I  have  been  35  years  in  reloca2on,  the  tradi2onal  hand  holding  expensive  way  of  reloca2ng.  With  offices  across  Europe.  But  I  am  ques2oning  current  business  models  and  seeing  that  many  of  todays  reloca2on  programmes  are  costly  and  frankly  a  waste  of  2me  and  money.  I  am  figh2ng  against  such  assump2ons.      

 

One  size  never  did  fit  all  but  tradi2onal  reloca2on  companies  did  very  well  with  such  a  model,  crea2ng  standardized  services  and  prices  that  ignored  who  exactly  was  moving.    Nobody  takes  into  account  todays  technology  and  digital  opportuni2es  in  the  reloca2on  process..    

 

So  what  is  wrong  with  todays  model!  Can  we    re-­‐design  the  reloca2on  process  to  incorporate  a  real-­‐life  reloca2on  experience  with  meaning.  I  think  back  to  all  of  those  mothers,  grandmothers  crea2ng  a  home  far  away  in  the  pre-­‐Skype,  pre-­‐internet  era  and  the  difference  this  digital  revolu2on  has  made.  

Cirque  du  Soleil    is  a  brilliant  example  of  realizing  that  to  win  the  future  you  have  to  jump  out  of  all  current  thinking,  stop  trying  to  compete    with  tradi2onal  players    and  re-­‐invent  a  new  market  space  with  a  new  approach.  Hence  a  circus  without  animals!  A  reloca2on  without  handholding!    

•  So  I  have  been  looking  in  the  crowded  market  of  the  reloca2on  services  in  the  same  way.  Calling  my  company  relocateyourself.  PuQng  expatriates  in  the  driving  seat,  reducing  costs  and  making  it  available  for  many  kinds  of  relocatees-­‐  changing  reloca2on  to    deliver  client-­‐centered  informa2on  to  a  wide  range  of  customers.    

So  actually  in  my  book  there  is  no  such  thing  as  tradi2onal  reloca2on  anymore.  I  see  reloca2on  as  a  life  journey.  I  realized  we  could  build  a  new  reloca2on  system  based  on  need.  Its  not  about  waving  goodbye  to  a  moving  van  when  furniture  is  delivered!.    That’s  when  a  reloca2on  begins  and  should  move  with  you  though  your  working  life.    

 

We  live  in  an  on-­‐demand  economy,  World  of  work  is  changing.    Employees  are  calling  the  shots  with  poten2al  employers,  They  choose  where  they  would  like  to  live  and  go  aTer  it.  geQng  hired  across  con2nents  and  driving  the  hiring  process.        

 Expatriates  today  imagine  they  are  global  knowledge  nomads,  free  to  go,  to  do  and  to  find  out  easily  what  they  want  to  know.    Usually  informa2on  comes  from  digital  streams.  I  believe  that  aTer  a  couple  of  hours  in  front  of  the  computer  our  expats  have  a  lot  of  informa2on  but  limited  knowledge.  

•  At  the  same  2me  there  is  growing  expecta2on  from  a  mobile  driven,  internet  savvy,  self-­‐sufficient  culture  to  have    ever  greater  convenience  of  choice  in  their  everyday  lives.    

•  Translated  to  the  world  of  reloca2on  there  is  an  expecta2on  that  assignees  want  to  take  more  control  (and  responsibility)  priori2zing  their  differing  needs.  

•  My  concept  has  been  frequently  referred  to  as  a  ‘self  service’  approach  How  long  aTer    reloca2on  can  you  s2ll  need  support  and  assistance.  One,  three  or  five  years.  It’s  a  life2me  support  system!    Current  reloca2on  thinking  is  no  longer  useful  for  today’s  assignee  and  family!      

When  you  have  been  moved  from  pillar  to  post  for  your  work  or  your  partners  work.    You  kind  of  get  experienced  in  managing  change!    On  the  other  hand  you  lose  a  great  deal  of  career  choice,  puQng  down  roots,  becoming  part  of  a  community  and  having  all  the  success  that  comes  with  staying  in  one  place  for  a  length  of  2me.  

I  have  been  thinking  of  these  people  who  are  permanent  expats.  Expatriates  I  know  have  turned  their  hand  to  building  up  support  groups,  online  forums,blogs  suppor2ng  all  sorts  of  expatriate  communi2es,  very  successfully.  Knowledge  is  a  valuable  commodity,  why  not  share  it?    

So  I  have  thought  how  very  useful  these  serial  expatriates  are  to  the  reloca2on  experience.  it’s  these  kind  of  people  that  we  would  like  to  see  support  the  reloca2on  experience  in  a  way  Corporates  will  buy  into.    

I  have  created  an  interac2ve  online  pla]orm  driven  en2rely  by  the  needs  and  immediate  ques2ons  that  poten2al  expatriates  are  asking.  Channeling  the  know-­‐how  of  experienced  expatriates  into  a  useful  service  for  Corporates  who  are  searching  for  a  change  to  reduce  costs  and  s2ll  support  their  personnel.  

 

I  incorporate  their  knowledge,  experience  and  exper2se  to  build  up  a  database  of  global  reloca2on  experts  connec2ng  them  to  the  people  following  in  their  footsteps.  All  the  while  referring  back  to  Corporates  who  are  searching  for  a  new  low  cost  approach  but  don’t  always  dare  to  jump  in.    

We  are  able  to  offer  Corporates  and  individuals  access  to  reloca2on  specialists.  I  work  with  talented  local  experts  in  their  loca2ons  .  .  I  have  found  such  brilliant  people  to  assist  us  all  over  the  world.  Amazing  no  Company  has  looked  for  them  before!    

So  change  is  coming.  Soon  we  can  say  this  is  what  Expats  expect  nowadays  an  online  solu2on  that,  allows  expats  to  ask  ques2ons  and  buy  assistance  day  or  night  direct  from  locals!  And  you  no  longer  have  to  work  with  far-­‐away  experts  to  make  a  reloca2on  successful.    

By  tapping  into  those  that  have  done  it  before  we  give  an  authen2ciity  to  a  reloca2on  service  .    We  are  part  of  the  local  lifestyle  and  open  up  exci2ng  possibili2es  because    we  capture  the  local  culture  and  know  what  the  locals  are  thinking.    

do  let  us  know  if  you    feel  qualified  to  join  our  global  network  of  local  talent  we  would  love  to  talk  to  you  .  We  are  crea2ng  the  reloca2on  service  of  tomorrow.    Be^er  suited  for  tomorrows  expat  and  their  employer!    

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