Moving your app development team into an office? Here are some things to consider

So, you think you are ready to move your development team into a shiny new office? That can only mean good news: either you are expanding or you have a well-thought-out plan for growth. But getting your developers out of the garage and into the high-rise is not an easy task. There are all sorts of things to consider before you can find a suitable home for your highly trained nerds. 

Here are four things you need to keep in mind when finding an office space for your app development team. 

How Secure Is Your Building?

It goes without saying that the content of your office is going to be very valuable indeed. Not only is your computer equipment going to be worth a small fortune, but the intellectual property of your developers is your gold dust. 

A good office should be equipped with a high-tech security system including ID entry, CCTV and motion sensors. Unless you feel particularly comfortable doing it yourself, you are going to need to hire a cybersecurity firm to look for any areas where your data security is exploitable. Having a secure approach to development is more important than ever, with cyber thieves becoming more and more advanced every year. 

Is Your Team Going to Be Happy?

This is by far the most important consideration you need to bear in mind. By and large, a happy team is a productive team, and you’ll get the most out of your developers if they feel comfortable in an environment. On the other hand, if you move your squad into a dingy grey box on the wrong side of the tracks, you’ll not be looking at a very productive group of people. 

How Are You Getting Your Utilities?

It is very important to figure out how much your new office is going to cost to run. How you get your water, electricity and gas can be the difference between running an efficient workplace and throwing money down the drain. You might have more choice than you think too.

Since the deregulation of water rates for businesses in 2017, office owners have been able to shop around for the best deal. In some areas this actually might mean worse service, and it means that water provision is far cheaper in centers of commerce.

Could You Just Avoid Moving Altogether? 

It is highly likely that your heart is already set on moving your development team into a new office. It is worth considering, however, whether you need to do it at all. The office is a space of production, but it may well be a bit of a dinosaur very soon indeed. Modern video conferencing tools and collaborative project management software means that developers are able to work comfortably and efficiently from home more than ever. The decision to move into an office might be the best one your company has ever made – but it might not make too much of a difference to your team.