Finance and Business Blog

Not every opportunity will be local, and not every opportunity can be secured online in a few minutes. There will come a time that, in order to expand or to further your business, you will need to travel abroad to conduct said business yourself. The larger your company becomes, the less viable it is for you to leave your company for every opportunity that arises. When this happens, you need to start sending your employees in your stead.

There are so many benefits to sending others to further businesses connections and deal with clients directly. Not only do you show your best employees how valuable they are to your company and give them the opportunity to further develop their talents, you also put a key player in a place of opportunity. Here are a few examples when you may need to send an employee abroad for business:

• A conference where your employee can report back new information appertaining to your business or industry.
• A conference where your business is represented, allowing a team you trust to make new connections, and to spread the word of your business to potential partners.
• Meeting directly with a client or meeting new clients.
• Making sales to new institutions, businesses, or individuals.

There are so many reasons why having a team you can trust to send out is imperative for your businesses success. As the CEO, you cannot be everywhere at every time, but you cannot just send anyone in your place. You need to choose the best of the best.

Before you think about sending your employees anywhere, however, you need to first give them the tools that they need to succeed. Sending someone who is untrained, unprepared, and who doesn’t have the necessary resources, simply means your company will not get the most out of the trip. Instead, follow these steps to ensure maximum success out of every business opportunity:

Migrate to the Cloud

One of the most important steps a business must make before it starts sending employees abroad is to migrate to the cloud. Migrating to the cloud allows all of your data to become centralised, meaning that an employee on the other side of the world will have real-time data updates, wherever they log-in. You can even configure your cloud account to give your employees restricted access, so that they only have access to the information they need.

This means that all the information will be accurate, and most importantly, current. If your employee is going to a conference, he or she can write notes that are immediately uploaded and accessible by you, so you can monitor their progress as they go. Being on the cloud has many benefits for a business, but what it means for your employees is the ability to have all the information they need in one place.

Train Them Yourself  

Once you have migrated to the cloud, it is time to pick a select few employees that you want to represent you and your company. Sending them out on their own to begin with won’t help you get the results you want. Instead, bring them with you so that they can watch you and learn from you. Your mentoring will be a vital part of their training, so be sure to part with as much advice as possible. This means training them in introductions, in foreign etiquette, and even how to properly treat a client to a meal. There are many rules and tricks you yourself will have picked up as the years have gone by, and it is now time to impart that wisdom onto the next generation.

Give Them the Means to Stay Connected

There are two portions to staying connected with you go for business trips. One, the ability to be connected when you are abroad, and two, the ability to reconnect with clients who are abroad. Each scenario will require a different set of tools, and as the CEO it is up to you to ensure that your employees have all the right tools at their disposal.

A Local SIM Card or Wi-Fi Pocket Device

So that they can stay connected via the internet wherever they go, the best way is either by obtaining a local SIM, or with a Wi-Fi pocket device. This won’t address the issue of international calling, but at the very least they can receive emails as they arrive. If in doubt, turn on roaming charges and have your employee turn off data connection to all devices except their email.

A Calling Card

For international calls, either back to you when they are abroad, or to their clients when they are back home, a calling card is the best way to go. You could opt for Viber international calling cards, for instance, and benefit from being able to call any mobile or landline number. This doesn’t allow incoming calls of course, but it will allow your employees to make affordable calls across borders as they need to. If a client is frustrated or confused in an email, for instance, matters can be cleared up much more effectively on the phone, and this is where an international calling card comes into play.

Give Them a Custom Business Card

If you want your employees to look professional when they represent you abroad, you need to do more than insist on a dress code. A custom-made business card, both for your business and for your employee, are essential to alleviate their professionalism and give clients and prospective partners the means to contact you.

Set a Budget Beforehand

If you want to stick within a budget, you have to give your employee a budget. As they are on a business trip for you, you will be responsible for their business-related expenses. This includes the plane, the hotel, transportation, and even covering for any business lunches or dinners. If you set a reasonable budget beforehand, your employee can follow it, and you can spread your funds out more evenly.

Preparing your business to send employees out on business trips is no easy task. You cannot just pick one person and expect them to do a better job than you can. Instead, prepare your company, prepare a team of employees, and prepare your budget. Combined, you can expand your operations and gain more business abroad than ever before.

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