Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/182340
Relocation "The initial driver of our first apps was pure expense management—an efficient way to submit receipts," explains Brian Schutjer, GMS executive vice president and co-founder. "Wherever you were in the world, you could upload this data for quicker reimbursement and accounting purposes. For the employer app, we focused on a simpler way to pull down reports, looking at dollars spent on this task or that one. It was all pretty basic." Clients voiced their interest in a richer array of financial reports and metrics delivered via the app, such as candidate performance assessments, on-time delivery of household goods, and home sales statistics. "If you get a question on the fly and need information at your fingertips, the new apps can handle it," he says. As with many industries today, big data is having its impact on relocation services. "As companies have become much more data driven, their needs have changed as well," says Ron Dunlap, chief information officer the Graebel Companies, Inc. "Clients now expect proactive management of their entire global mobility program. This includes deploying predicative analytics that can lead to changes in their mobility policies to meet the needs of their existing and prospective employees quickly. This can be done via traditional reporting, ad hoc reporting, and automated dashboards that notify client decision-makers of changes that would have otherwise been reported days, if not weeks later." What's next for this technology? "Apps will continue to move toward the cloud," says Dunlap. "While that may help companies and their relocating employees and transferees have great access to information, it will also require a much more detailed due diligence to ensure that the apps are secure for the type of personal, confidential information that is required during relocations or overseas assignments." Rich content is also on the horizon. "To provide our clients' employees with an even more enhanced experience, we're currently working on the next generation of apps, which will take advantage of advances in smartphone and tablet technologies," notes Eric Egnet, COO and CIO of Mobility Services International. "We see video, education and training, language, and culture apps being at the forefront of the next technological push." The Technophile Factor Enhanced features makes moving more efficient—and fun. Here are some of the best problem solvers. • What's in those boxes? Solved. XONEX provides transferees with labels that contain a QR code for their moving boxes. The app prompts the transferee to scan the QR code on the box and, via voice or finger typing, list the inventory within. "When the goods arrive at the destination, you just scan the QR code on the box again and it tells you what's inside," says Holden. "There's no need to dig through a ton of paperwork to find the toaster." • What else do I have to do? Solved. XONEX's app presents all relocations tasks in personalized checklists, which are split into different tasks, such as administrative, departure, home finding, home sale, and so on. Homeowners can easily keep tabs contracting escrow, setting up bank accounts, and meeting with realtors. "Each time you complete the task, the app recalibrates the percentage of tasks left to do. On the dashboard it will say, for instance, '37 percent still needs to be completed,'" Holden says. • When are my boxes coming? Solved. Global Mobility Solution offers the expanded ability to view information on the various vendors assigned to their transfer. "It will have contact points for whoever is handling your relocation—Allied Van Lines or United," Schutjer explains. "They [transferees] will now have direct feeds to updates from suppliers on when their goods will arrive, rather than have this information reside in our four walls here." • Where's my support? Solved. "MSI's app is integrated with social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, transferees can instantly communicate with friends, family members, and coworkers, and have a very positive overall experience," says Egnet. Russ Banham can be reached at www.russbanham.com SEPTEMBER 2013 | www.hrotoday.com [73]