SIRVA Expands Moving Services in Europe

Increased Footprint will Enhance Remobilization Efforts in the Region

As countries reopen their borders and lift travel bans, companies are eager to remobilize their workforces. Global and local service providers will resume business operations; however, some may find themselves limited by geographic coverage, restrictions, and thinly stretched resources. SIRVA’s recent expansion of its moving operations across Europe minimizes the impact of these disruptions to clients and relocating employees, as having a greater ownership of personnel under its direct management also offers greater service capacity within the region and prioritization of moving services.

Increased Capacity in Europe during the Pandemic

As efforts continue to better manage relocation challenges resulting from the global pandemic and business activities resume, local support from moving and destination service providers (DSPs) are in high demand, often resulting in limited availability. When this happens, working with a relocation management company (RMC) that directly manages these services has multiple benefits, including:

1. Priority Service

When an RMC manages its own moving providers, its operational teams are more cognizant of where their moving resources are at all times, globally. This integrated model allows for a strategized distribution of resources, giving clients priority handling during periods of high demand.

The ability to maximize the loads of its own movers also helps the RMC reduce the wait times that are associated with the scheduling of packing, shipping, and storing of household goods during and immediately after the pandemic.

2. Enhanced Service and Employee Experience

 With an integrated provider, all departments involved with a move – from initiation to completion – are held to the same quality standards. The move manager is able to closely monitor the quality of the entire process with the aim of minimizing employee burden and stress.

Having sight of the end-to-end moving and relocation process results in higher visibility for the company’s HR and global mobility teams. This level of monitoring allows for the troubleshooting of any challenges that might occur, aiding proactive action before issues arise rather than reactive management after they occur. This results in a more positive experience for both the company and its employees. It also gives the integrated provider greater control over the following of safety standards during the pandemic.  

3. Greater Efficiency

Having extensive on-the-ground experience and in-house knowledge guides the move manager to have greater knowledge of regional nuances and, therefore, an advantage in in detecting challenges and diffusing potential issues before they occur. This (in addition to being able to monitor the status of and manage service ratings for every member of a move team in real time) allows the move manager to address everything related to the move more quickly, without the need to wait for third-party involvement.

By having shorter managerial processes between the start of a relocation and arrival at a new home destination, the integrated moving and relocation company is able to offer more efficient and controlled solutions. This even includes data security since a single source of accountability involves utilizing a closed network, rather than having employee data passed around from vendor to vendor.

Key European Markets for Remobilization

Key European markets where SIRVA’s removals capacity has been increased include Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway. This expands the footprint and capacity already covered by SIRVA’s 18 offices across Europe, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

It is equally important to have capacity in these regions during the uncertainty caused by geopolitical events, such as Brexit, where we have already seen (and will continue to see) moves from individuals and companies from the UK to popular European destinations such as Frankfurt, Luxembourg and Paris.

Strategic Partnerships During Remobilization

Global mobility is complex and demanding under the best of circumstances, so remobilization mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic could be costly. This is why a strategic partnership with a provider that has greater control of its services is helpful, as clients can leverage existing knowledge, systems, and a larger network of employees and agencies.

SIRVA’s growth has resulted in a larger, collaborative network of talented relocation and moving professionals (based all over Europe and housing a wealth of regional expertise and local knowledge) specific to each European country. This expanded SIRVA network not only brings streamlined processes and communication but allows for a much more tailored and personalized moving experience, taking into consideration regional nuances, languages, practices, and cultures that help to inform the relocating employee and ensure a seamless move.

Expanded access to global expertise and resources – not just with moving services, but with all relocation services, from visa and immigration to home sale and purchase services – will provide a distinctive advantage during remobilization, both during and after the current pandemic. By becoming a valuable extension of a company’s HR and mobility management team, an integrated relocation and moving company will save valuable time and resources for companies in every industry, worldwide.

The expansion of moving operations within Europe will operate under SIRVA’s Allied brand.