Office relocation is a big decision to make as a business owner. Not only can it cause major disruption to business processes but it can also result in a loss of productivity which can ultimately hurt your company. Of course there are many ways to ensure your office relocation goes as smoothly and tactfully as possible to avoid such negative consequences, and we’ve listed them right here.
Plan, plan, plan
There can never be too much planning for a decision of this size. So start as early as possible. As a general rule of thumb, starting the process four to six months before you’re actually due to physically move location is a good timeframe to avoid major disruptions. This gives you more than enough time to ensure every last detail has been thought about.
It’s also important to inform your employees as early as possible. An office relocation can be a major disruption to their home and family life, so giving them as much warning as possible will make the process much easier for them and their family.
Hire your move management company early
Just like any business, move management providers get booked up fast. So look to book yours at least 3 months before to ensure you get the best deal. Leaving it too late to hire your move management provider will add unnecessary stress to an already stressful time.
You’ll also want to ensure your move management company are well-equipped for the job. This means not hiring the same company that helped you move your house. An office relocation takes a lot of work, a lot of equipment and a lot of manpower, so look for a provider with a warehouse to store all your items if needed, as well as one who can offer full project management services to ensure the process runs as smoothly as possible. Find out more about the services Consolidated offer here.
Don’t forget your IT equipment!
Probably the biggest inconvenience of an office relocation is the fact you’ll have to disconnect all your technological equipment. If the relocation of your IT equipment isn’t handled sensitively then there’s always the possibility that you could lose important data which can significantly interrupt your employee’s ability to work efficiently.
Your IT department will also need to be made fully aware of the new space they’ll be moving into, so they are aware of any technical upgrades that’ll need attention upon relocating. To make this part of your office relocation run as seamlessly as possible, have your IT team draft a plan for how they’re planning to transfer your technical equipment, including everything from computers to phones to internet plans.
Create a budget – and stick to it!
An office relocation is one of the easiest opportunities to blow your money. So carefully coming up with your budget to ensure everything that’s necessary is included is essential. In many failed company stories, relocating to an unnecessarily luxurious part of town is often remembered as the worst company decision made. So be stringent about your budget. Conduct a full inventory stock to understand what’s a necessity to include with the move and what would be nice-to-have but can be left for a future date.
Update your addresses
It’s better to start updating your business address sooner rather than later. Start ordering your new business cards, letterheads, return labels and anything else with your company address on early enough so that they are ready in time for your move. Putting in the work early will avoid disruption when you finally move into your new office.
If you’ve got an office relocation scheduled, get in contact with us to ensure you have an expert commercial move management team supporting you along the way. Otherwise, check out our previous blog for the upcoming office trends you can expect to see in 2020.
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