Preparing for an office move can be a daunting task. Moves often require considerations that most people are not aware of — and that can be a big pain point for small to medium-sized businesses. 

Technology is a key consideration in any office move. Therefore, plans should be in place well in advance of the move to ensure the move is completed seamlessly. Having to make changes after the move is complete can result in downtime, additional costs, and business disruptions for staff.

 

 

1. The Move Timeline

Knowing the timeline for your cutover is essential to ensuring that business can continue as usual before, during, and following the move. Accordingly, it is important to plan at least 6 months in advance.

Poor planning can lead to the disruption of day-to-day operations, which can result in loss of valuable time and additional costs.

 

2. Managing IT Related Vendors

A big part of planning an office move is project managing IT related vendors. The list often includes but not limited to wiring, internet, phone, and copier vendors. 

It is important to: 

1. 1. Have the wiring complete while the walls are open. Wiring becomes much more difficult and expensive after everyone is moved into the new office. 
   2. Wifi and the internet should be put in place and tested in advance of move-in. This ensures everyone can work in the new office and avoid prolonged downtime.
   3. Phone system is another important thing to properly transition to avoid any disruption.
   4. Copier needs to connect to be properly moved to avoid damage. After the move is complete, it needs to connect to the new Wifi, which is dependent on having the internet connection in place.

Office moves include many moving pieces that are often interdependent. As such, having the right project management oversight in place can help ensure a smooth transition.

Ferrara IT has a number of trusted partners– whom we’ve worked with extensively over the years– ready to work hand-in-hand with us to ensure your office move is a success.

 

3. IT Equipment Selection and Installation

Moving offices is a great time to do a network upgrade. The labor cost is often the same to move the old equipment as it is to install new ones. During an office move, it is a great time to evaluate whether a network upgrade makes sense. Selecting the right IT equipment is not only important to the day-to-day operations, but also directly impacts an organization’s bottom line. 

Offices have a myriad of IT equipment to select from when they begin a move. Click the link to learn more about network equipment you will likely need to build out your office:

• • Modems
  • Routers
  • Firewalls
  • Controllers
  • Wireless Access Points
  • Switches

In addition to having the right equipment, it is important to select a reputable IT firm to install the equipment. If not done properly, it may take more time to diagnose and fix the issue than installing it right the first time.

If you are planning an office build out or move, give us a call for a free consultation to ensure you have the right plan in place. Whether you’re planning to move next week or in a year, drop us a line. We can help manage every aspect of your move– from vendor and project management to server room planning, our team has your back!

Ferrara IT has helped countless businesses move offices successfully. Our staff has the experience necessary to develop thorough, complex plans of actions that result in seamless moves.