Month: April 2021

Household Goods Moving & Transportation Management Trends

Post author By Ann Knapp | CRP, GMS, CMC
Post date April 27, 2021

man carrying moving box — Delivery man is ringing the bell to deliver two cardboard boxes. He's wearing a face mask and protective gloves.

Household Goods Moving Trends Continuing to Adapt to COVID-19 Pandemic Requirements

Moving industry trends in 2021 will see a continuance of the van line and household goods moving industry’s robust response to COVID-19. The pandemic’s immediate and broad impact has been met with effective solutions to help keep everyone safe during the entire moving experience. These solutions include:

Virtual surveys to document the contents of homes. These surveys help ensure greater accuracy for moving estimates relating to goods being moved, the time required for packing and moving, and labor requirements for the job. Many customers prefer these surveys, and the industry strives to use this technology wherever possible due to its convenience and degree of accuracy.
Even after effective vaccines are distributed, the industry will continue to use virtual surveys for the great degree of convenience and accuracy they provide. Also, many of the other helpful and healthy practices will remain in place to ensure continued safety for both our employees and our customers. These measures will provide peace of mind throughout the moving experience.
As the virus continues to rise in certain areas, providers stay informed and will reinforce all of the measures in place to ensure safety. For 2021, providers will continue to follow all of the COVID-19 business continuity plans they put into place in 2020. These plans include the use of appropriate personal protective equipment, face masks, social distancing, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, and fresh supplies of packing materials.
The industry expects drivers may be in line just after healthcare workers to receive vaccinations. Drivers are often in contact with the general public and are constantly moving, so vaccination would be a great way to further reduce any possible virus transmission.

What's Trending in Workforce Mobility for 2021?

This article is an excerpt from our 2021 Workforce Mobility Forecast. Download a complete copy today, or watch a recording of our latest Thought Leadership Series webinar on the trends that are shaping the industry.

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GMS Experts Are Here to Help

GMS is a leader in the relocation industry and keeps track of the latest household goods moving trends. Our certified relocation team can help you with any of your corporate relocation needs and provide you with the latest information related to mobility in today’s rapidly changing environment. We can assure you that all of our partners are moving household goods with safe and healthy procedures. Let us help you handle moving your employees, get in touch with us today!

Tags household goods, household goods transportation

Choosing a Relocation Company Corporate Relocation Domestic Relocation Global Relocation Tips

Corporate Relocation Incentives Driving Economic Development

Post author By John Fernandez | CRP, GMS, SSB
Post date April 20, 2021

city skyline at sunset — Downtown Denver, Colorado, USA Drone Skyline Aerial Panorama.

In the past year, the global mobility industry has seen noticeable increases in state and local governments offering enticing relocation incentives to draw economic development and add to growing employment numbers. But how are these incentives helping companies recruit new talent to relocate? And how do transferees and companies take advantage of these incentives?

Working with a corporate relocation services company can help make sure that you are getting the most out of the available relocation incentives. There are various incentives for those looking to perform group moves or office moves from state to state. Understanding these plans and policies is the first step in taking advantage of them.

Here we have broken down some of the relocation incentives in 3 quickly growing states. All of these states are seeing an increase in population due to incentives and business-friendly environments, and these numbers should continue to grow as work from home precautions begin to end for in-office positioned employees.

Attracting Companies and Talent

Many states have heavily invested in development strategies that are solely focused on attracting companies within specific industries into relocating their operations to their state. Commonly targeted organizations reside in high revenue/high wage industries, such as technology, R&D, and manufacturing companies. State relocation incentives are often rich with benefits, making it difficult for companies to ignore. Let’s use Colorado, Arizona, and Texas as gleaming examples. Each of these states has focused on developing partnerships focused on attracting and relocating companies to their particular states and municipalities, in hopes of bringing in more revenue and tax dollars to the state.

Key Colorado relocation incentives:

Job Growth Incentive Tax Credits – A performance-based state income tax credit equal to 50% of the FICA paid by a business, based on the net new growth from jobs created
Strategic Fund Incentives – A cash payout based on wage levels of the net new jobs created
Location Neutral Employment – An incentive that combines Job Growth Incentive Tax Credits and a Strategic Fund Incentive
Training Grants – Reimbursement of job training designed to increase transferable skills to enhance long term employment opportunities
Industry Accelerated Grants – A collection of grants that promote growth and sustainability

Key Arizona relocation incentives:

Quality Job Credits – Up to $9,000 in tax credits over 3 years for each new qualifying job
Training Grants – Up to 75% reimbursement of job training per employee and up to $8,000 for each new employee in a rural area
Facility Tax Credits – 10% of capital investment, up to $20,000 per qualified job created in manufacturing or R&D
Research & Development – An income tax credit for R&D (24% for first $2.5M, plus 15% in excess of $2.5M)

Key Texas relocation incentives:

Enterprise Project – If project investment is equal to or greater than $5 million or more, then refund amount is up to $2,500 per job up to a maximum of 500 jobs created/retained
Double Jumbo Enterprise Project – If the project investment amount is equal to or greater than $150 million and less than $250 million, then the refund amount is $5,000 per job up to a maximum of 500 jobs created
Triple Jumbo Enterprise Project – If the project investment amount is equal to or greater than $250 million then the refund amount is $7,500 per job up to a minimum of 500 jobs created. The maximum refund available is $3.75 million

Weighing the Benefits

While most of these incentives are not lucrative enough to make a company want to move on the spot, they do serve as added bonuses to those companies that are actively looking to make a move within the next year or two. The next question becomes how do you know you’re making the best relocation decision for your company and employees? Working with a certified corporate relocation services company will help to ensure that state economic incentives and your relocation strategy provide your organization with the advantages it needs to thrive and grow. . But what has to be considered when drafting up relocation policies and operation decisions?

Establishing new operations or relocating existing ones is not an easy decision. Companies must weigh the cost/benefit of moving operations, in addition to the impact on employees. At GMS, we make every effort to support companies with the necessary analysis for informed decision-making. This may include salary and cost of living comparisons, housing evaluations and site studies, educational comparisons, pre-decision services, and more!

Why GMS Is the Answer

If you’re looking to take advantage of incentives for these states, or just collecting information in general for relocating employees, it is always a good idea to sign on with a proven and experienced relocation company. You’ll want to use a company that specializes in group moves and office moves.

Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) is here to help you with all of your relocation services needs. Our team of experts holds over 20 relocation certifications and can assist with any kind of corporate move, no matter the scale. We also won’t blindside you with hidden or non-disclosed fees. All of our pricing is upfront and honest. Not to mention, we will tailor your policies and procedures to make sure your employees are maximizing any available state incentives, along with ensuring all of their relocation needs are being met. Our team can help you move to or from not just Arizona, Colorado, or Texas, but globally as well.

Reach out to GMS today online if you’re ready to start getting info about working with a certified relocation services company. Or to speak to a team member directly, call 1-800-617-1904.

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

Are you ready to talk to a Mobility Pro? Learn how GMS can optimize your mobility program, enhance your policies to meet today’s unique challenges, receive an in-depth industry benchmark, or simply ask us a question. Your Mobility Pro will be in touch within 1 business day for a no-pressure, courtesy consultation.

Tags relocation best practices, relocation programs, relocation services

Relocation Technology Security & Privacy

SOC and Relocation: The Importance of Data Security

Post author By John Fernandez | CRP, GMS, SSB
Post date April 13, 2021

Developing programmer Development Website design and coding technologies working in software company office

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on many relocation management companies’ compliance with System and Organization Controls (SOC). In fact, data privacy trends have played a heavy role in shaping the future of data privacy and protection for companies everywhere. These trends were further accelerated by the pandemic.

Information and data security should be a big concern for all types of organizations. Even more so for those companies that outsource major business operations to third-party vendors. Almost all corporate relocation companies fall into this category. To ensure the private information of their transferees is protected, companies often look to established and trusted security standards, such as SOC 2. SOC 2 is a great auditing procedure system that helps manage data and make sure vendors have the internal controls to secure their customers’ data.

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2 was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as an auditing procedure to help ensure that service providers manage your data securely. It sets up criteria for being able to manage data in a customer-related system. SOC 2 uses five areas of focus, or trust service principles, during an audit of an organization’s internal controls: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.

The reports that it can produce are unique to each organization. These internal reports give insight into important information about how service providers are managing data. These reports also include regulators, suppliers, business partners, etc.

There are two types of reports that SOC 2 can spin up:

Type 1 describes a vendor’s system and how its design is suitable to meet trust service principles as of a specified date
Type 2 details the operational effectiveness of each system throughout a disclosed period of time

It is easier for companies to obtain a Type 1 report, which is why a majority of relocation companies forgo the specialized Type 2 report.

How to Get a SOC 2 Report

Many companies have complex IT systems, so it would be extremely time-consuming to provide each vendor or client with a specific answer as to how their data is safeguarded. In fact, some organizations may not have airtight systems and processes in place that are capable of protecting their data. That’s why selecting a trusted CPA firm as an objective third-party auditor to perform a SOC 2 report can help. This CPA firm should be able to put together a thorough report to provide answers to common questions asked by organizations related to availability, processing, confidentiality, security, and privacy.

When selecting a firm to help with your SOC 2 report, be sure to inquire about the firms’ CPAs’ experience with IT. You’ll want to verify that they have IT auditors, not just financial audit CPAs. It is also a good idea to ask about certifications, CISA and CISSP are two that should stand out right away.

Why Does SOC 2 Matter for Relocation Management Companies?

When working with a Relocation Management Company (RMC), personal information needs to be exchanged to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of services and household goods.

Because RMCs work with so many third-party vendors, it’s important to be transparent about data and security measures. Countless suppliers have potential access to your employees’ personal data, including real estate agents, loan officers, moving companies, trucking companies, storage facilities, destination service providers, and more. A SOC 2 report is a powerful tool that RMCs can utilize to verify their compliance with internal controls standards, as well as assuring clients and employees that their personal data is being managed safely.

Every RMC has an obligation to make every effort to limit the collection of and access to the personal information of transferees during the relocation process. However, this offers minimal assurance that your relocation program and your network of providers are truly compliant with SOC standards.

SOC and Relocation Programs: 3 Key Areas of Concern

The truth is that many RMCs have struggled, or are still struggling, to pivot to suitable security solutions to manage vital operations and protocols. Three (3) key areas of concern include:

Third-Party Involvement

Whether your relocation program is managed by an RMC or in-house teams, a network of partners is needed to support the delivery of select services. This comes with a responsibility to protect the information of clients, their transferees, and the employees’ families across the network of partners utilized in the relocation process.

For example: When scheduling the pack and load of an employee’s property for a household goods shipment, the relocating employee’s name, address, and contact information are critical pieces of information needed by both the relocation management company and the supplier. This data is used for timely and accurate service delivery.

The need for downstream compliance and risk mitigation will continue to be an area of focus for several years. Each cog in the relocation wheel must be held to the highest compliance standards. You should expect and require nothing less.

Increased Risk of Cyber Attacks Requires System and Organization Controls

In today’s work from anywhere environment, the number of remote employees and external devices accessing company networks has increased dramatically, leading to larger threats in the cybersecurity arena. Remote staff often rely heavily on Virtual Private Network (VPN) gateways to provide encrypted network access. Despite these types of preventative measures, cyber attackers continue to seek opportunities and methods to breach security defenses.

Few Relocation Management Companies Undergo SOC Audits

In the relocation industry, this is a serious issue; an estimated 75% of RMCs do not have vetted or verified SOC credentials. With the amount of sensitive information these organizations may collect, each relocation management company has a responsibility to demonstrate that they have the systems, controls, and processes in place to protect their clients and their transferees from unnecessary risks. In an increasingly connected world, the mobility industry must adapt to manage these risks and the threats they introduce.

Conclusion

Whether you are working with a relocation management company today or managing your mobility program in-house, you should ask these two fundamental questions:

Has there been a demonstrated investment in data privacy and protection for your mobility program in the last 6 months?
Is your organization or your relocation provider currently compliant with the trust services principles set forth within a SOC 2 certification?

If you answered “No” to either question, it is time to reconsider your existing data security and compliance standards. Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) is one of the few relocation companies that is SOC 2 certified. Contact GMS now to learn more about how we protect your information and data in your relocation management program, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

Tags audit, privacy, relocation management technology, security, SOC 2, technology

Household Goods Moving Trends Continuing to Adapt to COVID-19 Pandemic Requirements

What's Trending in Workforce Mobility for 2021?

GMS Experts Are Here to Help

Attracting Companies and Talent

Key Colorado relocation incentives:

Key Arizona relocation incentives:

Key Texas relocation incentives:

Weighing the Benefits

Why GMS Is the Answer

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

What is SOC 2?

How to Get a SOC 2 Report

Why Does SOC 2 Matter for Relocation Management Companies?

SOC and Relocation Programs: 3 Key Areas of Concern

Conclusion

We're Here to Help! Request a Courtesy Consultation

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