No clear directions for relocations
Employees traveling for international assignments were struggling with a disjointed relocation process. The process lacked a clear global directive, and relocation travel management was split between the United States and Switzerland. Meanwhile, other essential relocation aspects, such as housing and moving services, were handled locally in the host regions where the employees were relocating. This fragmentation led to numerous issues, including incomplete travel requests and delays caused by time zone differences. Employees were left confused and frustrated, and the company’s global mobility process was far from optimal.
Customer at a Glance
- Industry: Pharmaceuticals
- Headquarters: Switzerland
- Presence: 150+ countries
- Number of employees: 100,000+
- Annual revenue: US$70 billion
Hub system smooths tangled global mobility process
To address the challenges, we collaborated closely with the client to develop a hub system for booking relocation travel. This approach centralized the process, ensuring that travel bookings were managed in the region where the employees were relocating. We established four regional hubs: Basel for Europe, Singapore for APAC (except China), Shanghai for China and Hong Kong, and a virtual hub in the U.S. for North and global Latin America.
This regional hub system meant that relocation travel could be managed locally in the host region where the local relocation agency also is based. This eliminated the issues caused by time zone differences. Communication efficiency also improved. Further, we introduced an international assignment booking form, standardizing the information required for each relocation. This form ensured that all necessary details, from family members to pet information, were included upfront, reducing the need for follow-up communications.
Faster response times and fewer disruptions
The reorganized and redefined process for global mobility led to faster email response times and smoother transitions for relocating employees. Travelers experienced fewer disruptions and a more positive overall experience. The administrative burden on both BCD and the client’s teams was significantly reduced, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks. Additionally, the new process improved cost savings, compliance, and duty of care, providing a more robust support system for employees on international assignments.
BCD Travel has been managing business travel and global mobility travel for this pharmaceutical leader in over 60 countries for more than a decade. Our expertise in handling complex global mobility travel types—ranging from pre-assignment trips to repatriation—proved helpful to the pharma client. By understanding the unique challenges of global mobility and leveraging their extensive experience, we were able to create a more efficient, user-friendly process. Employees now enjoy a seamless relocation experience, while the company benefits from improved operational efficiency and cost savings.
