For many businesses, relocation is an economic no-brainer. For example, high-energy prices or taxes in one state may be significantly lower in another making a big move a cost-effective venture in the long term. Another reason companies move is the need to attract a more diverse workforce, which could mean moving from the suburbs to a thriving downtown area. And with the ongoing pandemic, many businesses are consolidating their office space into one larger location.

But even if relocation is a no-brainer, once you’ve made the decision, relocation may seem stressful and overwhelming. However, with a little planning, forethought, and the right help, the process can be quick and seamless. To help, we’ve put together an IT relocation checklist that covers all the essentials. To set your business up for a successful move, check out these IT checklist relocation musts, so you can plan accordingly.

Tip 1: Select the Right Internet Service Provider 

If you ignore everything else on this IT checklist, make sure that when it comes to choosing an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for your new office location, you not only chose a provider that is reliable and cost-effective, you choose one that will be a partner – offering complimentary, IT support services, along with high-speed internet. After all, the internet is the lifeblood of your business. Your organization needs business internet connectivity that’s fast, reliable, and high-quality, at a cost you can afford.

Tip 2: Avoid Lost Productivity

Moving day is the cumulative effect of your moving process, not the beginning. Months are spent in meetings planning the move, designing the new space, making a list of equipment needs, and packing, not to mention unpacking, getting phone and data systems online, and getting back to business as usual. Not only will management be distracted with their relocation tasks, but the risk of disruption for staff is high. Make sure you are using cloud-based unified communications services, which enable your staff to use their smartphones and laptops for work anytime, anywhere.

Tip 3: Mitigate Company Downtime

In today’s 24/7 business environment, your business can’t afford to be unavailable during the moving process. Make sure your employees can keep working from the old office, a coffee shop, or their living room while the move takes place, eliminating the risk of downtime or worse, a customer unable to reach your staff. A managed backup will ensure that your data will be secure off-site before, during, and after the move. And if you need a little extra help, use a managed service provider that will be available 24/7 to ensure your system stays up and running.

Tip 4: Consider Upgrading IT Equipment

Remember your first apartment? You probably had an old couch, coffee table, or toaster that worked fine but wasn’t worth loading on the moving truck for your next place. In the corporate world, businesses often have the equivalent in phone systems, security, or servers that are fine to use at their old location, but not worth the cost or hassle to move and reinstall. If you’ve been using the same outdated technology for years, look into switching to a cloud-based communications platform prior to the move. This can help reduce IT costs and eliminate the headache of installing landlines and individual desk phones.

When moving, everyone knows it’s important to set up your business phone system and internet as soon as possible. Without access to company data and emails, it can be tricky to correspond with clients or work on certain projects. Don’t leave your relocation IT checklist to the last minute or you could face significant downtime, which can cost businesses thousands of dollars. And if you don’t have the time or staff, consider a managed services provider like TPx, which can help you navigate and mitigate the hidden risks and costs of relocation that can most impact your business.