Deciding whether to bring new technology into a business can be a hard, but worthwhile decision. From costs and time pressures to data security and reporting, we take you through some of the key points to consider when thinking about bringing in new software as part of your global mobility suite.
All businesses reach the point where change is need, but what exactly this change is can vary wildly. Do you take on a new sales or development team? Move to a larger office? Or move to a new digital platform so you can manage your organisation and pipeline better? The last of these options can be one of the most cost-effective and impactful methods to improve and evolve your business, especially in an industry as rapidly changing as global mobility.
We take a look through some of the common points you should be looking at when looking to integrate technology into your service pipeline via a new relocation management platform, and highlight critical areas for consideration.
Make the time to take stock and evaluate your position
Internal Needs and Changes
Before making any decisions about which way to move your organisation when it comes to changing and evolving your current pipeline, make the time to take stock and evaluate your position. What are your internal needs, and how might they shift over the coming years? Where do you stand in relation to your competition, and what do you do better? What should your business focus be, and where is it at now? All of these questions and many more should inform any decisions you make going forward. Think very carefully about the possible courses of action and where they could take you, for better or worse.
Consider the amount of training time it will take to move your staff from their old system to your new one, and the ‘settling in’ time which will come after the initial change over.
Time and Financial Costs
Upgrading your mobility software can be a two-edged sword when it comes to cost-effectiveness. Bringing a significant increase in productivity and automation can, of course, provide substantial benefits in regards to time-saving and allowing relocation professionals to handle more assignments. However, consider the amount of training time it will take to move your staff from their old system to your new one, and the ‘settling in’ time which will come after the initial change over.
Likewise, when looking at a purely financial basis, the amount of money saved may be offset somewhat if your new mobility platform has a high monthly per-user cost and set-up fee. Therefore, when looking to invest, investigate all the available options and find a solution which fits into your budget, not just initially, but over the coming months and years.
It’s vital that you remain secure, for both your clients and your business
Data Protection and Security
If there’s one excellent reason to stay up-to-date with relocation software, it’s security. With global data protection regulations becoming increasingly stricter, it’s vital that you remain secure, for both your clients and your business. Unintentional data leaks now have severe financial penalties, with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation able to fine up to 4% of an organisation’s global turnover.
In much the same way as obsolete computer operating systems are full of holes and vulnerabilities, so are older mobility management platforms. Only the newest and more updated platforms will have been built with modern data protection laws in mind, and provide the highest security and compliance options.
Integration and Reporting
Let’s face it, reporting on each assignment can take a lot of time, especially when considering the nuances of an industry such as global mobility. Another big advantage of newer digital solutions is that much of the reporting that needs to be done for corporate clients can be automatically presented in a usable format when it’s time to report. Online integrated systems provide the opportunity for all those case notes you write down to be recalled with the click of a button.
Provide integration at the other end of the service, for the assignees themselves
On top of this, new mobility platforms provide integration at the other end of the service, for the assignees themselves. Many individuals going through a relocation are now Millennials, and for them, paperwork is seen as an annoyance at best, and obsolete at worst. Having a modern platform allows all of your forms and contracts to be provided digitally for acceptance or signing from a tablet, laptop or mobile phone.
Skills and Training
A significant side effect of upgrading your relocation management platform is that it becomes a catalyst for up-skilling across the organisation. Providing opportunities for training with regards to software can also cause positive shifts in the way work is thought about and conducted. The idea of extra training can be a negative one but should be re-framed as finding a new way of working within a more efficient and automated framework.
Upgrading is an opportunity to increase engagement
A new view of workflows and processes that make up the business can revive employee interest in the market and industry, as users can often get stuck in a rut and feel uninspired. Upgrading is an opportunity to increase engagement and encourage exploration of services, processes and tools. Also, consider other methods to keep up the inspiration by publishing articles or white papers based on the best parts of your new and updated relocation pipeline.
Competition and Sales
All of the above points come together when it’s time to think about your place within the relocation landscape, and where you fit compared to your partners and competitors. At the end of the day, if a new software solution is not going to improve your position, then it may not be worth it. The chance of this being the case, however, is minimal.
The ability to showcase an up-to-date, modern and fully-integrated mobility solution for potential clients is compelling. Such a platform for relocations proves that you not only understand the contemporary assignee but also take essential issues such as personal data security seriously.
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