Trends Reshaping Global Mobility: Points You Need to Consider

SIRVA
Relocation Services
Global Services
Trends Reshaping Global Mobility: Points You Need to Consider

Whether your employees are heading across the country or crossing continents, Sirva has the on-the-ground international relocation services you need. From Canada to Australia and everywhere in between, we understand the nuances across each region .

We provide offerings to satisfy your unique needs, whether selling a home in the U.S., managing a cross-country household goods move, or helping employees to get settled into their new homes in Europe. Our global experience means that you can count on seamless international relocation, no matter what’s next.

Departure Services

From the initial policy consulting call through the move itself, there are a lot of moving pieces associated with employee relocation. Whether planning a domestic or international relocation, SIRVA is expertly positioned to offer the best departure services available during a relocation in every region around the world.

Destination Services

Setting your employees up for success upon arrival at their new locations will be key to successfully meeting your company’s goals. SIRVA’s global network and expansive resources allow us to you achieve your goals. Our destination services and international movers help employees and their families settle in and prosper in their new homes.

Visa and Immigration

SIRVA’s team of experienced international relocation specialists are expertly equipped to manage inbound and outbound global immigration services. With SIRVA’s Immigration team, the focus is on providing a smooth customer experience that enhances the relocation process, not just achieving a successful application.

Employee Counselling

For your employees, a single relocation professional assists with end-to-end coordination of services: a relocation consultant for domestic/intra-country moves or global assignment consultant for international relocation. These consultants are your employees’ resource for all communication and services relating to their move, and coordinate the delivery of all authorised services. Regardless of the service being delivered (temporary housing, moving services, etc.), the employee can rely on the consultant as their go-to resource to address any concerns.

VIP Services

If you are searching for an enhanced service for your employees, SIRVA offers VIP services such as personal relocation assistants, in-home cleaning services, personalised family assistance, and many other tailored and luxury enhancements.

Related Services

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Mobility programmes are required to be agile and flexible in adapting to global relocation and moving market trends. Some of the key trends that SIRVA sees in today’s market include:

Policy changes to meet flexibility

Traditional tiered policies are evolving to provide flexible solutions, catered to specific relocation programmes (e.g. developmental rotations) and employee preferences and priorities. RMCs are moving upstream to provide a more consultative approach to organisations looking to transform their mobility programmes.

Most organisations are adopting some form of segmentation or core/flex.
Lump sum programmes continue to be utilised for some tiers of US domestic relocation programmes; lump sums for global (international cross border) moves have not been implemented on a large scale, largely due to the complexity of the move types
Lump sums are being utilised more broadly across US domestic programmes (beyond interns and new graduates), transforming corporate employees into consumer buyers in the marketplace

Regional Trends

Americas: Core/Flex policies are common for domestic moves within the USA, and the preferred model for early career employee
Asia: Some policy tiers will include an element of a lump sum for intra country or domestic moves and Extended Business Travellers (EBTs) continue to be a focus area as a viable alternative to more traditional move types that are administratively burdensome and require a significant investment.

Expanding outsourcing

Pre-decision counselling (guidance provided to the relocation initiator regarding candidate and package selection) has traditionally been provided by an internal corporate resource. SIRVA has seen a rise in the use of RMCs to provide this service as part of the vendor partnership scope of services, recognising the ability of the RMC to act as an extension of the organisation.

Global organisations are considering a centralised programme structure, provided there are regional hubs or teams in place to support the business locally. Responsibilities with the regional hubs vary by company, largely due to agreed capabilities and capacity of internal and external teams.

Suppliers in the Americas are feeling price pressure from Procurement teams to rationalise costs in all areas of the relocation lifecycle.

Europe and Asia continue to grow from mainly in-sourcing their relocation needs to outsourcing their mobility programme to RMCs. These partnerships help take mobility programmes to the next level – from operational to strategic – allowing for alignment of mobility programmes with overall business objectives.

Technology investment is key for relocation programmes, particularly in Europe due to the regulatory climate and intense need to protect data.

Shift towards a centralised programme management model

Global mobility companies are moving towards centralised programme models – streamlining the process and creating a more integrated experience for clients and their relocating employees. Organisations recognise the value of a centralised model’s ability to provide a consistent experience, both for the relocating employee and the internal customer, that leverages global vendors for cost efficiencies and programme scalability.

Technological advancements

Technology is advancing faster than we ever thought possible. With these advancements comes consumer demand for instant information and insights at the click of a button. RMCs must continue to innovate and provide tools and reference resources that drive progress and educate companies on innovative ways to mobilise their workforce.

Demand for transparency

It is important that companies meet expectations of full transparency into mobility programme costs, predictive analytics and reporting from start to finish to ensure clients and their people are plugged into the relocation process at all times.

Cost-quality paradox

Organisations are demanding a focus on cost rationalisation and minimisation from all external partnerships while maintaining, and often increasing, expectations around service quality. RMCs can achieve this balance through an integrated supply chain and a preferred vendor network, providing a single point of accountability that translates into higher service levels and higher cost savings.

Interested in finding out more? Connect with Elaine Baker on LinkedIn or directly at Elaine.Baker@sirva.com. You may also reach out to Concierge@sirva.com.