Growth is an immensely important word for your business. Not only because you want to achieve more with your company, but also because you need expansion to stay ahead of your competitors. Even if you’re doing well now, stagnation could lead to long-term failure.
Expanding the business is an exciting time in your business operation, and there are various ways to achieve it. Perhaps the most obvious way, however, is to add a new premises. This could mean becoming a bigger operation, or adding additional processes to your venture. For example, retailers may open a manufacturing warehouse to start creating the products too.
Whatever the new premises will be used for, it’s important to consider a few crucial elements. Cover these bases, and you should be just fine.
Location
The ideal location for the new premises will depend largely on the purpose of the new building. Nevertheless, it’s imperative that you get this element right.
If it’s going to be a new store, for example, it’s vital that you find a location with regular foot traffic. A store may not need to sit on the high street, as visitors will be willing to drive a small distance to hardware shops and other specialist services. However, you don’t want to be too far away. Otherwise, customers will go elsewhere or buy online.
Likewise, office spaces will want to be in a thriving central business district. Not only will the address provide a professional presence. But it’ll also help with staff motivation. Your employees are only human, and the pride of working in a better location can actively encourage them to work harder. Even if it’s for their own career progression.
Ultimately, scouting for the ideal location is as crucial to the new part of your operation as it was with the first. Get it right, and you’ll have the perfect foundations to thrive.
Construction
Renting a new shop, warehouse, or office space is the most likely scenario. However, your expansion may include building a new site from scratch. Of course, this gives you far greater control on the possibilities. But it does come with a unique set of responsibilities.
Before rushing in, you need to know that the new build is legal and safe. Cochran Engineering has details on various aspects, from civil engineering matters to land surveying. Either way, it’s always better to take these precautions now rather than finding out that you’ve made an error the hard way.
Most importantly, you need to know that any architect is committed to satisfying your brief. After all, there’s no point in taking on the hassle if you aren’t going to receive the perfect results.
Time is money, however. Therefore, it’s important that you have a timescale on any project from the off. There is always the potential of delays and unforeseen issues surfacing. However, planning and organization are key elements for the business expansion. Maintaining control is a must.
Communication Links
Expanding the business can take many forms. If you’re adding a warehouse to supply a store or office, then you’ll desire proximity. Conversely, opening a new store may be your bid to reach new audiences. In this case, you’ll be targeting untested territories. In either scenario, though, communication between various locations needs to be strong.
Nowadays, you don’t necessarily need to travel to communicate as modern technology is at such a strong level. However, you should have spaces designated for interdepartmental links. A suitable conference room is essential for a modern company split over various buildings. It needs to be big enough for the whole team. A projector screen and suitable speakers should allow everyone to communicate in a more efficient manner.
Given that the whole foundation of a successful business is built upon solid communication. This element should be considered essential. Cloud computing and additional features can all help too, but video links should be your focus.
Apart from anything else, there are bound to be a few teething issues. With great communication to over areas, you should overcome them with ease.
Security
Protecting your business at all times should be top of every entrepreneur’s agenda. This is no more important than when you open an extension. If you do choose to ignore these features, you could be in an extremely vulnerable position.
Your business should already incorporate strong digital security. Whether it’s through outsourced IT solutions or your own IT team doesn’t matter. Migrating those data protection elements to the new environment is essential. Furthermore, you should complete the process immediately.
We do live in a digital world, but you cannot forget physical security either. Using staff cards is a great way to monitor the situation while also tracking employee activity. Meanwhile, modern CCTV systems can allow you to check things remotely. In fact, you can even use advanced facilities to have notifications sent to your phone in case of a problem.
Either way, your new business premises are potentially vulnerable. You cannot be too careful when it comes to security. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Safety
External threats aren’t the only issue to consider, though. Whether you’ve constructed a new build or moved into an existing one, it’s imperative that you take health and safety seriously. Of course, these situations are partly determined by the staff. But you should provide them with the right facilities, as well as the training.
Setting the right protocols from the outset is vital. The majority of issues are quite easily handled. From handling chemicals to using electrical wires in the office, you shouldn’t have too many problems. Once those systems are in place, you shouldn’t encounter too many issues. Just make sure that you take those extra precautions in the early stages.
Prevention is the best form of protection, but you should be prepared for bad situations. Basic facilities like fire extinguishers and escape routes need to be there on day one. Aside from being a legal issue, it could potentially save lives.
As long as your new premises are safe and encourage greater efficiency, it could be the key to taking your business to the next level. A brighter future awaits.
