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Moving an office could be a time-consuming and complicated task. With so many items, equipment, and furniture to relocate, the move can easily take days, causing unexpected downtime. With the right approach to the office move, you can get the job done in less than a day, thus maintaining regular productivity.
All you need to do is to make preparations, create a timeline, and choose the right moving company like https://www.cbdmovers.com.au/removals/removalists-brisbane to get the job done. No matter how small your office is, it’s imperative to start taking steps toward a smooth relocation as soon as you learn about the move. This way, you can get the majority of work done without interfering with your day-to-day activities.
Let’s take a closer look at what can be done to relocate without losing productivity.
1. Choose the Best Time
As soon as you know that relocation is on the horizon, you need to pick the date. Choosing the right date and time for your move can help you avoid downtime. To do that, you need to speak to your department leaders and figure out which days are the most suitable for the move.
Most likely, you’ll be able to find a day, which satisfies all parts of your office or at least choose the least busy day of the week or month. For example, accountants may not be able to handle a move at the beginning of the week while marketers are busy in the middle of the week.
E-commerce companies usually prefer moving overnight when their target audience is least likely to need their assistance.
2. Make a Plan
When several people are involved in a move, they need a strict plan to follow. Large offices require a schedule and a timeline. Otherwise, the move can turn into a stressful ordeal, which is likely to affect productivity in a negative manner.
According to professional movers, with the right planning, it’s often possible to complete a large office move in one afternoon. Meanwhile, small offices that don’t do extensive planning may need to move for several days.
Each person in the office must know where their responsibilities lie in regards to the move. For example, some people may be responsible to packing documents while others need to pack office supplies or kitchen accessories.
By starting to plan your move at least a month in advance, you can turn the moving day into a breeze.
3. Get IT Assistance
Moving an office doesn’t just involve dealing with furniture or documents. Moving computers and servers is an extremely important part of the process. If you don’t have an in-house IT department, you may want to enlist some outside help.
You’ll need to know how to unplug and pack all the machines to ensure their safety. You may also want to ask the moving company to pack the equipment for you. Once you arrive at the new destination, you want the computers to start functioning immediately. An IT expert can help you set up and connect all the necessary equipment properly.
To make sure you can start working right after the move, you need to arrange all communications in advance.
4. Get Moving Insurance
Respectable moving companies usually include basic moving insurance in the cost of the move. However, it may not be sufficient to cover all the equipment you are moving. Basic insurance usually covers a certain amount (about 60 cents) per pound.
Since the cost of computers, printers, servers, and similar items can be high, consider researching additional insurance options.
While your office move is likely to go smooth, accidents happen. You want to be fully prepared in order to avoid unexpected expenses.
5. Keep Everyone in the Loop
Downtime is often unavoidable during a move. To make sure you don’t lose productivity, make sure everyone knows about your plans. Besides employees at other branches, you should notify customers and suppliers.
If people who work with you know about your moving plans, they can prepare accordingly. This can minimize the loss of productivity while giving you an opportunity to move without excessive hurry.
When notifying your partners about the move, make sure to share your new contact details.
The Takeaway
While an office move can be complicated, it’s possible to minimize productivity loss. With the right planning, the actual moving time can be short, thus keeping your company working without downtime.
Also read: Do’s & Don’ts When Moving Relocating Your Business
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