Thanks to the facilitations that modern technology has gifted the business realm with, more and more companies these days consider sending staff to work abroad to help the organization scale up. The reasons why a company may choose to assign international tasks to suitable employees are endless. For instance, relocation abroad is an effective way to research new markets you may want to expand into. First-hand knowledge of the newly-eyed audience can be one of the most valuable resources for international business expansion. Plus, you'll gain a clearer picture of how your competitors achieve success, which can help you craft further strategies to improve your products or services.
Needless to say, there are many advantages to having employees explore foreign soil and improve their skills. However, despite the perks, there are challenges to overcome and many factors to consider, which ultimately come down to how communication and remote cooperation will be approached to remove any potential obstacles and barriers.
Undoubtedly, technology plays an instrumental role when employees embark on international assignments, facilitating communication and assisting in their adaptation to new surroundings. Here, we highlight the crucial tech tools that employees should have access to when preparing to relocate abroad for business purposes.
eSIM
Connectivity and the ability to communicate uninterruptedly and without budget-wrecking costs are one of the essential factors to consider when crafting the employee relocation strategy. Everyone wants the most affordable, cheapest solution in order to save money when keeping in touch with relatives away from home. As such, eSIM has emerged as a necessary solution when crossing national borders on the go.
If you've stuck to the physical sim card so far, it's only natural to wonder what is eSIM and what it brings to the table compared to the removable cards embedded in the device. Simply put, this card enables the user to easily activate and use a cellular plan without introducing the physical card anymore. They have phased out their competitors, and the eSIM card market is expected to grow to approximately $20.6 billion by the end of 2032, as studies from LinkedIn suggest. Thus, it's gaining traction in both business and personal areas, improving and facilitating communication and internet connections. It's compatible with a wide range of devices, ranging from iPhone to Xiaomi and Samsung, and can be easily activated by contacting a reliable service provider.
With the issue of cost-effective communication sorted out, the next step is to provide the departing employee with the essential tools they'll need for their overseas duties, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, or phablets, tailored to the specific tasks they'll be undertaking.
Virtual reality tools
Facilitating employee relocations to foreign countries involves assessing multiple aspects, including accommodation in an unfamiliar environment, whether accompanying family members will be part of the move, and other logistical considerations. Indeed, sending them to the new country to personally inspect potential homes and select the most suitable one defies rational justification. Not only is this practice unjustifiably costly and time-consuming, but it doesn't necessarily guarantee that they'll find the best pick.
For this reason, forward-thinking companies leverage artificial intelligence and virtual reality to help employees gain enhanced insights into their prospective living environments right from the moment they relocate. These technologies allow for a virtual tour of the property, enabling meticulous room inspections that help relocators envision themselves in these specific settings and gain a tangible sense of how their lives will unfold. Experiencing a place beforehand can streamline the relocation since employees no longer need to tour houses, offices, or even towns.
Certainly, VR tools are valuable for providing insights, but they can't be the sole determining factor in the decision-making process. What they can do, however, is offer insights that will make the relocation smoother and potentially minimize the cultural shock when arriving at the designated destination.
Language translation devices
The relocation process becomes significantly smoother if the employee has a solid grasp of the language spoken in their new surroundings or speaks their mother language fluently. Nevertheless, it's important to acknowledge that this ideal scenario isn't always possible. In the worst-case scenario, effective communication can remain challenging even with a basic understanding of the local dialect.
To help employees cope with any barriers that may arise from interacting with individuals speaking a foreign language, you can invest in language translation devices such as earbuds or voice translators.
The former comes in a wide range of models and has different functionalities, with prices differing depending on the brand and options desired. It's enough to wear such a device and have real-time, on-spot translation, effectively transmitting the intended message and understanding the interlocutor's responses.
On the other hand, pocket translators can also effectively translate audio records, with some options including cameras to decipher further documents, images, and visual content.
Cloud technology
As technology has tremendously advanced, practically any important data can now be stored on a cloud-based platform. They have great potential to smooth the relocation process because staff won't worry about managing crucial data, tracking documents, staying updated, or doing other important tasks.
These centralized platforms can assist in keeping everyone in the loop regarding any pertinent alterations to a corporation. A cloud-based portal enables flexibility, effectively helping businesses looking to scale up their operations.
Cloud services can be accessed from any type of device, such as notebooks, phablets, or smartphones, so the employee is kept in the loop on the go regardless of their whereabouts. The obvious advantages have become more apparent with the pandemic outbreak and are now widespread and essential to businesses in numerous industries.
Clearly, preparing employees to relocate and work abroad is challenging, given all the details that must be sorted out beforehand. However, by employing the right tech tools, you can help facilitate a smoother transition and ensure your business goals are more likely to be achieved.
