Easy relocation

Albin Porquez has worked for over eleven years in the mobility sector, firstly in international moves, then today in relocation, in other words, support for the professional mobility of employees, as CEO of the company Executive Relocations. Having been expatriated to various African countries in the course of his career himself, he has a sound knowledge of the expectations of expatriates and their companies when they are transferred.

Commerce International: Why should recourse be taken to a relocation expert?
Albin Porquez: “At Executive Relocations, we define ourselves as creators
of tranquillity; I think that gives you a good idea of how a relocation expert can be useful. There are real benefits in taking recourse to a relocation expert, notably cost optimisation linked to mobility, considerable time savings for the company and its collaborators, or else better adhesion of collaborators to their mobility. But the real utility of a relocation expert lies precisely in his or her capacity to advise, anticipate problems and diminish worries and stress.”

How does one choose a relocation company?
A.P.: “The management of geographical mobility, whether national or international, cannot be done off the cuff. A relocation company above all provides remarkable access to knowledge based on on-the-ground experience, national and international networks and adapted services. Moreover, the relocation expert should be capable of dealing with all issues, whatever the types of mobility encountered (expatriation, impatriation, return from expatriation, recruitment, retraining, collective mobility) and whatever the employee’s profile. The expert should offer an organisation method, services, and operational modes that allow for managing mobility in its entirety. Having the capacity to offer services adapted to each stage of mobility, knowing how to manage transitions between these stages, ensuring fluidity, continuity in the provision of services seem essential to me.”

Isn’t this the notion of global provider that you emphasise?
A.P.: “Absolutely. Companies increasingly have the reflex of looking for a global provider. But this notion supposes a mastery of different domains of expertise.
The teams at Executive Relocations invest in every stage of mobility: immigration formalities and administrative procedures in the host country, accommodation searches, settling in, school, intercultural training, language classes, moving, a helpline, technical assistance with housing, aid in job searches for the spouse, departure formalities. We have access to our own pole of immigration specialists composed of five nationalities. Immigration represents around 30% of our turnover. Each year, we have observed a considerable increase in this type of request.”

Is international mobility more complex to manage than national mobility?
A.P.: “No mobility is more or less complex than another from the moment that
it is well anticipated from the outset. This supposes being in synch with the company culture and above all, attentive to what families have to say. However, it is true that companies grant more financial means to expatriation or impatriation than to a return to France or a national move. But I should say that in all cases of mobility that we deal with, returns from expatriation require particular attention.”

What is the difficulty involved in returning to France for an expatriate?
A.P.: “When an employee is expatriated, he or she feels valuable because the company has invested in him or her. In general, the employee is pampered by the company, with a lucrative package, many expenses covered (rent, settling in, school, salary, car…) and most of the time, destinations are attractive. But expatriation often only last for a time and the return is psychologically difficult. Upon returning, the employee status changes, as well as living standard and quality of life. The employee must reconstruct everything, a professional environment as well as a family environment. One Frenchman who came back from an expatriate experience said to me some time ago that the hardest was to ‘become an anonymous face in the metro once again’. I think that statement says a lot.”

Executive Relocations sets out to be an innovative company. Can you speak of your current projects?
A.P.: “This year, we are particularly focusing on two projects. We believe in
relocation that is accessible and adapted to the needs of all. That’s why we have been experimenting with specialised à la carte services for the Marine and Army for the last two years, offered directly to their personnel who are transferred nationally. In the interests of integrating different professions, we have included preparation for moves in relocation. And there is a new service that will soon be finalised: the centralised management of mobility-related expenses. The principle is simple. Our company will offer to take charge of all expenses related to mobility (rent, water, gas, electricity, agency fees, payment of security deposits, transport, hotels, schooling, administrative formalities…). This is a step towards the notion of global provider.”

So the mobility market is in the midst of evolution. What are the repercussions on your internal organisation today?
A.P.: “We wish to develop our policy of close-range services in France, by strengthening our network of local consultants via the promotion of auto-entrepreneurship. And we accompany consultants in the implementation of this type of structure. We count on improving our computing management tool to reinforce the fluidity and comfort of our contacts in companies, via quicker access to information. More comprehensive tracking such as that which we have been able to develop in the context of our partnership with Ubifrance, with more reporting and online orders in real time.”

Is competition from foreign relocation companies strong?
A.P.: “It is true that from time to time, we find ourselves competing against foreign relocation companies. But this, for the moment, is quite marginal. Very few of these dispose of a subsidiary in France. However, they do not hesitate, in the context of international bids, to privilege partnerships with certain French relocation companies. In this way, Executive Relocations is the French representative of three American relocation groups.”

Is the French market flourishing?
A.P.: “If we take into account the number of new relocation companies that are born each year, the French market is buoyant. Needs are in fact greater, and this, despite the current context.”