How to Pack IT Equipment for Overseas Shipping

The time has come for you to relocate your business overseas. Or, the time has come for you to move overseas and take all your IT equipment with you. Either way, congratulations! We know that that was not an easy decision to make, but hey, you did it. And, what you need to do next is figure out how to pack IT equipment for overseas shipping, right? Well, right – that is why you are here after all.

Don’t you worry, shipping your IT equipment is not as hard as it seems. You just have to follow our tips and tricks and all your computers, servers, printers, gadgets, and even office supplies will arrive at your new address in one piece. Thus, without further ado, here is what you need to know about packing IT equipment. 

Prepare Your IT Equipment First 

Okay, first things first, before you pack your IT equipment for overseas shipping, prepare it. This means two things – decide what you are going to ship and check if everything is working correctly. 

Whether you are an IT company owner or just an IT specialist, you probably have a lot of IT equipment and a sort of different gadgets. So, the question is – do you need all of them? Probably not, right? We know, and you know, that we are right! Thus, declutter before you start packing. Ditch that old server you haven’t been using in years, donate that old laptop to somebody who needs it, etc. If you pack everything you own, that will only result in it wasting too much of your time, energy, and money.

Moreover, before you start packing the ‘decluttered’ IT equipment, check whether everything is functioning properly. If something is not, it will be much easier to fix it here than to look for a repair technician in a foreign country. 

Hire Moving and Shipping Agencies 

Next, you will need to hire help. If you didn’t hire a shipping company already, what are you waiting for? This is a process that requires some time, so start as soon as possible. Of course, decide which type of shipping you will go for (the one by air or sea) first and then look for companies that offer the service you need. And, when selecting a company, don’t focus on affordability only. Instead, keep your eye on reliability, reputation, level of service, etc. 

Some shipping companies will offer you some packing advice. But, others will want nothing to do with your packing. If you end up with the latter, seek advice from international moving companies such as Transparent International. Or, ask them to pack you your IT equipment if you don’t have the time to do it yourself. 

Gather Packing Supplies 

If you do decide to pack IT equipment for overseas shipping all by yourself, you will have to go shopping. Or, if you are using personal virtual assistant services, you can ask that assistant to order you the following packing supplies: 

• Cardboard boxes
• Plastic bins 
• Packing paper 
• Plastic wrap 
• Packing peanuts  
• Duct tape, scissors, and a permanent marker.

Since you will be packing IT equipment, which is extremely expensive and fragile, we suggest buying the best packing materials you can find. Yes, your boxes will be inside those big shipping containers but they too can be subject to tumbling and leaking. Ask your shipping company to recommend you a place to buy all these or simply visit your local moving company and buy everything from them. 

Learn How to Pack 

To pack IT equipment for overseas shipping is not something you can do easily and quickly. Well, it can be if you just throw everything inside a couple of boxes and decide to be done with it. But, you are not going to do that because you know how valuable that equipment is. 

Thus, to do everything properly, first, you need to disassemble everything you can. Try to remember how everything looked when you first bought it – that is how it should look now as well. Then, wrap each piece in packing paper and plastic wrap. Finally, put everything in a suitable box or bin and fill the extra space with packing peanuts to minimize movements. And, if you can, try to put all the parts of one equipment piece together, that way, assembling, later on, will be much easier and faster. 

Again, if doing all of this seems too overwhelming and time-consuming, consider hiring some professional movers. Some of them even offer door-to-door delivery no matter where in the world you and your IT equipment are moving. This is the most convenient option if you need to pack It equipment for overseas shipping easily and quickly! 

Label Everything 

We know that you are probably in rush to move overseas because you want to multiply your income in 2023. But, don’t forget to label everything! That can be a nuisance, especially if you have to label each and every part you disassembled. However, just like previously mentioned – think how difficult it would be to assemble everything once everything arrives. And, not only that, if you don’t label your boxes and if you don’t mark them as fragile, people working in moving and shipping may not handle them with care. Thus, label everything! Label each part, each piece of equipment, and each box and the bin you ship. You will thank us later. 

To pack IT equipment for overseas shipping is not an easy task, as you have seen. But, it is something that must be done when you or your company are moving. Thus, don’t postpone this task – the sooner you start packing, the sooner you will ship everything. And, let us mention the most important thing once again – if you don’t have the time to do everything properly or if think that you are lacking some packing skills, don’t hesitate to ask for help.