877 857 9870
When you’re looking for a moving company to relocate transferees around the world, you can’t trust just anybody. Instead, these companies need to be vetted carefully to ensure a smooth and simple moving process for each and every transferee. During the vetting process, there are a number of critical areas to investigate that can make or break an international move. In this article, we’ll focus on one: the global partners that a moving company chooses to work with, also known as agents.
After all, no moving company can be absolutely everywhere in the world. Instead, international relocation companies select local partners to help them complete their moves—and they need to select them carefully.
Below, we’ll walk you through four ways we locate our international agents. By understanding our process, you’ll get a sense of the questions you’ll want to ask during your vetting process. We’ll also offer you a couple of suggested areas to query so you feel confident you’re choosing the right international relocation company to partner with.
4 Ways We Choose Agents to Assist with International Moves
Where international relocations are concerned, relationships are everything. Just as you carefully assess, select, and build a relationship with your relocation provider, DeWitt Move Worldwide does the same with our own international moving partners.
When we relocate a transferee to an international destination, we’ll ask our selected partner to handle the move once the shipment arrives at the closest port. We rely on that company to pick up the household goods shipment, complete any necessary customs procedures, move the shipment to their warehouse, and deliver it to the transferee—all with the same level of care and precision that we provide on our end.
All of that means we have to choose our international agents thoughtfully. So how do we find these partners in the first place?
Source #1: Existing Relationships
Our international relocation experts have 10+ and even 20+ years in the business. During that time, they’ve formed relationships with local moving companies all over the globe.
They know, for example, the best company to work with for a high-touch, high-level move to Paris or which moving company they can trust to handle a shipment headed for a tiny island in Greece. They’ve personally worked with companies all over the globe, including Asia, South America, Australia—and beyond.
When they have a transferee they need to move to a far-flung destination, they may already know just the right international agent for the job. Additionally, they may already have completed past relocation projects with that agent, smoothing the way for a seamless moving experience for the transferee.
What to Ask During Your Vetting Process
When you’re vetting a company to handle international relocations, ask: How long have your team members been doing international relocations? The longer they’ve been in the business, the more likely they are to have established relationships—and even personal experience—with the international partners who will complete a significant portion of your transferee’s move, setting the stage for a stress-free move all around.
Source #2: Second-Degree Connections
Of course, there will be times when an international relocation specialist will be faced with a new destination they haven’t previously worked in.
In these circumstances, their experience in the industry will still pay off. If our team collectively doesn’t have first-hand experience in a particular destination, our team will work their extensive network to get a personal recommendation from a trusted colleague.
Our team’s depth of experience means makes it likely that they’ll know an industry contact who has a connection in that particular destination. These kinds of referrals make it much simpler for us to locate an international partner whose level of customer service matches our own high standards.
What to Ask During Your Vetting Process
During your interviews, consider pitching this scenario to your potential moving partners.
Ask: What would you do if you needed to move a transferee to a location where you don’t have a trusted, vetted agent? Their answer will offer you insights into whether they’re the right provider for you.
Source #3: Professional Associations
Like many other professions, the transportation and logistics industry has a number of professional associations. At DeWitt Move, we believe that membership in these organizations demonstrates a company’s commitment to the industry and its future.
DeWitt Move Worldwide is a proud member of the International Association of Movers. Our President, John Burrows, has served on the IAM Executive Committee as both the Claims and Risk Management Chair, then as Vice Chair.
Our relationship with IAM fills three important functions:
- Vetting potential international agents: We only work with companies that are active members in good standing with IAM. This offers us yet another quality control measure when seeking agents to assist with international moves.
- Meeting other global moving professionals: By attending IAM conferences and meetings, our team broadens their network of contacts from a pool of already-vetted companies. As we mentioned above, these contacts can prove vital referral sources for destinations we haven’t previously worked in.
- Keeping abreast of changing customs regulations: Organizations like IAM help all of its members stay on top of new customs regulations and requirements globally. This means access to the vital information we need to execute simple and stress-free moves for transferees.
What to Ask During Your Vetting Process
Inquire whether your potential moving providers are members of a professional organization like IAM. If you want to dig a little deeper, ask why they chose membership in that particular organization. You’ll get a good sense of how they see themselves within the broader international relocation community.
Source #4: Government Vetting
Finally, DeWitt Move Worldwide is a Transportation Service Provider (TSP) accepted within the GSA’s Centralized Household Goods Traffic Management Program (CHAMP). Companies who achieve this designation are both highly vetted and have demonstrated the capacity to handle moves for government agencies, which follow very strict protocols.
As a result, we know that our fellow TSPs can be trusted implicitly to handle moves that require the highest levels of service. They’re a top choice for us to assist in relocations.
What to Ask During Your Vetting Process
Not all moving companies are affiliated with government transportation programs. However, those who are have generally gone through a strict vetting and qualification process. Ask your moving partner whether they handle moves on behalf of a government entity, and you’ll get yet another insight into their operation.
Choosing Your Partner for International Moves
Selecting a company to handle international relocations takes a significant amount of trust. You’re placing a transferee’s entire experience in someone else’s hands with little control over the outcome.
However, one thing you do have control over is your vetting process. By investigating how your potential relocation partners choose their international agents, you’ll get a strong sense of how these companies operate. You’ll also get an idea of whether they’re the right partners to ensure your transferees enjoy a safe, smooth, and stress-free move—which should always be the top priority for all involved.
If you’d like to talk to our team about assisting with your international relocations, just reach out to us. We’d be happy to talk with you further about how we choose our international agents—and answer any other questions you might have
Tell us about your move!
