This past year, many businesses have faced unprecedented challenges that drove them to move out of town or out of state to survive.
Relocating is difficult for any type of business, but the complicated systems of wires and cables required for today’s modern office require skill and care to preserve the integrity of the data and equipment.
Years ago, I helped my father move his business from one office to another several time. Everything was loaded into the car and we made several trips back and forth between locations until everything was done. It was not difficult moving your average small office. The biggest challenge was the weight of the paper files that have now been replaced by computers and, in many cases, data can be stored in the cloud and spared the ordeal of an arduous move. Moving a copy machine was never fun, but that challenge had more to do with weight and size.
Today, the most valuable asset most companies have is their information stored on computers and servers. When you move, you have to worry about:
- Not damaging equipment
- Not losing data
- Not losing equipment or equipment components
- Financial implications of losing information
- Whether the equipment will be suitable for the new location
- Installation at the new location
- Everything working properly once moved
Moving computers, servers, and all the complicated wires that tie them together is a huge risk when your business relies on them to operate. If your staff is growing or you plan on growing in the near future, you need to take that into consideration before decommissioning old equipment that may need to be replaced.
When handling decommissioning, liquidation, and installation, in almost all cases you should turn to a professional to protect the integrity of your assets.
Certainly, there are other challenges specific to certain industries that most offices do not present such as factories with heavy equipment and complicated setups, schools, laboratories, trading floors, grocery stores, warehouses, etc. Not only do they have the equipment to move; many carry inventory that must be organized and if there are perishable or volatile ingredients, they must be properly handled.
Commercial moves often entail much more than moving furniture and that’s why the process begins with an assessment of the property that must be moved and a plan within your budget.
Moving out of state presents challenges not experienced when moving locally such as adapting to requirements by local laws and regulations. Everything must be planned in stages. You don’t want to say “oops” I forgot to install a cable in this area when the equipment has already been delivered. Planning breaks down into these stages:
- Take inventory of your assets – all furniture, equipment, etc.
- Backing up all data.
- Make a decision to move or upgrade existing equipment
- Decommissioning computers, servers, networks at the old location
- Planning installation at the new location
- Creating a schedule for different stages of the move
- Properly labeling and categorizing everything
- Packing and boxing
- Storing off-site if necessary
- Installation of wires and cables at the new location
- Delivery and installation of equipment and other assets
- Testing of equipment
Naturally, these stages will vary depending on your industry, what your assets are and what the needs of your businesses are at the moment or will be in the future.
A consultation is usually free and the best way to get an idea of the tasks you and your staff need to do to prepare to minimize downtime.
