Who’s Up Next? Sequencing the Batting Order for Your Data Center Move

In our last few posts, we’ve covered key steps in Pre-Move Planning for a data center relocation. Today, we turn to one of the most important elements: building the Batting Order—the sequence of activities that take your systems from shutdown through teardown, reassembly, startup, and testing.

Why Start with the Hardest Tasks?

It may feel counterintuitive, but when drafting your sequence, it’s often best to focus first on the most complex, dependent applications. Why? Because these critical systems touch many others. By tackling them early in your planning, you’ll quickly uncover the scope of work remaining and spot dependencies that could otherwise cause issues down the line.

A Simple Template for Your Batting Order

When creating your move sequence, keep things clear and consistent. A basic template should include:

1. ID – A sequential number for each task. This keeps communication precise during the teardown.
2. Time – The expected time the task will be executed.
3. Activity – The specific work required. Often this will include detailed technical steps.
4. Owner – The person or resource responsible for the task.
5. Comments – Notes about unusual requirements, risks, or considerations.

Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse Your Move

No professional team takes the field without practice, and your data center move is no different. Rehearsing your Batting Order gives you the chance to refine activities, discover gaps, and reduce risks before the big day.

When you rehearse, apply these strategies:

• Categorize – Identify which systems are complex versus straightforward. Tackle easier items early in the shutdown phase to reduce pressure.
• Consider – Reevaluate your sequence as new information emerges. Always solve for risk.
• Copy – Leverage similarities between systems to save time, but watch for unique differences that need extra diligence.
• Curate – Gather and align important dates from documents, meetings, and conversations to keep your plan accurate and up to date.

Final Thoughts

Sequencing your Batting Order is not just about logistics—it’s about risk management. The better you plan and rehearse, the smoother your transition will be.

At Electronic Transport Corp., we’ve spent more than 20 years helping organizations build effective data center move strategies. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation and let’s make sure your Batting Order sets you up for success.