It’s moving day! Relocating presents an opportunity for a fresh start. Here are the benefits an office relocation can have for your company.
If you’re currently deciding to embark on an office relocation, it’s highly likely that the majority of articles you read and advice you seek lays out how stressful the experience is, and how many pitfalls there are. However, moving your business is an exciting, progressive time; and we feel it should be treated in such a way!
Office relocations happen for a number of reasons, from company expansion to moving cities, and regardless of the reason, it’s often cause for celebration. From changing your office’s interior design to implementing innovative ways of working, office relocations can be the catalyst for giving your entire company a make-over, and not just an aesthetic one.
Getting outside help to assist you with the planning and moving itself is the easiest way to avoid the stresses and strains of relocating, leaving you to enjoy the journey and reap the benefits at the end.
Moving offices can kick-start a company into assessing the way it operates; it can motivate and encourage performance; alter the public, employee and customer perception of the business; and open up ways in which you can cut back on costs.
We’ll look at the benefits an office relocation will have for your company.
Planning for a move
The earlier you can start planning your office relocation, the better. By giving yourself plenty of time to either orchestrate the move yourself, or oversee an external company doing so, you won’t feel rushed into making decisions or acting hastily. If you decide to conduct the move yourself, ensure you know what you’re looking for, the budget you’re working under and the timeframe you need to abide by.
It’s usually easier to opt for external help: there are companies that specialize in office relocation, and will know how to go about finding your next property, transitioning the workforce, dealing with office interior design, and settling all the queries that are likely to come up.
To ensure you choose the right specialists, do your research! Find out what companies work with others in your industry or others of your size, and be sure to ask for testimonials or case studies. The more experienced a company is, the smoother your move will be.
Using an external company ensures that you are taken care of start to finish: the decisions will be yours, but the hard work getting there will be someone else’s responsibility.
Enhance your brand
Offices are a key tell-tale sign when it comes to a company: you can tell whether they’re young and quirky, or more traditional. Outsiders to your business will learn a lot about your brand from your offices; and moving gives you the chance to update your look along with your brand.
The style, tone and purpose of company branding often changes as a company develops, so once you move offices, you’ll have the ability to update your aesthetics in line with the message you want to portray about your company.
The building, the interior design, the location and the style you choose are major factors in creating your brand’s tone and portraying the right message. Office design and relocation companies will be able to offer some insightful ideas to help you attract the right audience.
Implementing innovative ways of working
New methodologies, such as lean working and swarm intelligence, may seem hard to implement in an old, stuck-in-the-mud office, but once you move, the possibilities multiply. If there are new theories and techniques you want to try, you’ll be able to action them before the interior design is set in stone.
Creating open working spaces, small acoustic rooms, hot-desking areas and employee lunch-areas will become easier: you’ll have a blank space to work with, and you’ll be able to put your own name and style on it.
Likewise, employees may expect a total refresh when they start working in a new building: it’s a great chance to start implementing new and innovative ways of working.
I’ve just finished an office relocation successfully, with a good project- and cut-over plan at hand, together with a good & knowledgeable technical team.
