Moving Office? Don't let IT become a disaster!
IT Relocation Tips for a successful Office Relocation
Picture the scene; your staff come into your new office space and find that their computers and phones aren't working. Let's agree that this is not a good place to be!
Can we also agree that it is an entirely reasonable expectation that a company's communications infrastructure (computers, servers, email, photocopiers, fax machines, phone systems etc) are fully functional on the first day in the new office.
So how come so many businesses get this criticial part of an office relocation so badly wrong?
Experience will always show that the success of an IT Relocation comes down to preparation and planning - as well as a willingness to call on the service of outside IT and Telecoms expertise to plug any skill gaps and knowledge.
If you start with the basic premise that the aim of an IT Relocation is to safely and securely migrate (and often upgrade) all IT Services and Communications Systems to the new office without unnecessary business disruption then you are off to the right start.
To help you with your office move planning we have outlined 3 red-flags that can adversely impact on an IT Relocation:
Failure to begin the IT Relocation process early enough
IT Relocations are complex and time consuming. The key is to get ahead of the curve and start the process as early as you can. As soon as you have made the decision to move office - then start planning for your IT Relocation. Doing so will help ensure that your business suffers minimal disruption before, during and after your office move. You should note the fact that the lead times for many parts of an IT Relocation (especially phone lines) are going to be far longer than you think (or are told!) - and your business simply can't afford to be left high-&-dry and without the connectivity that all businesses require to function.
Do not underestimate what is involved with an IT Relocation
If your phones aren't ringing and/or your computers aren't working on day one of your new office then your business is unable to operate (and if you can't function properly then you're going to be losing money). A simple rule of thumb is that your IT Relocation Checklist needs to cover for every eventuality and leave nothing to chance. It should then have contingency plans for each item. Forgive the pessimism but the belt-and-braces approach is to work on the assumption that if something can go wrong then it will - so you need to give yourself enough time to rectify any issues that arise.
Neglecting to call on the expert knowledge and skills of IT Relocation professionals
How often has your own IT department been involved in an office relocation? Probably not that often - which can leave you exposed from both a skill-set and experience perspective. Your business will, no doubt, be experts in your chosen field so remember that there are IT Relocation Companies who help organisations through an office relocation for a living. They are completely up-to-date with the latest methods of efficiently moving IT infrastructures and advising on more cost-effective solutions where appropriate. Their guidance and support will prove a valuable addition to your office move project team.
Download the free IT Relocation Checklist now to help ensure that your Communications and IT systems are properly migrated and that everything is tested and fully functional in your new office.
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