There’s no doubt about it: technology has provided us with some pretty useful things in recent years. Those of you old enough to remember an age before smartphones probably recall what it was like to hear a song on the radio and not be able to find out who it was performed by at the touch of a button. Today, there’s Shazam. Not all of the advantages technology offers are mere creature comforts, either. Online banking via smartphone has become increasingly popular over the last decade, while pocket email and video conferencing have allowed companies to remain connected in ways previously thought impossible. Let’s look at one task that isn’t often associated with new technology, though: moving the contents of your office.
Ask most people how much they think moving has changed over the last few decades, and they’ll probably say something like, “not much.” To be fair, this is a pretty safe assumption. After all, most people tend to think of moving as a fairly straightforward process—one requiring little more than a truck, some boxes, and a few able bodies. However, it’s worth noting that moving is also seen as one of the most stressful events in a person’s life, according to Express. It’s also worth noting that there are even more factors to consider when you’re talking about moving the contents of an office instead of a home.
Business relocation has become more and more common lately, with trends like moving your business to the UK dominating many conversations on the subject. Wherever you plan on moving your operation, though, you want to make sure it’s done correctly. Any mistakes, and you could be looking at a real headache.
That being said, some companies have developed new technologies aimed at making office relocation easier and less stressful. In fact, highly regarded office relocation company Precision Office Furniture Installation recently published a list of apps that can help you with your business move. Even a list of popular moving apps won’t make your move happen for you, though. In the following paragraphs, we’ll take a look at some of these applications, and examine their uses in detail. Then we’ll try to figure out whether they can replace traditional moving techniques, or whether the old ways are still the best.
General efficiency apps
We’ll start by looking at the apps that don’t pertain specifically to moving an office. These are more about general organization than they are about moving the contents of an office, but many people find them valuable nonetheless.
Evernote is a popular app used by project managers and detail oriented planners the world over. Essentially a pumped up version of the Notes application included with all iPhones, Evernote allows users to create to-do lists and write down reminders, just like its stripped down cousin. It has a lot more to offer than that, though. Evernote also gives you access to powerful features such as the ability to assign activities to different members of a team and analyze task dependencies. This makes it ideal for coordinating something like an office move, where you’ll be working side by side with your employees to keep things running smoothly.
Then there are apps such as Sortly, which lets you create an inventory easily using visual aids and QR codes. If you’re trying to make a comprehensive list of all your items so they don’t get lost in the move, Sortly is an excellent way to accomplish this just by clicking a few buttons.
Apps specifically for moving
Here’s where the real star power is. If you’re looking for ways that technology can help with your office move, some of these apps are going to be your best friends.
Take Move Planner, for instance. Currently available only for iOS, this app is full of helpful tools for planning a relocation—including the ability to track boxes of various sizes. The Android equivalent (Moving Planner) is only slightly less powerful and still packs a major organizational punch.
Then there’s MagicPlan, which is ideal once you’ve made it to your new space. This iOS app allows you to create your own work estimates and floor plans, which can streamline the renovation process. A new version was recently released too, which allows you to create the floor plans even more easily using the camera on your device.
The one important thing to remember is that even a list of moving apps won’t actually move the boxes for you. You’d still be smart to find an experienced company for your office relocation. These tools are more in the vein of supplements than replacements for a good removalist, so make sure you have a company who can handle the work in mind before you spend all your time at the App Store.