In the Post-pandemic and Internet 4.0 era, Cafes’ New Operation Mode of Compound Space

Abstract

With the isolation policies of the epidemic and the development of the Internet, remote working / online working is becoming more and more popular among young people. Many freelancers, such as independent designers and writers, do not need to work in offices. Nowadays, the distance between people on the Internet is closer, but there is less communication in the real world. Under the rapid development of smart life and digital transformation, making technology serve the people, and strengthening people's connection in the real world, has become an important topic. The purpose of this dissertation is to reshape and expand the historical cafes’ function as third space under the trend of digital transformation of the catering industry and improve the offline experience of consumers and enhance the competitiveness of cafes through the development of the new operation mode of compound spaces. This research analyzed the impact on the cafe market in the post-pandemic era and takes Starbucks as an example to explore the reasons for the depression of the coffee market. Through literature review and field research, this study verified that coffee shops, as a social place for work and study with a long history, were loved by many people. Compared with the library and home, freelancers and students preferred to work and study in a comfortable coffee shop. However, with the home isolation policies of the Covid-19 pandemic and the growing maturity of the shared offices in recent years, the business of both chain coffee shops, and local cafes had been affected.