Posts from October 2011
Is your relocation supplier a perfect fit?
If someone had told you a few years ago that you would soon be able to carry a device that’s a computer, a phone, a camera and carries all your music and reading material in a single device that fits in your pocket, you may have suggested they may be crazy.
But what initially seems like a crazy idea can very quickly become an accepted part of everyday life, like the smartphone.
Well the same goes for the world of relocation. A world that is moving at a rapid pace and placing ever greater demands and challenges on HR Assignment Management. Shorter lead times, tighter deadlines, globalised operating models versus regional models, from long term to short term, stealth assignees … an HR/assignment manager has to juggle so many diverse responsibilities. Monday a lawyer, Tuesday an accountant, Wednesday a tax specialist, Thursday a marriage guidance councillor, Friday an education specialist or supply chain management specialist. Or it could be all in the same day!
That’s before we even mention ensuring a happily settled assignee – not that assignee satisfaction alone is any thing like enough these days there is also the issue of managing cost, or cost reduction, cost control, cost elimination, whatever its name may be dressed up as where you are! What’s certain is that you’ll be faced with making sure it costs less than last year. Hard enough at the best of times, but it’s even harder to control or manage cost when it may be hidden. HHG’s invoices have been likened to that of a car service. you know you need it, you’re not sure exactly what they do, you get a couple of calls to say you need this additional and that additional and you’re not entirely sure what the expensive bill is actually for by the time they’ve finished!!
Then there’s the challenge of ever-changing legislation coupled with increased security measures. Oh and in case you didn’t have enough to think about, making sure that the services you procure meet the environmental standards of the company CSR programme!
These are just some of the challenges and the bet is it won’t get any easier.
But before you decide to pack it all in and take to the hills or jump off the nearest cliff, let’s see what help might be at hand from your suppliers!
First, you need a supplier that’s already ahead of the game. One that has its eyes fixed firmly on where the industry’s going rather than where it is today. One that understands the problems you will face and offers the services to tackle them.
We know very well that reacting to the next challenge simply isn’t enough anymore. That’s why we are so committed to challenging the industry status quo and so passionate about improving the lives of our customers.
Through true open book costing, Robinsons are already able to demystify your final invoice and provide you with the real cost transparency you need. We are already working with leading academics and authorities that are influencing and shaping the new legislation and security measures of the future. We already have sophisticated operating systems that will calculate the carbon emissions of each one of your assignee relocations.
Speaking of the future, let’s anticipate a few trends in the relocation industry:
- you will be able to buy relocation and HHG’s services at a fixed commodity type price anywhere in the world. Your suppliers will openly share their costs and margins with you – surely that’s what true partnership is really about? Your invoice will represent the quality of the services delivered and why shouldn’t it?
- the emphasis on security will increase; not just physical security but data security. Data security will be a serious issue, going beyond the requirement of ISO 270001 and potentially needing to meet the protocols of the likes of GCHQ.
- new UK and European government legislation will mean carbon emissions measurement will have to be proved, not just talked about.
Actually, all that’s not the future, it’s the present with Robinsons. So when you’re making a choice about your next supplier, make sure it’s one that uses its imagination and not just its memory.
Regards
The Robinsons Team
