(Newswire.net — November 3, 2020) — Every business dreams of one day taking its operations internationally. But aspiring to an international expansion is a very different proposition from actually doing it. Going international is about more than just funding the expansion of a business overseas. You need to be able to move people and resources just as reliably as you can move money overseas if you want your business to achieve a truly global reach.
Every modern business aspires to achieve global mobility, but actually doing so is much more difficult than most businesses realize. Below is everything you need to know about global mobility strategies, to help you understand what they are and how you can formulate your own.
Global Mobility
Businesses today need to be versatile and mobile. Being mobile means that a business can move its employees from place to place with ease. Mobile employees can be transferred from one country or location to another at a moment’s notice. Whether for the purposes of a short-term or long-term assignment, mobile employees stand ready to relocate to wherever they’re needed at a moments’ notice. Many mobile employees find themselves traveling between locations regularly.
From the description above, you can probably work out what global mobility is. It is the ability of a business to move its workforce and resources internationally seamlessly. Being able to refocus their efforts internationally is a powerful capability for any business. A company that has achieved full global mobility can easily navigate some of the most crucial aspects of operating an international business.
Acclimation To New Markets
Every market is different. From one country or region to the next, the business culture and ethos can change dramatically. Adjusting to a new culture is usually a relatively long process; it’s very rare to set up shop in a new location and immediately understand the local economy’s nuances and subtleties.
A business that has attained full global mobility will know how to slip between one region and another. The network of contacts they will have established and the experience they have gained will both enable them to make the necessary transitions as effortlessly as possible.
Employment Law
The rules and regulations surrounding the employment of workers vary from country to country. Any business that wants to establish a presence in a new market needs to familiarise themselves with the local employment laws. These laws cover all aspects of contracts between employers and employees, as well as assignment letters and the conditions under which employers are allowed to bring on new workers.
Not only do the general employment laws vary from country to country, but there is also variability between specific industries. Some highly specialized industries are governed by their own laws in addition to standard employment regulations. For example, businesses that handle hazardous materials, prepare and serve food, and those that provide public utilities and services are all likely to be subjected to additional regulations beyond the common employment laws in their markets.
Talent Management And Retention
Not every worker is cut out for the challenges and stresses involved in being mobile. Not only do these workers need to be able to cope with the physical stresses involved in moving from location to location, but they also need to be able to keep up the stellar performance regardless of the market they are currently operating in. Encouraging top talent to join your team is a tall order at the best of times; when you expect them to operate globally, the ask is even bigger.
Whenever your business is able to land one of these rare workers, you need to do all you can to retain their services. It’s no good attracting top talent to your team if they fly the nest for greener pastures as soon as the opportunities arise.
Developing A Global Mobility Strategy
A global mobility strategy is a business plan that incorporates the seamless movement of people and resources between different locations. In some cases, mobile businesses might even move their resources between themselves and a sister or parent company. A comprehensive global mobility strategy will augment an existing business strategy and set out exactly how a more mobile workforce will enable them to realize their corporate vision while adhering to the values and ethos that define their business.
A solid global mobility strategy will involve all the key players within a business who can assist in planning and executing that strategy. No two global mobility strategies will look the same; each one should be tailored to the company it concerns. Every company has its own ethos and vision for the future. Transplanting a corporate culture from one marketplace to another is a more complicated and delicate process than you might think.
Unfortunately for some businesses, it’s not as simple as choosing a pre-existing template and reworking it for your business. Instead, you need to formulate your approach from scratch while considering the unique characteristics of your business. Devising a viable global mobility strategy is no easy feat. It is a complicated and involved process that will take even the savviest business some time to refine and perfect.
Why Is It So Important?
For many businesses, the global component will represent just one small part of their overall operations. Small businesses in particular may wonder why they should invest the time and effort required to develop a global mobility strategy when it only affects a relatively small component of their overall structure.
But neglecting a global mobility strategy is a foolish move. For one thing, virtually all businesses harbor a desire to go global at some point. Not many businesses begin in one market with no ambitions to expand their operations to greener pastures. Any business that has an eye on long-term growth should be considering its international opportunities.
How To Build An International Growth Strategy
The most reliable way of developing a feasible global mobility strategy is to work with a partner who has an in-depth understanding of the market that you wish to expand into. Alternatively, you can develop a global mobility strategy in concert with a business-like New Horizons, who has experience with global mobility themselves. New Horizons offers multiple services to businesses looking to expand their operations, including serving as a professional employer organization and employer of record for client businesses.
Whether you are working with other partners or not, having an understanding of the market that you are trying to reach is always beneficial. Not only will such an understanding enable you to assess the validity of any strategies that they present to you, but it will also prove invaluable in assessing the suitability of any workers who wish to join the global component of your team.
Any business that has aspirations of one day going global needs to have a solid global mobility strategy in place. This strategy will define your approach to expanding into new market and ensuring that resources and personnel are able to transfer between locations and markets seamlessly. Individuals who work for your business being able to transfer seamlessly is equivalent to your business’s ability as an entity to transfer seamlessly. You can’t have one without the other. That’s why a global mobility strategy is so important.