Looking for a global mobility partner? Ten reasons to choose ECA

At ECA, we are flexible in how we work with our clients, because we know there is no one-size-fits-all model that works for everyone. It makes no difference whether you are brand new to mobility or a seasoned professional. You can lean on our expertise to guide you through the jungle of global mobility, and we are your soundboard whenever you want to run ideas past us. Whether it’s cost of living indices or a full-on assignment management system you’re after, it’s our job to make sure you have the right tools that fit your requirements to help you run a smooth mobility programme with successful assignments and happy assignees. 

1. Tailored solutions to solve your mobility needs

One of the most common questions we are asked is “what is the best practice?”. Thanks to the complexities of the mobility world, there is no easy answer; it depends on several factors, such as your company values and business priorities. However, answering that particular question with “it depends” is not good enough for us, so we work with you to decode your unique requirements to find out exactly what you want to achieve. At some organisations, employees might need strong incentives to take up an overseas position, whereas at others mobility is a given and employees are expected to pack their bags in order to have successful careers – and all of this has an impact on what’s the correct answer in your case. 

2. The most reliable data for your assignments

New clients are often surprised when they hear the extent to which we go to collect and analyse our data ourselves. We have a team of International Data Researchers who travel the world to collect prices for our Cost of Living and Accommodation reports. They also provide us with invaluable on-the-ground intelligence and help verify elements that are tricky to research remotely. Our clients’ assignees can also participate in our surveys, and although their input is extremely useful for us to establish trends in expatriate shopping patterns, it forms just one part of our multi-source approach to data collection.

3. Dedicated team of global mobility specialists

Having an extensive research team behind each of our products is a huge asset to ECA’s clients. It ensures that whenever you have a question, our account managers can easily speak to the subject-matter experts to get a quick and reliable response. For instance, we have an internal team of tax specialists, which means we are not reliant on the Big Four for our tax data. The team has perfected their research methods over the decades, and as with everything we publish, the data comes from multiple sources to ensure its accuracy. 

4. Comprehensive reports to cover all bases

Subscription gives you access to ECA’s online library of knowledge, which includes all the information you need to put assignment packages together. However, our data is not limited to numbers. The reports contain useful information to equip you with valuable insight. For instance, while it’s important to know how much to budget for accommodation, would it surprise you to hear that in some locations it is typical to pay two years’ rent up-front? Information like this is included in addition to rental costs to prepare you for confidently managing your assignments around the world. Moreover, our data is very granular in its nature, so that you can pitch your packages at appropriate levels according to your policy rules.

5. Software to help you focus on value-added tasks

Although Microsoft Excel – believe it or not – still seems to be the world’s most commonly used assignment management system, there is an increasing demand for more sophisticated solutions to make it easier to control costs and track both assignees as well as KPIs. ECAEnterprise, our assignment management system, can be bought off-the-shelf as a salary and cost-estimate calculator, or we can tailor it to suit your exact requirements in a completely bespoke fashion. Users can manage assignments through an intuitive workflow, generate assignment documents at a few clicks, and you can even include your expatriates in the process through our assignee portal. We also have a range of standalone tools, such as a Short-term Allowance Calculator for shorter assignments and a Net-to-Net Calculator to check the viability of a local salary offer in the host location. 

6. Quick and accurate calculations

Sometimes our clients come to us for one-off calculations, perhaps because their assignee volumes don’t warrant tools, or they don’t have the specialist knowledge in-house, or simply for the convenience. We provide a wide range of calculations to suit your needs, from build-ups and advice on appropriate allowances for short-term assignments to full cost projections. Having a subscription to our data isn't required to access this service, but subscribers do benefit from discounted fees.

7. Audit your policy today to avoid costly mistakes tomorrow

Having been at the forefront of the global mobility industry for nearly five decades, we can say we’ve seen it all – and we are happy to share the lessons we have learnt along the way. We can help you develop your policies to keep up with your increasingly complex global workforce requirements to overcome obstacles before they turn into full-blown problems. Our consultants have a wealth of experience at drafting policy frameworks from scratch, or we can fine-tune your existing policies to meet the ever-evolving business needs. We are also happy to help you find the right wording for your assignment letters, or brainstorm together to solve an issue that is troubling your day-to-day.

8. The size of your assignee population makes no difference

It is easy to justify the need for a mobility data subscription or an assignment management system when you have a large expatriate population. However, our clients come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from small start-ups to big, multinational household names. We have assisted many companies with their very first assignments, highlighting the numerous hurdles and teaching them how to avoid common pitfalls. For those with hundreds of assignees, we have the data and knowledge to support all different types of assignments, so you can manage your programme efficiently and proactively, bringing real value to the business. 

9. Remain ahead of the curve with our insight

We are passionate about training and up-skilling global mobility professionals and love to share our knowledge. You can find lots of free resources on our website, including white papers, webinars, articles and this blog, providing advice and insights on a variety of mobility issues. Our most popular classroom training course, The International HR Practitioner, is an A to Z deep-dive into the various complexities mobility teams grapple with every day, and our experts run it around the world several times a year. Participants range from mobility newbies to people with decades of experience in the field, and some of our clients have built the course into their induction programmes to help their new colleagues get up to speed. We are also happy to come to your offices to run tailored workshops that focus on and help you solve your pressure points.

10. Dedicated support you can rely on 

Regardless of the way you decide to work with us, you can count on receiving world-class service. Client satisfaction is extremely important to us and we pride ourselves on the speed of our response. Our four offices around the world – London, New York, Sydney and Hong Kong – ensure that we are available when and where you are. Moreover, our specialists offer their insights at various events, mobility forums and breakfast briefings around the world, and you can also catch us on TV and in print.

These are just some of the reasons why we are the number one choice for international HR teams in a world that’s constantly moving.

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