Sios Technology Conducts 'Survey on the Actual Outcomes and Challenges of Free Address Implementation 2026' Targeting 550 Executives and Senior Management

Sios Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Nobuo Kita; hereinafter "Sios Technology") has conducted the "Survey on the Actual Outcomes and Challenges of Free Address Implementation 2026" targeting 550 executives and senior management personnel from domestic companies.

As workstyles across society become increasingly diverse, more companies have recently adopted hybrid work models amid a return-to-office trend, leading to a higher rate of free address office adoption.

Sios Technology has previously conducted surveys such as the "Free Address Workplace Survey" (April 2022) and the "Workplace Survey on Hybrid Work and Free Address Implementation" (March 2025), aiming to clarify actual conditions and challenges from the perspective of frontline workers. This latest survey shifts focus to executives and senior management—the decision-makers behind policy implementation.

The purpose of this survey is to clarify the actual status regarding the objectives and outcomes of free address implementation, challenges arising before and after implementation along with efforts to resolve them, and the adoption status of seat management systems.

【Survey Summary】

The survey revealed that approximately half of the companies have implemented free address offices. However, it also highlighted a gap between initial expectations and post-implementation experiences—for example, many companies lack proper means to measure seat utilization rates, and desired outcomes such as improved communication have not fully materialized. In contrast, companies that introduced seat management systems alongside free address setups reported benefits such as improved operational efficiency through visibility into employee presence and seat utilization, as well as enhanced collaboration, indicating that data-driven operations contribute to resolving these challenges.

【Survey Results (Selected Highlights)】

1. About half of companies have implemented free address

When asked about free address implementation status, responses showed that 20.2% have implemented it company-wide and 29.1% have implemented it in certain departments, indicating that nearly half of the companies have adopted free address.

2. Seat utilization rate measurement remains underdeveloped despite perceived importance

Regarding metrics collected or measured after free address implementation, about 40% of companies reported tracking "on-site attendance rate." In contrast, only 22.5% reported measuring "seat utilization rate," while 30.3% acknowledged its importance but admitted they are not currently measuring it.

These results indicate that priority and infrastructure for measuring seat utilization rates have yet to be adequately established.

3. Gap between initial goals and post-implementation reality; communication enhancement remains a challenge

When asked about problems or challenges after free address implementation, the top response was "some departments or job types are unsuitable for free address due to job characteristics" (26.9%), followed by "insufficient activation of intra- and inter-departmental communication" (24.7%).

While enhancing communication was a top objective at the time of implementation, it also ranked highly among post-implementation challenges, revealing a clear gap between expectations and actual outcomes.

4. Seat management system adoption contributes to collaboration and operation improvements through visibility

When asked about the benefits of using and operating a seat management system, the most common response was "easier to secure meeting rooms and nearby team members, enhancing collaboration" (41.4%). This was followed by "faster communication and call-outs due to visibility of attendance and location" (39.7%) and "easier decision-making for improvements based on data such as attendance and seat utilization rates" (39.7%).

These results suggest that companies using such systems perceive benefits not only in facilitating daily communication but also in driving data-based operational improvements.

【Conclusion】

This survey revealed a gap between the initial objectives of free address implementation and the actual post-implementation experience. Many companies recognize the importance of tracking seat utilization rates but lack the means to measure them, creating barriers to operational improvement. Nevertheless, about 70% of companies that have implemented free address company-wide intend to continue with the current setup, while among partially implementing companies, 30.0% plan to expand to more departments and 6.9% to the entire company—indicating widespread recognition of free address benefits. These findings suggest that successful free address implementation is not a one-time event, but requires ongoing efforts such as visualizing data on seat usage and employee presence, and using that data to improve operations and promote collaboration to maximize effectiveness. Going forward, such initiatives will play a crucial role not only in continuously evaluating implementation outcomes but also in enhancing the accuracy of management decisions.

【Survey Overview】

Survey Name: Survey on the Actual Outcomes and Challenges of Free Address Implementation 2026

Survey Period: April 7, 2026 – April 9, 2026

Survey Method: Online research (Survey cooperation: B2B Marketing Co., Ltd.)

Target: Executives and senior management from domestic companies (Note: Approximately 60% from companies with 100 or more employees)

Number of Respondents: 550

* Percentages in charts in this report are rounded to one decimal place after rounding the second decimal place, so totals may not sum to exactly 100%.

Survey Report

URL: https://mk.sios.jp/freeaddress_research_2026

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About Sios Technology

Since its establishment in 1997, the Sios Group has been a pioneer in implementing open-source software in society.

Sios Technology, a core business company within the Sios Group with Sios Corporation (TSE Standard: 3744) as its holding company, supports corporate digital transformation through the development and sales of software products leveraging advanced technologies such as cloud and AI, as well as through high-level system integration services.

With the mission statement "Making the impossible possible for people around the world," the group will unite its strengths to lead the creation of new value in the AI era.

For more information, visit https://sios.jp/

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