gatherings. How important is community engagement to your business model, and what types of events do you plan to host?
Community engagement is crucial to our business model at Beon active office. By supporting a strong sense of community within our workspace, we create opportunities for networking, collaboration, and growth for our residents.
Hosting events allows us to build our brand, increase resident satisfaction, and attract new businesses. We plan to host a variety of events such as networking meetings, educational workshops, wellness activities, social gatherings, and industry-specific events to fulfil the diverse interests of our community members. These events will promote connections, learning, and well-being among our residents, contributing to a vibrant and supportive ecosystem. For example, starting this summer, we are accommodating the biggest entrepreneur community in Cyprus – The Hub.
Tech and footprints
With features like Face-ID access and smart systems, how do you ensure data security and user privacy in such a technologically integrated environment?
For the user, Face-ID is the most convenient method of identification. It’s always with you, and you can rest assured that it won’t be stolen. And for us, it’s for the same reason — we know precisely who is granted access.
We are very firm with security regulations. We employ encryption protocols and strict access controls to safeguard sensitive data. Regular security updates are done to reduce potential vulnerabilities, and user privacy is strictly maintained through adherence to data protection regulations and transparent privacy policies and all data is stored in encrypted form within Cyprus territory.
Beon’s commitment is to minimize its environmental footprint. Can you discuss the specific practices and technologies you are using to achieve this?
At Beon, we are committed to minimizing our environmental impact. Through various practices and technologies, we work hard to achieve sustainability in our operations. Our product incorporates several key approaches to reducing the negative environmental impact and improving energy efficiency.
They include using economical and energy-efficient equipment, high-quality filtration systems and conducting training for staff and residents as it’s important to educate the right culture of consumption.
We also use online system analysis, and it is way less widespread today. We are focused on automating all the processes of engineering support for the building. For example, we have a system for booking workplaces and meeting rooms. This allows the infrastructure of the workplace to be switched on only when there is an active booking. This prevents unnecessary waste of electricity in such trivial situations as a laptop left plugged in or lights left on.
Or take our ventilation system: it has carbon dioxide sensors and operates according to CO2 capacity — that’s normal. But the ventilation systems are also evenly distributed throughout the building and only operate where people are present — that’s part of the online system analysis.
This approach applies to our entire infrastructure, including automatic light intensity control, curtain automation, window opening sensors that switch off-air conditioning, water leakage sensors and much more. All these initiatives align with our broader commitment to sustainability.
What are your plans for Beon active office? Are there any expansions or new projects on the horizon?
Our plans for Beon active office are focused on both local expansion and international growth. Having introduced the most technologically advanced office spaces to Cyprus, we are committed to advancing this innovation.
In Cyprus, we are preparing to build more active offices to meet the growing demand for modern workspace solutions. And we are excited to announce the upcoming opening of Beon active office in Belgrade, Serbia.
Additionally, we have ambitious projects underway, such as the development of a mixed-use complex, QUBE in the centre of Paphos. One of the buildings in this complex will be dedicated to office space, incorporating the same concept of active offices that we have pioneered.
We expect challenges, but we’re confident we can handle them with careful planning. Our dedication to innovation and dynamic workplaces stays strong.
