Virtually every real estate agent on earth will say that the most important thing about real estate is\u00a0location. For businesses, this is especially true as your space not only affects your brand, but also attracts or repels prospective customers.<\/p>\n
But moving is costly, time-consuming and stressful \u2014 especially when it comes to technology. Planning an office move is key.<\/p>\n
Preparing for a move requires significant attention to detail, ensuring that all technical pieces work together seamlessly at the new location.<\/p>\n
Here are four tips for a more successful move in 2016.<\/p>\n
1. Start with a great plan.\u00a0<\/strong>Moving your office is a large undertaking, and having a plan will assist with developing a step-by-step checklist. If you work with an IT partner, engage that resource early on. Request input regarding the steps required to successfully transition all IT systems to the new location. As the move gets closer, continue reviewing and refining the checklist.<\/p>\n 2. Establish technical requirements for the new space.\u00a0<\/strong>Each office space has its own set of nuances. Visit the space with your team to understand connectivity requirements, such as cabling, speed and uptime. Also understand any additional technical requirements, such as unique power, cooling or other needs.<\/p>\n 3. Evaluate existing infrastructure and technical solution needs.\u00a0<\/strong>Moving is a great time to assess your technology needs. For example, does it make sense to migrate some services to the cloud, such as servers, phone systems or other functions? It\u2019s helpful to not only evaluate existing IT tech initiatives, but also look to the future. What are your anticipated needs in the next five years?<\/p>\n You may also want to examine business continuity planning. Could you implement new solutions during the move that would make your plan stronger?<\/p>\n 4. Create a strong moving day plan.\u00a0<\/strong>Even with the best planning, there may be challenges. But having a strong moving day plan will assist with quickly resolving those challenges with minimal impact and frustration. Add extra resources, and people, for moving day. Create a communication plan for employees, so they know their role and what to expect. And always build in adequate time to test the IT infrastructure at the new location before employees start work.<\/p>\n