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Employee Development Global Relocation Relocation Best Practices Relocation Management Talent Management

Relocation Associations & Memberships

Global Mobility Solutions Memberships

The relocation process consists of a lot of moving parts when it comes to getting employees from one side of the country (or world) to the other. There are numerous logistics that have to be worked out, accounted for, and coordinated in order to make the process as smooth as possible. Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) puts an emphasis on enhancing the overall transferee experience and ensures a seamless relocation for the company and for their relocating employee and their family. 

The GMS leadership team takes pride in knowing our team is able to assist companies to relocate any number of employees anywhere they are needed. We are able to do that because of our knowledgeable, certified, and experienced relocation team. Our expert teams are members of various relocation associations that allow us to give the best possible service in the industry. We also encourage our employees to keep their relocation certifications up to date, as well as support webinars, training, and industry conference attendance.

Here at GMS, we are proud to have team members that belong to the following associations. 

The Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (Worldwide ERC®)

The global relocation industry is one that is always changing and transforming to meet the needs of companies, which can make it hard to set benchmarks and standards within the industry. However, The Worldwide Employee Relocation Council (Worldwide ERC®) is seen as the premier trade association for talent management and global mobility knowledge. 

Corporate mobility managers and relocation management companies from around the world encourage employees to become members of Worldwide ERC® to ensure that their staff has a strong education and firm understanding of the skills and knowledge useful in the relocation industry. 

GMS is proud to note that all of our client-facing team members and every level of our leadership team are members of Worldwide ERC®. Each of these employees has confidence knowing that they can deliver the best experience for a transferee because of the training they gained through Worldwide ERC®’s certification and ongoing education platforms. These offerings allow GMS employees to work through Worldwide ERC®’s program to become fully capable of handling almost any talent mobility situation.

Local & Regional Relocation Councils

In addition to Worldwide ERC®, GMS also has employees who are associated with various local and regional mobility councils: 

  • Bay Area Mobility Management (BAMM)
  • Arizona Relocation Association (ARA)  
  • Southern California Relocation Council (SCRC)
  • Executive Board Member for the Southern Regional Relocation Council (SRRC)
  • Member of the Tennessee Relocation Council (TRC)

Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM)

Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM)’s mission is to provide valuable networking opportunities for relocation companies. Their multiple platforms of content and events provide mobility professionals the chance to engage with one another in hopes of growing their network. FEM aims to inspire global mobility and HR professionals by providing them with crucial news stories and insights that impact international mobility. They also host events ranging from roundtable discussions to multi-day summits. 

Being associated with FEM proves that an employee is in tune with the issues impacting global mobility and assists in their understanding of related relocation practices and policies. In addition to the summits that FEM puts on annually, there are also local chapter meetings that members can attend. With chapter meetings taking place all over the world, members of the GMS team are involved in local and regional FEM chapters for mobility individuals and vendors, here in Arizona. 

International Association of Movers (IAM)

Holding more than 2,000 corporate members, the International Association of Movers (IAM) is the moving and forwarding industry’s biggest global trade association. Since 1962, IAM has provided guidance to moving and shipping service providers with operations in more than 170 countries.

The moving and shipping of household goods and automobiles are one of the most important aspects of any relocation, which is why it is so important to be up-to-date on best practices. The GMS transportation team are proud members of IAM, enhancing our ability to ensure employees’ goods are moved safely, quickly, and efficiently across the country and arrive on time for the employee to begin their new job. 

International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN)

The International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN), also known as the International Association of Travel Agents Network, has a primary goal of setting travel standards of professionalism while administering meaningful business standards. Additionally, IATAN works to provide cost-effective services that benefit the travel and mobility industries. This helps provide a vital link between mobility suppliers and the US travel distribution network. The GMS travel team, and many additional team members, are members of IATAN.

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) tries to create better workplaces for employers and employees. With more than 300,000 HR executive members in over 165 countries, SHRM is an expert in aligning all HR needs. Because relocation deals so heavily with HR representatives, GMS sees it as vital for key team members to participate in SHRM.

GMS is Qualified to Help

With our team members having a great blend of different relocation associations and memberships, GMS knows that we can help with any relocation need. Whether a company needs to move an employee a few states away, or send dozens of employees from one country to another, GMS can help you every step of the way. Contact us online today. One of our global mobility experts will respond quickly to answer your questions.

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Corporate Relocation Corporate relocation tips Global Relocation

Reaffirming the Importance of the Human Connection for Corporate Relocation Companies

2020 has proven how important the human connection is for relocation companies, and we see clients recognizing this fact for 2021. Certain processes can easily leverage technology to increase efficiencies and performance. However, research indicates it is impossible for computers with artificial intelligence to replicate jobs that rely on humanistic and social skills. The role of the relocation coach far outweighs the technology that supports it.

Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) is a nationally ranked Relocation Management Company and a leader in the relocation industry that excels in providing superior service to clients. This level of service requires GMS Coaches to have significant measures of important human attributes and social skills including:

  • Adaptability
  • Coaching
  • Communication
  • Creativity
  • Critical Thinking
  • Complex Problem Solving
  • Curiosity
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Empathy
  • Insight
  • Listening
  • Resilience

Clients recognize the importance of the entire relocation experience as an extremely important touchpoint for their talent acquisition programs. If they leave such an important experience to the vagaries of computer programs, employees and new hires are likely to feel less valuable to the client. Talent acquisition programs help clients ensure a greater likelihood of good hires, which in turn helps lower costs and saves time. A robust relocation management program fully supports client investments in sourcing and onboarding talent and helps ensure successful relocations.

Relocation Coaches and Their Impact

Our clients appreciate the service our Relocation Coaches provide to their employees, and their employees are grateful for the high-touch service that GMS provides. Here are several comments we have received over the past year that reaffirm the importance of the human connection in relocation services:

“I felt as though Tricia made this process very simple. She even walked through how to do expenses with me step by step. I never felt as though I was bothering her when I called which I prefer to do instead of email and that was never a problem for her. I also felt she was very informed on all aspects of the move. She let me know countless times to call whenever I needed anything, which I did. In closing, she also had such a great attitude and was 100% approachable. I am big on customer service and Tricia definitely provided the best.”

“Jennifer has been fantastic from beginning to end. I give her the highest marks possible. There’s no way to make relocation fun, but she made it as painless as I can possibly imagine.”

“Ana, through her incredible support, listening capacity and anticipation of my needs, always promptly resolved my doubts, additional unplanned requirements due to this pandemic by COVID. Definitely, Global Mobility Services is a company with the know-how, structure, personnel, and suppliers that provide excellent service for corporate mobility needs.”

“Carroll was the best part of my relocation process. She is professional, responsive, knowledgeable and most importantly sweet and so supportive. I moved during COVID after having lived in the same place my entire life so you can imagine this was traumatic and challenging. Carroll kept me on track and guided me the whole way with kindness humor and diligent follow-up. She called me just to check in and see how I was doing. She is a gem and you should know what a true professional and wonderful person she is- if I ever need to move again I will check with her first. I cannot sing her praises enough!  My experience was great.”

“Jen was a big help through this whole process. Being relocated is a stressful event. Being relocated during a global pandemic is even more stressful. She was a big help to find what we needed to help move.”

“Dear Jennifer, I want to extend my utmost gratitude for the care, professionalism, and passion you demonstrated during every step of my move. Your timely attention to detail, your communication, and your attitude toward your vocation as Relocation Coach made me feel that you were right there beside me from the beginning and onward. As a Hospital Chaplain, I work alongside hundreds of diverse staff and I can easily identify those who bring excellence, integrity, and compassion to their work, I am confident you are one of those people. Thank you again for you making my move easy.”

“Moving can be very stressful and even more so after coming out of a tornado a month ago and trying to relocate during a pandemic. Kim was always calm, reassuring, and timely in her responses. I am in the hospitality industry and have to treat guests this way all the time. It was certainly nice to be treated this way myself! It made the chaos of the move so much easier from a mental standpoint! THANK YOU!”

The Human Connection Makes the Difference

As you can see, a high-touch customer service approach has a dramatic impact on the lives of relocating employees and their families. The direct support that corporate relocation companies provide to relocating employees has a direct impact on the family’s ability to cope with the stress of their move and improves the readiness of an employee to focus on their position when they arrive at their destination. Through GMS’ high-touch customer service process, relocations are measurably more successful with our clients experiencing a reduction in the number of costly failed relocations. By working with a proven and effective company like Global Mobility Solutions, you can rest assured you’ve chosen a company that treats your employees with compassion and the dedicated attention they deserve.

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.

About GMS

GMS’ team of global relocation experts has helped thousands of organizations understand how to develop relocation programs that provide the best possible experience for new hires, transferees, and their family members. Our team wants to help your company understand how to review your relocation program and share how the GMS approach delivers consistent, high-quality relocation experiences on time and on budget.

Contact our experts online to learn more about the GMS difference, or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

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Corporate Relocation Domestic Relocation Challenges Global Relocation Relocation Challenges

2021 Ushers in Fully Virtual Relocation from Start to Finish

Virtual solutions in relocation management were well on their way to becoming the preferred choice long before the COVID-19 pandemic made them a requirement to do business. Supporting the working world’s “anytime, anywhere” focus, the relocation industry has been creating tools and resources to bring solutions to clients that are easy to use and do not require any physical contact. 2021 will see virtual solutions continue to grow in both popularity and functionality due to their convenience, speed, flexibility, and accuracy.

Virtual Relocation services span the relocation spectrum, including the following:

PRE-DECISION SERVICES

A valuable tool, pre-decision allows for a relocation management company to work with your new hires or transferees before an offer is extended or the decision to relocate is made. All of the following services can be provided through online solutions, reports, and electronic communications:

  • Candidate Assessment – Assess candidate expectation, skills, personal qualities, family circumstance, and financial preparedness
  • Cost of Living analysis – Cost of living comparison of origin and destination cities to help determine an acceptable or competitive salary range
  • Market analysis – Determine the likely home sale timeline and identify potential home sale challenges such as negative equity
  • School Reports – Public and Private School reports provided to the relocating employee to aid community selection
  • Moving Cost Estimates – Cost estimates on household goods transport to help budget for relocation costs
  • Community Search and Tours – Virtual Neighborhood Walks let buyers explore new neighborhoods and communities, and help them see nearby local features such as parks, schools, and shopping centers

VIRTUAL VISA AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES

In today’s new normal, the virtual experience extends to the visa application and immigration process:

  • A knowledge base of helpful information and resources
  • Virtual visa and legal consultation
  • Online application and form filing
  • Electronic fee payment
  • Online tools to track and manage case status and processing times

HOME SELLER VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

The global pandemic forced home sellers, agents, and relocation companies to rethink the real estate process from beginning to end. Including the following.

Consultation, Digital Marketing

  • Virtual consultations using popular meeting platforms such as Zoom or Google Hangouts
  • Document signatures captured electronically using Dotloop real estate transaction management solution or other e-signature programs
  • Virtual walk-through and preparation for the home
  • Virtual staging using seller-provided photos combined with current furnishings and décor
  • Virtual experience “Open House” event with advertising and promotion
  • Virtual private showings

Offer, Contract, Deposit

  • Electronic offer submittal (once seller receives an acceptable offer, that specific buyer can see the property in person within 24 hours; following the viewing, the seller will execute the offer)
  • Contract to purchase the home is executed electronically
  • DepositLink or other financial service is used to electronically transfer the deposit

Inspections, Appraisal, Financing, Closing

  • Inspections are ordered and conducted (if not waived)
  • Purchase and Sale agreement is executed
  • Appraisal is completed
  • The buyer obtains financing commitment if applicable
  • Final in-person walk-through (if not waived)
  • Closing

HOME BUYER VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE

Like the home sale process, home purchases have traditionally been a very personal, in-person process. 2020 brought about rapid change as the real estate experience quickly adapted to provide a safe, virtual experience for prospective home buyers.

Consultation, Online Views

  • Virtual consultations using popular meeting platforms such as Zoom or Google Hangouts
  • Document signatures captured electronically using Dotloop real estate transaction management solution or other e-signature programs
  • Online searching for homes
  • Virtual experience tours of homes, either 3D virtual tour online, or a live interactive virtual tour (open house or private showing)
  • Live virtual buyer events
  • Video mail (v-mail) provide video directly to interested buyers

Offer, Contract, Deposit

  • Electronic offer submittal (once seller receives an acceptable offer, that specific buyer can see the property in person within 24 hours; following the viewing, the seller will execute the offer)
  • Contract to purchase the home is executed electronically
  • DepositLink or other financial service is used to electronically transfer the deposit

Inspections, Appraisal, Financing, Closing

  • Inspections are ordered and conducted (if not waived)
  • Appraisal is completed
  • The buyer obtains financing commitment if applicable
  • Final in-person walk-through (if not waived)
  • Closing

VIRTUAL HOUSEHOLD GOODS MOVES SERVICES

While the movement of personal property will always require a physical presence by moving crews, the household goods industry developed effective tools and processes to limit in-person interaction to protect both the transportation employee and the transferee’s family from unnecessary exposure:

  • Online, video, and virtual estimating surveys to document contents of homes
  • Online and electronic communications to arrange services and payments
  • Packing, moving, delivery, and setup services without requiring transferee to be present

VIRTUAL DESTINATION SERVICES

Virtual destination services are a great option for transferees and their family members. These include community tours and orientation, departure services and support, and area consultations. All of these services provide transferees with 1-on-1 consultation and support to ensure their comfort and peace of mind with the destination.

The services provide benefits such as:

  • Providing direct support when needed
  • Keeping assignments on track for success
  • Recruiting and retaining key employees
  • Assisting and supporting family members
  • Developing and growing relationships

For common services such as searching for schools, finding homes, and getting to know the new location, there are several new convenient formats that have risen in use:

  • Real-Time Video – Live video calls let transferees review specific areas, discuss their interests, and share their preferences. The local destination contact provides direct communication on specific points and can answer questions that may arise.
  • Webinar Presentations – Transferees access a 1-on-1 presentation through popular web-based platforms.
  • Pre-Recorded Video – A personalized video is recorded and shared with transferees. They are then free to review the recording at a time that is convenient to their schedule.

VIRTUAL LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TRAINING

A virtual trainer for language and culture allows candidates to access training anytime, anywhere. This access gives candidates the flexibility they need. Whether traveling or in a remote location, the virtual trainer lets candidates learn at their own pace.

Language Modules

  • Intuitive, straightforward interface
  • Self-paced lessons
  • Focus on conversation proficiency
  • Cultural insights and nuances that impact vocabulary and grammar
  • Mobile apps for quick brush-ups

Cultural Modules

  • One-on-one personal training via webcam
  • Coaches explain how to see cultural differences to promote synergy
  • Practical and actionable guidance to operate in business settings
  • Learning to leverage skill sets found in other cultures
  • Communicates values including mutual respect and understanding

VIRTUAL TUTORING FOR CHILDREN

Dedicated learning platforms deliver virtual instructor-led lessons in a fully professional, secure, and GDPR-compliant format. Features include:

  • Easy to use interface
  • Browser-based with no necessary downloads
  • Class reminders and notifications
  • Multiple-language support
  • Audio and video-based lessons
  • Online document sharing and lesson materials
  • Reporting for attendance, learning analytics, and more

The lesson content and methodology are adapted to the children’s needs. Books and materials are either virtual or delivered to the children through mail delivery services.

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.

GMS Is Here to Help

GMS is ready to help you with any relocation needs you may have. If you have questions or are ready to get started, please reach out to us online or call 1-800-617-1904 for US or 011-480-922-0700 for international. Our certified team is here to help.

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