A relocation is a big project, moving your company from one office or premises to another. There’s a lot of work needed to make it successful and there are some key areas where things can go wrong in a major way. By focusing on these areas and making sure you have a firm solution, you can ensure your relocation goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Management and planning
Top of the list of risk areas is management and planning – or a lack of it. If you don’t have the right planning in place well ahead of when the move happens, you are doomed to fail. Or at least to make it far harder and more disruptive than it needs to be. It will also mean the business could be off-line or unable to work with customers for longer, damaging profits and reputation.
Solution – make someone accountable
It is key to have someone who is in charge of overseeing the process. This might be a manager within the business or even someone beneath them who has an aptitude for organisation and planning. You might even need to bring in an outside specialist who handles the whole thing.
2. Security
During relocation, your business is at its most vulnerable. Equipment is out of place; different people are around and there are lots of potential weak spots that someone could exploit if they were aware of the project. Physical and digital security is a huge weak spot during a move and a long-term business risk.
Solution – make security a priority
Whether it is the overall manager of the move or someone specifically tasked with the role, have someone who is accountable for all security issues. This can include badges and IDs for anyone in the building through to special log-in systems for the days of the move to ensure no unauthorised persons can easily access the system.
3. Technology
Moves are where technology can be damaged or older equipment simply stops working. No-one has the instruction book or can even remember how to make it do something. These are known as legacy equipment and a relocation might be a time to consider replacing them. But the move is also the time when IT problems are bound to surface.
Solution – work with an expert
Unless you have an in-house IT expert to handle it, you will likely want to work with a company that specialises in Secure IT Moves. They will have processes to ensure that all equipment is safely and securely transferred between locations and also that legacy equipment is handled in a way that keeps it functioning. Should replacements be needed, they will also be able to assist with this.
4. Communication in and out of the business
Communication or miscommunication is a big risk during a move. You forget to tell that segment of your customer list you are moving, and they are a bit put-out when you suddenly aren’t where you were before. Or partners arrive at the old office to deliver supplies which then costs more to have brought to the new one.
Solution – handle communications early
Have a clear communication plan and calendar that lists all of the people who need to know and lays out when they should be told about the move. It can also pay to schedule reminders because we all forget stuff. Also, make sure communication equipment such as phone lines switch over as quickly as possible, so you can field calls and communications for customers and partners even if it just to let them know everything is okay and remind them about the move.
Find out more about our relocation services and contact us today to discuss your IT relocation services needs.