CleverDings Plain comparisons of household help apps

How small businesses find supplies after an office move

Steps for small business owners to find supplies after an office move, with an inventory checklist, tool options and common mistakes to avoid.

By CleverDings ยท

CleverDings is published by the makers of Benefit Buddy, Postal Buddy and Packing Buddy, which are compared here alongside other apps.

Start with an inventory of what the office needs, check what came along in the move, then order only the gaps. Packing Buddy can help find which box holds an item you need. [1]

OptionWhat it doesCost
Packing BuddyYou take photos of what goes into a box, AI lists the items and picks the room, and search finds which box holds an item. [1] [1]Free: 3 test boxes per device without an account; with a free account, 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. [1]
Office supply vendorNot published here; check what it stocks and how fast it delivers.Not published
Moving company's inventory serviceNot published here; ask what it records and who can view the records.Not published
Office manager's stock logNot published here; check whether it tracks supplies by location.Not published

What you need before you start

Before you look for supplies, know what the office needs and what already made the trip. Write a list of the supplies you use each day, such as paper, printer toner, label stock, cleaning products, cables and kitchen items.

Note which boxes or rooms the old supplies were packed in, if you kept records. Check the new office for storage space, shelves and any rules from the building manager about where supplies can be kept.

Have the move date, the new floor plan and your replacement budget written down in one place. A short inventory from the old site makes the search quicker and helps you avoid buying the same item twice.

Step by step

  1. Make an inventory of what is in the old office, room by room.
  2. Sort each item into keep, replace or discard.
  3. Check the new office for supplies that are already there and for storage space.
  4. Write a replacement list with the quantities needed for the first week.
  5. Decide whether to buy new stock or use what you already have.
  6. Compare prices and delivery dates from more than one source.
  7. Label each new storage spot so staff know where supplies belong.
  8. Track orders and delivery dates in one place.
  9. Review the list after the first month and adjust it for what you actually used.

Tools that can do it

Several kinds of help fit this job. Pick based on whether you need to find items that are already packed, buy new stock, or track what arrives.

Packing Buddy is made by the team that publishes this site. You take photos of what goes into a moving box, and AI lists the items and picks the room. [1] Each box gets a code like K-03, printed on its label. [1] You can search your boxes to find which box an item is in. [1] Labels print from a home printer on store-bought Avery 5163 or compatible sheets, or on plain paper you cut out and tape on. [1] Share links let a partner, friends or movers join by typing their name, with no account needed, and the movers link comes with your plan. [1] It runs on phones and in a web browser. [1] On a computer you can choose photos you already took, with nothing to install. [1]

The table lists other kinds of help. No details about them are published here, so check each one's list of supplies, delivery dates and who can see its records before you choose.

Common mistakes to avoid

Frequently asked questions

How do you find supplies after an office move?

Start by listing what the office needs, room by room, and noting what came with the move. Sort items into keep, replace or discard, then check the new office for supplies and storage space already in place. Order only the gaps, compare delivery dates, and label each storage spot so staff know where things go. Review the list after the first month to see what was really used.

Can Packing Buddy find which box holds an office supply?

Yes, you can search your boxes to find which box an item is in. [1] Each box gets a code like K-03, printed on its label. [1] Scanning a box's QR code with any phone camera opens that box in the browser, no app needed. [1] Labels print from a home printer on store-bought Avery 5163 or compatible sheets, or on plain paper you cut out and tape on. [1]

Is Packing Buddy free to use for an office move?

There is a free level. It allows 3 test boxes per device without an account, and with a free account, 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. [1] The paid plans are Plus at $12.99 a month or $59 a year for 100 boxes, and Pro at $19.99 a month or $99 a year, with unlimited boxes and Bluetooth printers. [1] If you cancel, your boxes stay, but you cannot add new ones. [1]

Can movers or a partner see the box list for an office move?

Share links let a partner, friends or movers join by typing their name, with no account needed, and the movers link comes with your plan. [1] Before sharing, decide who needs to see which rooms, so supplies are not sent to the wrong floor. Check each person's access before the day of the move, and confirm which list format the movers need.

Does Packing Buddy work on a computer as well as a phone for office supplies?

It runs on phones and in a web browser. [1] On a computer you can choose photos you already took, with nothing to install. [1] Bluetooth label printers work only in the phone app on Pro, not on the web. [1] You can print blank QR labels in advance and start a box later by scanning one. [1]

Free: 3 test boxes per device without an account; with a free account, 10 boxes, 25 AI reads and up to 4 photos a box. [1]

Try Packing Buddy

Sources

  1. Packing Buddy's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)

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