Relocating your business to a new location is an exciting time for everyone in the company, although it can be a stressful affair for the people organizing it. This huge undertaking is time-consuming, expensive and disruptive, but it is a necessary step forward to grow your firm. Of course, the expenses and time involved in the transfer are not the only things you need to be aware of.
With a systematic plan, you can ensure a smooth office move, so if you’re relocating soon, keep the following pointers in mind.
- Budget
Expenses can quickly pile up because of issues, oversights and delays which pop up suddenly. Most of the time, your project manager will be responsible for monitoring this budget, but some costs associated with installations and rewiring can easily be missed.
Make sure that you analyze all the costs of your office migration before you start. Large costs can be missed or misjudged, especially if you have no experience relocating. A professional consulting and vendor management firm can help you determine the overall cost of relocating all that office equipment and anticipate any extra fees that might arise.
- Office design and interior solutions
Your new work space may need a bit of retouching or a major overhaul, depending on its current state. Optimizing your office may also be of importance here, especially if your firm is migrating to a tight area or is expanding fast. Discuss this with your relocation provider, as their representative may have ideas or suggestions on how to make full use of your new space without breaking the bank.
- Computers, connections and data
There are several things to consider when transferring your IT resources, especially if there are many computers, servers, and telephones in use. You will need to audit the computers to know where in the network they are connected to, and then disconnect and reconnect as needed. Servers that store vital data must be carefully relocated, as the risks of damage or data loss are high. You should consider backing up your data in the cloud so you always have a copy that’s accessible via the internet.
- Internet and telephone access
To ensure your company remains competitive, your IT Support team should have VoIP telephony, email and other crucial systems operational at all times. If you plan to transfer your business to a new location, have your equipment audited in advance to help you evaluate your options.
- Business Continuity Planning
Be aware that your firm’s operations will be interrupted during the relocation process. Think about your workloads in the cloud like furniture for your house. You need to have them set up immediately. This is where a service provider that offers excellent consulting and vendor management firm can help because they can minimize the disruptions and get the office back on track as soon as possible.
- Electrical structure
A simple network makes for an easier move. To further streamline the relocation, make sure that your equipment has been inventoried, and that there is an outline of any extra hardware requirements you could have following the migration, such as the mounting equipment, UPS systems, server racks and network switches. Doing so ensures you have the setup you need to succeed once you get back to business.
- Old equipment
Moving your business is a great opportunity for getting rid of obsolete furniture and equipment, sorting out old files and decluttering those intertwined network cables and wires. You can donate some old equipment or resell the items you don’t need.
Office migrations can be stressful, but Complete Technology provides the resources and expertise to get your IT solutions running fast. If you need more information on what Complete Technology can do for your firm, get in touch with us today!