Optimizing Your Big Move   

It's time, you've either outgrown your office space, the office needs a style update, or your successful business is ready to expand. You've found your new space and are ready to start a new chapter, problem is, where do you start?Packing and moving your equipment, furniture and various office supplies is only part of the process. Planning, organizing and testing will more than likely be what takes up most of your time.

Relocating can be a handful, often revealing unforeseen complexities and issues once the need arises. For businesses, successfully navigating a seamless transition between location can influence the business's effectiveness. If you're new to the moving game, or your last move didn't go quite as smoothly as you would've liked, the checklist below can help for a smoother process.

Planning, Planning, and More Planning
Know what needs to be moved and what necessary cabling points are needed for your equipment. Contact your vendors and providers to make them aware of the upcoming change and determine what will need to be done with them in order to have all necessary

Evaluate Your Equipment
It seems redundant to move over equipment that may need to be repaired or replaced. Save yourself the time and hassle and test all equipment you are planning to transfer over beforehand.

Analyze Your New SpaceTake in your new surroundings and begin imagining what you would like the finished product to look like. Find where all outlets, phone lines, or any other built in cabling points are located and plan the various locations for your equipment accordingly.

Communication Options
Ensure your phone and network providers are aware of all changes to account for phone number changes, call forwarding, or, in some cases, if you will need to find a new provider for your location.

Protect Your Data
Backups should be performed regularly, but before moving, ensure all data and information is backed up to a secure location that won't be affected by the move. For added security, it is recommended to make multiple backups just in case.

It's Moving Day!
Be sure all equipment and any other materials are prepped and ready to be moved, ensure all needed personnel is prepped and ready, and confirm with all vendors and providers that everything is on track.

Test It Out
You're almost there! Everything is set up, looking great, and ready to go. All that's left is a test run to work out any bumps that may occur.

Now, you may be thinking, "That seems easy enough, only 7 steps", and while this checklist is an excellent tool to help keep you organized and on track, it is only meant as a tool. Without the right team, some tasks can become more complicated than originally thought, particularly when it comes to setting up the equipment, workstations and ensuring everything is talking to one another. Without an in-house IT department, hiring a business that provides such services, such as Advantech, can take these concerns off your hands.