It is always a primary goal for us to make sure a move is both well-planned and productive, with as little stress as possible. With this in mind, I’ve explored five different resources that may assist in facilitating a seamless relocation – so your transferee can transition back into work smoothly and efficiently.
From new technological advances to practicing greener business models, these resources can enhance the relocation experience for both the transferee and the employer.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) - Chatbots
In the age of AI, choosing to avoid technology and its advances will only set your business back. Chatbots continue to evolve at a rapid pace, and more and more HR departments look to them as an exceptionally useful tool in the relocation process.
Machine learning allows artificial intelligence to make predictions and learn through data consumption. Through this machine learning, chatbots can provide personalized, human-like responses and learn to navigate transferees through the relocation process in real-time.
The modern-day relocating employee desires convenience, efficiency, and solutions available at their fingertips. By leveraging chatbots, you are accommodating your employee with 24/7 HR assistance through the ease of their smart devices.
AI Chatbots can also optimize workflow by taking care of HR support functions and allowing HR executives to take on a more strategic role in business operations. The combination of human intelligence and artificial intelligence can improve communication and convenience for all involved.
VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) – Virtual Surveys
Virtual surveys are becoming popular as an alternative for select in-home estimates. The technology allows the estimating process of a residential move to be quicker, simpler, and far less time-consuming.
The in-person process typically entails an estimator coming to the home and reviewing what belongings are planning to be moved. Typical estimates can take up to an hour and require the transferee to be at home to guide the estimator. With virtual surveys, your transferee can virtually walk through their house and make note of the items to be moved and in turn, be provided with a clear and precise estimate of all moving charges. When a move is relatively straight-forward and simple, you can save your transferee time and energy with virtual surveys, improving employee productivity.
Virtual reality (VR) technology may be the next technology adopted for moving. Virtual reality is 3D computer-generated technology that uses special headsets or helmets to create realistic environments – from images to sounds, the imaginary environment is seemingly real and can even sometimes be interactive. VR may become useful in previewing apartments, offices, schools, and neighborhoods – all without having to leave home. When time, expense or other limitations make an in-person visit to the new location prohibitive, VR may become an alternative that provides a realistic virtual “visit”, providing the transferee more peace of mind and certainty, without having to physically be there to evaluate their new space.
According to Recruiter magazine, “the ubiquitous 360-degree cameras that are highly compatible with VR headsets provide the perfect tool to showcase any property, anywhere, anytime. A panoramic presentation of a new home, office, or city is about as close to the real thing as you can get.”
RENT VS. BUY – Accommodating the ‘Asset-Light’ Lifestyle
Renting vs. buying – it’s a debate as old as time. But when it comes down to it, ‘asset-light’ living has quickly been adopted as a common lifestyle for the modern-day employee on the move. The concept of Rent-the-Runway isn’t just for women’s clothing anymore. Services for renting your household goods, from your forks to your bed, are increasingly available in major metro markets today.
Dallas-Fort Worth-based company Nickson is just one example of a service that assists the ‘asset-light’ lifestyle.
After your employee has decided on a new apartment, he or she will take a simple style quiz and upload a copy of the apartment’s floor plan. From there, the Nickson design team analyzes the tastes and personal style preferences of your transferee. When move-in day arrives, your transferee walks in to a fully furnished apartment stylized to their own tastes. Whether the lease expires, or your transferee is relocating again, he or she simply leaves and lets Nickson take care of removing the furniture from their space.
Providing an ‘asset-light’ option, such as this, for your mobile transferee could be a differentiating benefit, especially for employees who will be making short-term moves, accepting temporary positions, or be relocating frequently. It’s important that your transferee not only has a place to stay, but a place to call home.
ECO-CONSCIOUSNESS – Allied AISRS
Based on a recent Pew Research Center Survey, about 74% of U.S. adults said, “the country should do whatever it takes to protect the environment,” and at Allied, we couldn’t agree more. As a progressive company, we’re leading the industry in environmentally-friendly business practices, one being our Allied Imaging Storage and Retrieval System (AISRS).
AISRS is an electronic content management system that stores and organizes billing and invoicing documents through a secure online program. This digital storage and retrieval system allows Allied to virtually eliminate the need for paper billing and invoicing documents through a secure online program.
The AISRS:
•Eliminates the need for paper documents
•Offers quick and easy access to documents online
•Delivers accurate and timely invoices
•Offers more billing options
•Reduces processing time A
llied has reduced its paper consumption for such documents by 90 percent through this innovative system, saving thousands of reams of paper a year. Eliminating paper billing and invoicing not only reduces our carbon footprint, but also makes business more efficient for your company.
If you haven’t already, it’s good to connect with your relocation services partner to find out what measures they’ve taken to be more eco-conscious. Your sustainable involvement is greatly respected and appreciated by the majority of Americans who are concerned about protecting our planet.
DECLUTTERING – Declutter Solutions
Decluttering – it’s not a new concept, but it’s a movement that has been reignited by tidying expert Marie Kondo. Many people who face a big move are overwhelmed with the process and don’t realize what a wonderful opportunity moving is for streamlining their belongings. Tidying up, decluttering and mindfulness are top of mind worldwide right now, thanks to the KonMari movement.
After decluttering, your transferee is most likely looking to get rid of those unwanted belongings. At Allied, we have partnered with The Salvation Army to provide transferees with the right solutions to make for a seamless, low-stress move.
Unwanted belongings can be picked up by and taken to a Salvation Army store, where all items purchased directly fund adult rehab programs that change lives and restore families. The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC) provides housing, food, counseling, and employment for program beneficiaries as they work to address the root causes of prolonged alcohol and drug dependence.
Make sure your relocation partners have ways for you to assist your mobile transferee with their opportunity to declutter and spark some joy in their move while doing good in the community.
Relocating to a new city can certainly be a long, chaotic process, but when you merge strategic planning with the best available processes & technology, the ultimate experience can become a corporate relocation that is free of distractions and complications for your transferee. Resources such as these can help ease the emotional strain of moving and assist in reaching positive and productive outcomes for the transferee and their family.
