EuRA (the European Relocation Association) hosted its annual conference in Warsaw, Poland from 25th to the 28th of April. The event was a great success and was thoroughly enjoys by all 650 delegates who attended. Members of the relocation industry appreciate this annual opportunity to gather, network and share best practices and trends for the coming year.
This year, Intouch Relocations was a gold sponsor and exhibitor as well as being well represented by 6 delegates (Kavit Handa, Sebastien Besson, Corallie Pringle, Shirley Doran, Jennifer Awori and Alex Brits). Corallie and Sebastien were also invited to participate as panelist in two sessions at the conference.
Trends and Hot Topics
- It is tempting to talk tech, tech and more tech. From social media and instant messaging to apps and VR (virtual reality). We live in a rapidly evolving world, the impact on the relocation industry cannot be underestimate. This year the focus was on how technology can be used to enhance service bring value and meaning, and, how to stand out in a world of abundance. Of critical importance when deciding how the industry will interact with this technology, will be managing the heightened risks of data security and reputational damage.
- API was a critical topic of discussion. Application Programming Interface (API) will allow the different Assignment Management Software Systems that are used by Relocation Management Companies and Destination Service Providers to be linked. This will greatly reduce the administrative burden and allow for seamless reporting and tracking of data.
- Demonstrating Value Add: with organisations continuing to focus on cost containment, we are increasingly being asked to demonstrate the value that we bring. It is no longer sufficient to say that we are providing an excellent service, we need to support this claim with empirical data in monetary terms.
- Using “Core-Flex” programmes to contain costs while still offering customised support. The idea here is to give the assignee more latitude to decide what services are important to her and how she would like to use the time with the relocation consultant. This trend is challenging us as relocation companies, to be more creative in the solutions we offer our clients.
The take-away message that we got was to put customers at the centre of everything we do, finding innovative ways to make a positive impact on their relocation experience.
The Intouch Team found it fascinating to visits Warsaw, learn a bit about Polish culture and make new connections in the relocation industry.
