How an office move drives purchasing

Simplify your office move with these tips for transferring your phones, Internet service, alarms, and cubicles.

Moving your office is a complicated, expensive proposition. Intricate organizational challenges, disruptions to your everyday business, and the costs of movers and new real estate are enough to make many businesspeople shy away from any additional purchases – at least initially.

Once you get over the initial hurdles and budgeting, however, you may come to the same conclusions that many other businesses do: moving your office is a good opportunity to upgrade some of the most essential equipment and furniture in your office. As part of developing the Office Moving Zone, we looked at the common purchases of companies who are moving. Here’s a breakdown.

Phone systems
If you’re moving to accommodate an expanding work force, it may be time to consider upgrading your phone system. Or, If you’ve been putting off buying a phone system, an office move can be a good time to make the leap, since you can minimize disruption to your existing office by installing the new phone system at the new location before you move. If you do decide to overhaul your phone system, make sure you consider VoIP phone systems, as well.

Internet access
Often, a move will require you to change Internet providers. If you’re moving within the same city, you may be familiar with local ISPs. If you’d like more options, or you’re moving to a new part of the country, you might want to work with an Internet access broker. Brokers act as middlemen, consulting with several ISPs to find the best combination of price and services for you. It doesn’t cost you anything – whichever ISP you choose pays the broker a commission.

Security systems
Moving to a new location is a good opportunity to improve security for your business. A monitored alarm system will send a signal to a central monitoring station when it detects unauthorized entry. These monitoring centers provide continuous service – 24/7/365 – and will alert local police to dispatch authorities to the scene as necessary. Be sure to consult with your new property management company or landlord – some buildings may have alarm systems in place that will protect your premises.

Video surveillance is one of the best ways to improve security at your new office – and installing a system before you move can reduce disruption later. There are several components to any system, including cameras, lenses, monitors, recorders, housings, and cabling, so make sure the supplier you choose can help you with the entire system.

Systems furniture
Systems furniture – or office cubicles – offers you a way to divide your new office space into private work areas. Thanks to its flexibility and modularity, it can be a much cheaper way to provide your employees with appropriate workspaces versus hiring contractors to build permanent walls.

Before you start talking to cubicle suppliers, start with a floor plan of the space. Your new building management should provide you with scale drawings upon request. Next, consider your employees. Cubicles for a department of telemarketers are quite different from the right cubicles for a group of programmers. Know how many workstations you need and what types of activities they’ll be used for.

Get FREE quotes for cubicles from BuyerZone.com

Since 1992, millions of businesses have saved on purchases using BuyerZone's expert advice and Request-for-Quotes service.

Back to Top Email Printer Friendly View

RATE THIS ARTICLE
Rate it:

Not Yet Rated: