The massive changes in the job market and how companies conduct business emphasized the importance of IT relocation. The increasing pace of globalization boosts the relocation market. The evidence shows the market size for employee relocation management services has reached $15.6 billion in the United States alone. Simply put, IT relocation outsourcing offers more robust solutions along with greater geographic outreach. Yet, there are particular challenges to consider. Let’s explore core IT relocation obstacles and ways of their most effective resolution.
What is IT Relocation?
In a nutshell, IT relocation is a way of expanding to new markets by means of relocating all the staff and an office with its IT system to another place. There are several ways to approach the phenomenon, from doing it from scratch to hiring relocation experts from abroad. A proper approach toward IT relocation services grants massive benefits, helping your business gain traction in new territories and access new customer pools. However, there are always hiccups when IT relocation is done for the first time. To ensure the process is seamless and cost-effective, you must consider three fundamental challenges: logistics, budget, and downtime.
Challenge 1: Logistic
When it comes to IT relocation, there is always a myriad of moving parts in action. In such a context, logistics ensure all the elements are completed smoothly, which means at the right time and in a correct combination. Keeping that in mind, logistics always poses a major challenge during IT relocation. For instance, the success of your company needs to make certain that the new location suits your IT needs well. There are numerous cases when companies engaged in IT relocation and soon found out that recent locations do not meet the requirements for relocating their servers or phone lines. All these factors put together can make IT relocation a nightmare. Luckily, there is a remedy for the logistics puzzle.
Understand Needs
Make certain that you understand the needs of your IT systems. Moreover, check on how fast such needs can be met after the relocation process is complete. Keep in mind that meeting such needs is a complex task that requires careful planning and execution. It is a day-to-day process that brings long-term benefits. In addition, document the process of meeting needs with an IT plan. It will be a blueprint for the entire logistics involved.
Third-Party Input
As you might have noticed, logistics during IT relocation can be overwhelming. If you do not have enough knowledge or understanding of the process, don’t be shy to ask for help. Bring an IT consultant on board before the relocation procedures start. The professional can inspect news spaces and determine whether it meets the needs of your IT systems.
Challenge 2: Budget
As usual, any relocation process requires financial resources. Whether handling relocation on your own or hiring an IT relocation outsourcing provider, you need a budget. It is always hard to estimate the money required to complete IT relocation. Besides, there are no hundred percent remedies against unexpected variables that can plunge your budgeting into chaos. Yet, there are some things you can do to deal with the budget conundrum.
Investigation
Many things can be fixed through research and planning. Do a thorough investigation of a new location or hire a professional to do the job. Besides, investigate the new lease and try to account for all the moving parts within the logistics spectrum. It allows for making budgeting more accurate. Besides, there are always ways to make the process more agile.
It Is All about Quotes
If you are not getting a sufficient number of quotes, there is a high chance your budget will spiral out of control real fast. Simply put, it means you will have more expenses on your hands than the initial budgeting planning anticipated. To get enough quotes, double-check some secondary elements within the IT costs. For example, hidden lease clauses or contractors have a history of overcharging for relocation procedures. IT relocation should be cautiously approached; even the smallest detail affects budgeting accuracy.
Challenge 3: Downtime
Downtime in business operations can be regarded as a challenge most often overlooked in IT relocation services. Simply put, when you have all your IT systems and staff relocated, it takes time when the operations are thwarted. If there are some unexpected hiccups involved, the downtime can be significant. In such a case, you can lose profits, competitive advantage, and customer loyalty. Notably, the key objective of IT relocation is to drive the amount of downtime to the minimum.
Plan Ahead
While it may sound obvious, you need to plan to deal with the downtime. Have alternative lines of communication up and running to make certain the business operations are executed while the IT relocation process is ongoing. In addition, you can engage in relocation step-by-step. First, you move the most significant IT systems, and later you carry all that is left. It will help compensate for the downtime and ensure your clients will be taken care of during the relocation.
Weekends
Another solution to the downtime challenge stems from the power of weekends. Try to arrange IT relocation as it would occur at the weekend. It will help you get your new location as close to operational as possible and run at the beginning of the work week. In such a case, timing is everything. Moving the major part of the IT system on Saturday and Sunday will reduce the downtime drastically.
Wrapping up
IT relocation is a complicated process with different moving parts. If you have decided to endure it on your own, you will meet logistics, budgeting, and downtime challenges. Luckily, there are remedies to these issues. Always understand your needs clearly, and don’t be shy to ask for third-party help. Investigate the smallest details that can affect budgeting and get enough quotes. Finally, plan for the downtime and complete relocation on weekends. These steps ensure IT relocation is painless and seamless.
