The Future of Relocation is already Here
Helmut Berg, owner and general manager of RSB Deutschland Gesellschaft für Relocation Services und -Beratung, is responsible for some 170 colleagues Germany-wide and is internationally set in globally working networks of cooperation partners. Thus, founded in 1990 and internationally operating since then, RSB can offer relocation services in over 100 countries.
Berg, aside from running one of the largest and most experienced relocation services in Germany with headquarters centrally located in Frankfurt, views his company and industry differently than most. He goes for the Big Picture, that is the new, expanding, more critical than ever role relocation service plays, not just here in Germany, but throughout the world.
He explains that the individual person and his or her family being assigned to a new foreign location is going to be much more dependent on relocation services now than in the past. The critical need to get over, settle in, be up and running with absolute minimal loss of time and utmost integration both at work and within the community are more important now than ever. To realize what mobility means for the individual employees and their families is an integral part of RSB's quality of service. It is people's business and therefore "management of expectations" of all parties concerned.
Relocation is much more than "merely" obtaining visas, work permits, organising driving licenses, finding and securing suitable accommodation and schools or setting up phones and internet, electricity, gas, water, insurances, library cards - even as important as these traditional services are. But now everything must be accomplished even faster, with the utmost quality to cater for the even more complex services and with much greater flexibility than before, and as well with utmost professionalism. Especially, as more and more short term assignments are planned which need to be managed and running equally efficient as long term assignments.
Cultural immersion for all family members as well as the principal player is vital to assure success and overall satisfaction with the new venue. Companies no longer have as many in-house staff experts or salaried personnel as years ago: the newcomer is challenged with a swim or sink attitude, and they'd better swim as neither the company's needs nor the individual's career can afford familial dislocation, dissatisfaction or hostility to their new environment.
Berg maintains the metaphor of the client being the great ship entering a jammed, crowded harbor, packed with hundreds of containers; each container an unanswered question, a rumor, a prejudice, a fear. The relocation service is the harbor pilot service which knows every nook and cranny of the channel, the details of the waterfront, and exactly how to twist and turn about so that the big vessel imperceptibly attains its dockage following a long voyage, and quickly and efficiently disposes of cargo in a timely, smooth, orderly manner, without confusion, damage or loss. Of course this managing personnel transfers needs the utmost sensitivity too to take as well care of all matters below water, or the surface. And then, repeats the same process in reverse when it's time for the client to head on to other assignments.
Future will bring new and dramatically changed employment scenarios. Berg is convinced: the "war for talents" is on. The number of big firms contracting specialized "combat teams" of experts will grow. Well educated, fully-fledged specialists, separately or in small teams will provide services for limited assignments of several months or just a couple of years rather than the big long-term job as in the past. No one firm can handle the entire trade but must now rely on knowing which related companies can best handle specific assignments, plugging in the right components in the right sequence. To help these "nomads" requires knowledge, flexibility, experience and the ability to co-ordinate various services in order to deliver a cohesive service. Tax, social security, immigration, intercultural adaptation, career & life transition services, destination services for individuals as well as the organization and consulting for companies and their employees who move headquartes or entire departments - just to mention the most important elements.
It's a challenge like no other, Herr Berg, a branch veteran with more than 20years of experience maintains. Being in constant communication with the industry, his colleagues, new trends and sourcing new services causes Berg to be a man in motion throughout Europe and in North America as globalization looms larger forcing relocations agencies to come up with better answers on a planetary basis. As the President of EuRA - the European Relocation Association - from mid 2008-mid 2011 he has co-initiated the introduction of the EuRA Quality Seal, the first certification for the relocation branch, and obtained and still holds the Quality Seal for his own company since 2008 as one of the first providers. Berg is an expert when it comes to trends and quality is one of the most important parts within relocation.
To see how Berg's own company, RSB, goes about meeting these challenges and tasks for its clients in Germany and throughout the world, go to www.rsb-relocation.de and see what Helmut Berg's company can do for you, your company or any other firm entering or leaving Germany.
