Corporate Clients’ Perspective: Insights from Sangitha Shetty of Tata Communications
In the latest episode of the xpath.Nexus series, Madalina Andrei from xpath.global hosted an insightful session with Sangitha Shetty, the General Manager of Global Travel and Mobility at Tata Communications. This episode, aimed at exploring corporate clients perspective, provided valuable insights into the global mobility sector and Tata Communications’ strategies during the pandemic.
xpath.global is a pioneering SaaS-enabled marketplace in the global mobility sector. It connects local experts specializing in immigration, taxation, social security services, and more, directly with corporate clients. This platform ensures seamless service provision across the globe, backed by a robust tracking system for managing orders and processes.
Sangitha Shetty, with over 15 years of experience, has been leading the global travel and mobility efforts at Tata Communications for nearly seven years. Tata Communications is a major player in the digital ecosystem, operating in over 200 countries and territories. The company serves more than 7,000 customers, including over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies, and connects 60% of the world’s cloud giants. Their network supports 30% of the world’s internet traffic, underpinned by the largest wholly-owned sub-sea fiber network.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges. For Tata Communications, ensuring employee safety was paramount. The company adhered strictly to local and government regulations, implementing a work-from-home policy where feasible and only permitting essential business travel. This approach required meticulous monitoring of entry and exit bans, quarantine requirements, and local compliance.
One notable challenge involved repatriating employees stranded abroad due to the pandemic. Tata Communications coordinated with government agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies, to facilitate the safe return of employees and their families. They worked closely with logistics partners to ensure safe and secure travel arrangements.
A particularly challenging situation arose in Myanmar, where employees and their families were caught in the midst of civil unrest. Tata Communications worked tirelessly to ensure their safe evacuation. This included coordinating with embassies, arranging armed escorts, and ensuring all necessary COVID-19 tests were conducted under safe conditions. The company’s rapid response and use of well-established partnerships were crucial in managing this crisis effectively.
Looking ahead, Sangitha Shetty shared her views on the future of global mobility. While remote work has become more prevalent, she believes that on-the-ground assignments will remain essential. The pandemic has highlighted the need for flexible policies, including the potential for countries to adopt less protectionist approaches, allowing a more diverse talent pool to work across borders. This approach could be vital for economic recovery and growth in a post-pandemic world.
The session provided a deep dive into the complexities and challenges faced by corporate clients like Tata Communications during the pandemic. The insights shared by Sangitha Shetty underscore the importance of agile and responsive global mobility strategies in today’s interconnected world. As the industry evolves, companies must continue to prioritize employee safety while adapting to new norms in global mobility.
For more insights and updates, stay tuned to the xpath.Nexus series by xpath.global.
To learn more about xpath.global’s global mobility management system, book a meeting here: Book a demo – Human Resource Professionals – xpath.global
