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Relocation Management

5 Questions to ask in a Relocation Services Proposal

Here are some key points to bring up when seeking relocation management services

In a competitive hiring market, companies see firsthand how hard it can be to not only obtain but retain top candidates in their industry. Human resources teams in numerous industries are offering great hiring incentive programs in hopes of landing the most qualified applicant to fill the vacant spot. One of the best incentives to offer is a relocation package.

When hiring for a position, a qualified local candidate might fill that hole just fine. But what if there are no local applicants who qualify? Only fielding applications from locally based people can pigeonhole the hiring process for each position. But if the hiring manager can negotiate with employees globally then it opens up the options for getting the right talent in the right seat. 

The best route to take when offering relocation services is to work with a qualified and highly reputable relocation management company (RMC). Many companies understand that working with an RMC will provide their employees and families with a seamless relocation process. 

Hence, they seek pricing and bids from multiple RMCs to assure they are getting the best price. However, determining how to choose a qualified RMC can be challenging for a company that does not have a complete understanding of the talent mobility process. Therefore, these questions will help identify those with the most experience and best relocation management services.

1. Overview of the Company/General Company Information

RMCs should provide information about their principals, organizational structure, and account managers. A history of the company will give insight into its growth and industry relationships. Third parties and business partners used as vendors should be fully noted. But the important note to walk away from here is to find out who and how many points of contact the relocating employee will have during the process. 

Relocating a family is not an easy process. The last thing a moving employee wants is to not know who to reach out to at all times. Verify with the RMCs that each transferee will have a go-to account manager or relocation expert they can contact directly at all times.

2. Relocation Services and Supplies

There is no one size fits all relocation package. Every company will have different needs depending on how many employees they relocate, the timelines they have to relocate them, and the number of talent transfers they perform each year. That’s why companies who are vetting RMCs should find out about the relocation services offered and if those services can be tailored to their needs. 

Consider this question as a detailed menu of what the RMC will provide. Look for information related to specific areas, including:

  • Policy Counseling
  • Expense Administration
  • Cost Projections
  • Household Goods Moving Services
  • Temporary Housing
  • Home Marketing Assistance
  • Guaranteed Buyout/Amended Value Sale Program – Home Sale Assistance
  • Buyer Value Option Program – Home Sale Assistance
  • Home Inventory Management
  • Home Finding/Purchase Assistance
  • Mortgage Assistance
  • Rental Assistance
  • Property Management
  • Spouse/Partner Assistance

3. Quality Assurance/Customer Service

Good information in this section includes customer retention rates, complaint resolution processes, methods of communication, and all reporting and tracking systems available to the company and its relocating employees. In addition, the RMC should note how they account for order delivery, planning, and revisions to shipments.

Website services and information technology solutions as they apply to customer service should be described in detail. Look for a company that provides a robust solution that can easily integrate into your company’s current systems. True innovators should speak to their experience and history within the relocation industry.

4. Transition Process and Projected Relocation Timeline

In this section, the RMC should describe the transition from the pre-decision services to the final destination, including the setup of technology and rollout of the talent mobility program. The staffing structure for account services, including one-on-one services, should be described. The company should outline their support staff process, regular hours of operation, response times, and hierarchy to escalate issues.

5. What Sets Them Apart From Competitors?

The RMC should call out their main advantages that companies and employees will achieve by selecting their firm to provide relocation services. Several distinct advantages should be described in detail, and the RMC’s value proposition on each point should be clearly defined. At least three references who can speak to their experiences working with the RMC should be supplied as well.

GMS Checks All These Boxes

At Global Mobility Solutions (GMS), not only do we provide unbeatable relocation management services but we are the innovators of the talent mobility industry. For example, in the early 1990s, GMS was the first relocation company to register as a .com, created the first online interactive tools and calculators, and revolutionized the entire relocation industry. 

GMS continues to set the industry pace as the pioneer in innovation and technology solutions with its proprietary MyRelocation™ technology platform. Therefore, this allows GMS to provide clients with an ideal platform with fully integrated information technology solutions for their relocation programs. 

At GMS, we take pride in providing award-wining relocation services to companies across numerous industries. We would love to have one of our expert team members walk you through your current relocation policies. From there, we can then decide the best route to take to help get your employees from point A to point B. With over 30 years of experience in the relocation and real estate industry, our team of relocation coaches strive to make the moving process as seamless as possible. 

 

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Choosing a Relocation Company Corporate Relocation Domestic Relocation Global Relocation Relocation Policy Review Relocation Programs

Advantages of an Expedited Bidding Process

More companies are using an expedited bidding process when it comes to outsourcing their relocation program to a Relocation Management Company (RMC). This fundamental shift in a company’s approach to outsourcing relocation has many benefits, including significant cost and time savings. As the pace of business continues to increase, expedited bidding has proven to be a boon for companies that are looking to enhance the management of their relocation program.

Global Mobility Solutions’ team of global relocation experts benchmarked 48 companies that have utilized this process to determine the reasons why this approach has risen in prominence in today’s relocation market. Our team has identified five distinct reasons for the increased utilization of expedited bidding.

Five Reasons Why Companies Prefer an Expedited Bidding Process:

1. Companies Buy Solutions, Not Parts

Purchasing relocation management is a much different process than sourcing parts or equipment. Companies understand that ensuring the right fit for the right reasons is the most important factor when sourcing employee-facing services.

2. Complimentary Mobility Consulting

Policy reviews, program design and recommendations, and policy development and revisions can easily be part of this process. This also allows companies to evaluate an RMC’s experience, knowledge of the relocation process, and the quality of their consulting work.

3. Faster Relocation Program Implementation With an Expedited Bidding Process

Over 90% of companies that utilize an expedited process are able to complete their implementation within 22 days. The speed of this approach allows companies to achieve immediate efficiencies in their programs.

4. Avoiding Formal Requests

Utilizing an expedited bidding process helps companies avoid the administrative burdens and resource-intensive approach typical of the more formal Requests for Information and Requests for Proposals.

5. Immediate Cost Savings

Competition inherent in this process often results in cost savings. Improved fee structures and reduced direct costs result in up-front savings for the client. Savings allow clients to increase their focus on strategic business initiatives while the RMC manages their relocation program.

What Should Employers do to Utilize an Expedited Bidding Process?

Employers should utilize an expedited bidding process as they consider outsourcing their relocation management. A Relocation Management Company with extensive knowledge of the global relocation market and the experience of moving hundreds of thousands of employees will provide the best resources for expedited bidding processes. An experienced RMC can also easily guide companies through the process and achieve highly successful results.

Conclusion

Global Mobility Solutions’ team of global relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients with their relocation programs. We can help your company understand how to gain the most benefits from utilizing an expedited bidding process. Learn how to choose the best Relocation Management Company from Global Mobility Solutions, the relocation industry and technology experts who are dedicated to keeping you informed and connected. Contact our experts online or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Request your complimentary relocation policy review

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Choosing a Relocation Company Corporate relocation tips Domestic Relocation Global Relocation

How to Position Your Request for Proposal so Suppliers Have Correct Information

Your task is to position your Request for Proposal for Relocation Services so suppliers have all of the correct information they need to provide you with full and useful responses. With all of the many aspects of relocation programs, where should you begin?

To get the best responses, position your Request for Proposal with the information the suppliers need to understand your company and its current processes. You want to be clear in each question you ask the supplier, so you need to provide them with information about who you are and what you are seeking in a relocation services provider. Answers will vary based on the information you provide.

At a minimum, you should provide these four main points of information in order to receive robust responses to your Request for Proposal:

Four Main Points

1. Company Overview, Scope of Program, and Facility Locations

Provide information about your company, including size, number of employees, facility locations, organizational structure, and any associated companies and divisions. The scope of your relocation program is critically important for suppliers to know. Is it going to be a global program that covers all facilities worldwide? Or is the program specific to one geographical region, or only one division of your company? Position your Request for Proposal to provide as much detail as possible about what kind of relocation program your company is seeking. Additionally, be sure to include information about what range of services your company is interested in using.

2. Relocation Volume, Percentage of Homeowners and Renters, Average Home Sale Values

Position your Request for Proposal to include the number of relocations. This information is important for suppliers to know, to ensure appropriate staffing levels and structure for your company’s account service. It is also important information for the supplier to know so they can present the best pricing possible. The percentage of relocating employees who are homeowners versus renters helps the supplier understand the range of services your company’s program should use. The supplier will also be able to provide suggestions on how best to design the relocation program’s features and benefits. For your relocating employees who are homeowners, you should provide the average home sale values over the last few calendar years. This will help the supplier plan for the resources necessary to give these homeowners the best range of services. As a result, they will be able to correctly budget for home sale programs.

3. Position Your Request for Proposal so it Clearly Defines Global Program Needs

Many companies think of relocation programs in basic terms of moving their employee and family members from one location to another. Depending on the locations involved, the employee and their family might need a wide range of services to ensure a successful relocation. Global relocation needs could include any or all of the following services:

  • Assistance with Visas, Work Permits, Immigration
  • Language Training
  • Cultural Training
  • Travel Assistance
  • Property Management
  • Short Term Housing
  • Home Finding Assistance
  • Settling in Services (Driver’s Licenses, Child Care, Utility Arrangements, Interim Health Insurance)
  • Vehicle Lease or Purchase
  • Spouse and Partner Employment Assistance
  • School Searches
  • Pet Arrangements and Relocation
  • Repatriation Services

4. High Level Policy Review, Lump Sums

Provide information about your company’s current relocation policy and program at a high level. Note any tiers within the current policy that are used to provide different levels of service. The number of lump sums is important to include. Many RMCs have structured programs that employees can utilize with their lump sum dollars.

For example, Global Mobility Solutions (GMS) assists relocating employees with maximizing their allocated lump sum relocation dollars through our vast network of partners. Employees can select the options that they need from our a la carte menu of services, providing those services are within the parameters of your company’s specific policy. The dedicated relocation coach provides advice and counsel along the way. Additionally, the coach will explain how to best utilize their lump sum relocation dollars.

GMS’ relocation experts might also recommend an alternative to your company’s lump sums in the form of a managed cap program. The GMS managed cap program gives the employee a specific amount of funds to spend along with the benefit of the support services offered by GMS. GMS provides expertise in policy counseling to the employee on the best allocation of their funds when choosing from an array of relocation services. In addition, they receive guidance on the taxation of particular components. The managed cap program has contributed to fewer budget overages and higher satisfaction levels than the lump-sum option. This results in a maximum benefit for both the company and the employee.

Conclusion

Global Mobility Solutions’ team of global relocation experts has helped thousands of our clients with their requests for proposals. We can help your company understand how to position your request for proposal so that it has all of the information suppliers need for them to present the best solutions for your company’s relocation program. Contact our experts online or give us a call at 800.617.1904 or 480.922.0700 today.

Request your complimentary relocation policy review

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