Complexity arrives quietly
Most multi-location businesses never planned their setup. Each site was added when it was needed, with whatever was available. A few years later, nobody can say what is running where.
Build one source of truth
Create a single record for every location. It does not need to be fancy, but it should be the place everyone checks.
Address and local contact
Services in place and who provides them
Account numbers and renewal dates
Equipment on site
Who to call when something goes wrong
Standardize where you can
Use the same naming, the same equipment, and the same process at each site wherever possible. When every location is set up similarly, problems are easier to diagnose and new sites are faster to open.
Allow for real differences
A warehouse and a storefront have different needs, and the same service may not be available at every address. Aim for a consistent approach, not identical service.
Know your renewal dates
Contracts that renew on different dates are easy to miss. Put them on one calendar and review them well ahead of time, so you are making a decision and not simply rolling over.
Before You Sign: Questions for Any Business Internet or Phone Contract
What to check in a service contract before you commit, so there are fewer surprises later.
Internet for Things: What It Means for Your Business
A plain-language look at connecting the devices your business depends on, and what to think through before you do.
Keeping Connected Devices Online: A Planning Checklist
A checklist for the sensors, terminals, cameras, and equipment that need to stay connected, even when nobody is watching them.