Anyone who has experienced moving house can attest to the fact that a relocation is very challenging to execute. Not only is there furniture and other valuables to account for, but also the welfare of occupants and pets needs to be taken into consideration. The area of destination is another factor to be addressed for without it, all your efforts will be for naught. Now, scale all this to about five times more labour and you will get the idea of how extra taxing warehouse relocations can be.
But don’t get me wrong, moving a warehouse, while it is no easy feat, is highly doable. It should not be made any harder than it already is so long as one has a solid removal plan in place and that each element is carried out with precision. If you are in the process of developing a removal strategy for your warehouse but do not know how or where to start, read on and find some of the things you must consider before the actual relocation.
Research
Warehouse removals require pre-planning work that may sometimes take months to do. As soon as the need to move has presented itself, the first thing that one should do is to research on the following:
- Documents to be processed prior the move such as permits, contracts, and receipts
- Viable options for relocation target, if none has been determined beforehand
- Reputable removal contractors that offer a full range of services – from pre-planning up to post relocation
Devise a communication plan
Your employees and third party consultants who are physically working in the warehouse to be relocated will need to know the details of the move so that they could act accordingly. Most important of all is for them to be made aware of the schedule of movements, the type of activities that will take place, safety precautions that they will need to take note of, and the duration of the move. It is also best for you to appoint an Employee Relations Officer that the team members can contact in case there are any other concerns that will arise before, during and after the move. This will definitely make a difference in ensuring that everyone will be able to contribute to the seamless transition and that no untoward incidents will take place.
Devise a business continuity plan
If you intend to continue on with your operations while the move is being done, a business continuity plan is a requirement. This will ensure that, though majority of the facilities may be out of commission, your human resource will still be able to carry on with their tasks without the slightest inconvenience. While achieving your business targets is of great significance, your workforce must be your paramount concern and that they will not be put in harms way at anytime during the relocation.
To learn more useful tips and recommendations on how to relocate your warehouse, contact the experts at ABR Relocations for advice.