You’ve been tasked to find out how much it’s going to cost to move your data center. After searching, downloading data center move white papers, and expanding your search to data center move checklists, you haven’t found a single “average cost to move a data center”. And if you received an answer from your search, would you trust it?
Isn’t your move unique enough to warrant careful consideration beyond frantic web searches?
It could cost your company quite a bit if your plan underestimates the costs and the time required to successfully relocate your data center. Let’s not forget that data center moves are bigger than transportation of equipment from the origin to the destination. Neglecting staff retention issues , for example, can doom an otherwise successful move.
Assumption Errors Cost Money
What do you suppose the cost of your assumption errors will be? The most common assumption error is assuming you know when your data center move cost model is complete. Even small assumption errors can be quite costly. Assuming, for example, that moving on a weekend is the least disruptive time to move will not only increase your costs dramatically but also interject unnecessary risk into your move. A number of misconceptions can lead to assumption errors and increased costs.
Budgeting for data center moves should be less about getting the number and more about getting the right process in place to move a data center successfully.
You need a process that documents all of your assumptions and also tracks those that change with time or events. A process that surfaces budget impacts early serves to ensure you’ll have the necessary fuel to complete the data center relocation journey. Some suggestions:
- Document your Move Narrative
- Identify your Assumptions
- Seek out an Assessment to identify the gaps in your analysis
Our data center move readiness assessment can identify the assumption errors that could be sabotaging your move plan. Give us a call to discuss your unique data center relocation challenges.
Corporate Relocations, Data Center Checklist, Data Center Relocation
You may be required by your organization’s purchasing policy to use a formal solicitation and selection process for your data center relocation. Good Data Center Relocation RFP’s are not easy to write and are even harder to evaluate. A data center move of even moderate complexity contains equipment from many vendors. A data center move of this type will require that many of those vendors move their equipment to preserve your warranties.
After the RFP, you’ll still end up needing to manage a multi-vendor move. Larger vendors will have their own relocation process that they follow to deliver their services. This process typically overpowers your staff who are unprepared and unfamiliar and often already exhausted from the RFP process itself.
Additionally, the RFP has likely used up valuable time and has increased the pressure on time-lines.
Pay attention to these items following an RFP:
- Staff Retention Issues - This time period often marks the beginning, not the end, of staff retention concerns.
- Vendor Scope Creep - Following a contract award, vendors often have the first opportunity to accurately determine the work scope. It should be no surprise that this discovery rarely matches the original bid.
- Multi-Vendor Coordination Issues - Every vendor will have their own timeline, but a data center move requires an orchestra-like cooperation. Larger vendors with their larger staffs equipped with their corporate methodology will overpower smaller vendors and your own staff.
Is it time for an intervention? A fresh and independent assessment of your data center relocation including multi-vendor management strategies, cost containment strategies, and a look forward to equally critical post-move issues can provide welcome relief from an exhausting RFP process.
Give us a call. We can give you new insight into your data center relocation project at a time when your staff is weary and exhuasted from the RFP. You’ll want an advocate who is independent from the self-interest that the equipment vendors have in your data center.
Corporate Relocations, Data Center Checklist, Data Center Relocation
Most Data Center moves begin with the C-Level suite typically with a seemingly simple question: “How much is it going to cost us to move our data center?”
In the scramble to answer that question, a less-than-scientific process begins that often jeopardizes most data center moves before they begin.
- Data Center Move Planning is more important than getting a quick cost estimate. Before you send your staff off to search the Internet for the elusive data center move project plan, step back and do some planning yourself.
- Keeping the move confidential preserves many options including the ability to assemble advance teams to check out data center locations without jeopardizing your negotiating leverage.
- Expecting your Information Technology (IT) staff to know how to move a Data Center properly is unrealistic as most have never completed the task. Get educated with our Data Center Move Guide available in the box to your left.
- Understand that your Data Center Relocation is unique and requires more than a generic data center move checklist you found on the web. Allow us to earn your business and make you the Superhero of your move.
- Be realistic about time-frames. Data Center Moves of size and complexity take 12 months or more to plan and execute properly. We can help you with a realistic time-line with the right services at the right time.
It costs nothing to call us at 1-877-485-1115 to discuss your unique move. We’re ready when you are.
Corporate Relocations, Data Center Checklist, Data Center Relocation, Data Center Site Selection
