5 Signs Your Global Mobility Program Needs a Technology Upgrade

Global mobility should enable business growth and attract top talent. But for many companies, outdated systems and processes create more problems than they solve. Here are five clear signs your program needs a technology upgrade—and what to do about it.

1. You’re Managing Assignments in Spreadsheets

If your mobility team relies on Excel to track assignments, you’re not alone—but you are at risk. Spreadsheet management creates multiple problems:

🔸 Version control chaos: Which spreadsheet is current? Who has the latest updates? Has anyone accidentally overwritten critical data?

🔸 No real-time visibility: Stakeholders see outdated information and make decisions based on stale data

🔸 Limited collaboration: Multiple people can’t work simultaneously without conflicts

🔸 Error-prone data entry: Manual updates inevitably contain mistakes

🔸 Impossible to scale: What works for 10 assignments becomes unmanageable at 50+

Modern platforms provide centralized, real-time data that everyone accesses from a single source of truth. Automated updates eliminate manual data entry. Role-based permissions ensure appropriate access. As your program grows, the platform scales seamlessly.

2. Employees Constantly Ask “What’s the Status?”

When employees repeatedly contact HR asking about their visa, housing search, or shipment delivery, it signals a visibility problem. These inquiries consume enormous time—both the employee’s and the mobility team’s.

Technology solves this through self-service portals and mobile apps. Employees see real-time status updates, upcoming tasks, and clear timelines. Automated notifications proactively inform them of progress. Questions decrease dramatically when information is readily accessible.

xpath.global’s mobile app, available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store, provides employees with 24/7 access to their assignment information, documents, and support team—reducing HR inquiries by up to 60%.

3. You’re Surprised by Mobility Costs

Budget overruns are common with traditional approaches. You receive initial cost estimates that bear little resemblance to final invoices. Surprise charges appear months after relocations complete. Finance asks for explanations you can’t provide.

This happens because traditional RMCs:

🔸 Add hidden markups you don’t see

🔸 Bill for “administrative fees” and “coordination costs” not discussed upfront

🔸 Make vendor selections based on their margins rather than your cost-effectiveness

🔸 Provide limited visibility into actual spending

Technology-driven platforms enable transparent pricing. You see direct vendor costs without markups. Cost projection tools model assignment expenses before you commit. Real-time dashboards track spending against budget. Historical data enables accurate forecasting.

Companies switching to xpath.global typically save 40-60% on total mobility costs through eliminated markups, better vendor selection, and improved process efficiency.

4. Compliance Feels Like Playing Whack-a-Mole

Immigration documents expire. Tax filing deadlines approach. Social security obligations go unaddressed. You’re constantly reacting to urgent issues rather than proactively managing compliance.

Manual compliance tracking simply doesn’t work. Too many moving parts, too many deadlines, too many jurisdictions with different requirements.

Platforms automate compliance through:

🔸 Tax calendars monitoring time in each jurisdiction

🔸 Document expiration alerts with appropriate lead time

🔸 Automated workflows ensuring required steps occur

🔸 Audit trails demonstrating compliance for regulatory inquiries

🔸 Country-specific rules engines applying correct requirements

The result: Proactive compliance management instead of reactive firefighting. Peace of mind knowing nothing is falling through the cracks.

5. Employee Satisfaction Scores Are Disappointing

When employees rate their relocation experience poorly, it impacts:

🔸 Assignment completion rates (employees with bad experiences are 35% more likely to return early)

🔸 Retention (dissatisfied assignees have 40% higher turnover)

🔸 Future candidate interest (negative experiences deter others from accepting international roles)

🔸 Employer brand (employees share their experiences with colleagues and external networks)

Poor experiences typically stem from:

🔸 Fragmented processes requiring employees to navigate multiple vendors

🔸 Lack of visibility into what’s happening and when

🔸 Inadequate support when issues arise

🔸 Administrative burden that feels overwhelming

🔸 Family needs neglected

Technology dramatically improves employee experience by:

🔸 Providing a single portal for all relocation information

🔸 Offering real-time status updates and proactive notifications

🔸 Enabling 24/7 access to support via mobile app

🔸 Reducing administrative burden through automation

🔸 Including family support resources

Companies using xpath.global report employee satisfaction scores improving from 6-7/10 to 8.5-9/10 after implementation.

Making the Change

Recognizing these signs is the first step. The second is taking action. Many companies delay technology adoption, thinking:

🔸 “We’re not big enough yet”

🔸 “Our current approach is good enough”

🔸 “Change will be too disruptive”

These concerns are understandable but ultimately costly. Every day without proper technology means:

🔸 Wasted HR time on manual tasks

🔸 Higher costs from RMC markups

🔸 Compliance risks that could trigger penalties

🔸 Poor employee experiences harming your employer brand

Modern platforms implement quickly (typically 2-4 months), scale from 1 to 1,000+ assignments, and deliver ROI within the first year. The disruption is minimal compared to the ongoing cost of outdated approaches.

Take Action

If your program shows any of these five signs, it’s time to explore technology solutions. Start by:

1. Documenting current pain points and costs
2. Researching platforms that address your specific challenges
3. Requesting demos focused on your use cases
4. Calculating potential ROI based on your assignment volume
5. Building a business case for change

xpath.global provides comprehensive global mobility technology with transparent pricing, 60,000+ services across 183 countries, and flexible support options from essential to premium advisory. Request a demo to see how technology can transform your mobility program.

Your employees, your HR team, and your business deserve better than spreadsheets and manual processes. The technology exists to solve these problems. The only question is when you’ll implement it