Picture this: your new hire has just unpacked the last box, their kids are exploring the new neighborhood, and the first video call with the team feels almost like home. Behind that seamless moment stands one invisible hero – an HR team leveraging a well-structured mobility policy supported by a successful RFP process, flexible benefits, and regular audits.
As the summer of 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on the countless number of families we’ve helped to make a seamless transition to their new home. Now that your employees are settling into their new roles, it’s the perfect time to revisit your mobility policy to ensure it aligns with your company’s global talent acquisition and retention strategies.
One HR leader recently told us: “We budgeted carefully, but a sudden freight spike, coupled with a lack of available housing in the market, threw everything off—our mobility program nearly collapsed under exception requests.” This is the new reality: unpredictability.
With shifting U.S. migration patterns, changes in immigration rules, volatility in housing and freight shipping costs, and employee expectations for more choice and flexible policy benefits, an annual audit is a necessity. In 2025, best-in-class HR teams are making this the year to audit their mobility policy and prepare for issuing a competitive RFP to ensure their program is aligned and cost-efficient.
Key Elements for a Successful Mobility RFP
| Element | Impact on Mobility Strategy |
| Research | It limits the pool to best-in-class suppliers for the RFP; reduces risk |
| Flexible Policy Design | Adapts to diverse needs and market shifts |
| Regular Policy Audits | Ensures alignment with business strategy |
| Supplier Benchmarking | Drives innovation and cost efficiency |
RFP Research
During times of volatility, leaders must re-evaluate and update policies to keep pace with evolving needs. Not all mobility companies are created equal. By thoroughly vetting potential relocation suppliers at the outset, HR and procurement teams can ensure a smoother, faster, and more cost-effective RFP process, ultimately supporting more resilient and successful mobility programs that align with the company’s fundamental business strategies, goals, and objectives.
Choosing a supplier today is less about who has the lowest rate and more about who can keep your employee calm when their housing choice is no longer available, or their shipping container is delayed at customs.
- Helps identify best-fit partners based on multi-criteria
- Reduces the risk of costly disruptions
- Streamlines decision-making
Flexible Policy Design
Relocation benefits are changing. SHRM’s 2025 survey reveals that employees continue to prioritize flexible work policies and benefits, which are key factors in accepting a job opportunity.
Employees are increasingly expecting relocation packages that allow them to tailor benefits to their unique needs, such as selecting from various housing options, transportation options, or family support services.
Imagine offering a young software engineer the choice between a furnished downtown apartment or support for a partner’s career search. That flexibility is what keeps top talent saying YES.
Empowering employees during the relocation process significantly increases employee satisfaction and enhances performance. Arpin offers several unique service options designed to maximize your mobility ROI while still delivering exceptional experiences for your transferees.
Take our ArpinFLEX program: a young family recently moving to Frankfurt used it to spread the costs over six months, easing the financial stress of resettling abroad. It wasn’t just about numbers; it was about peace of mind.
- Arpin’s Buy Now, Pay Later Program, ArpinFLEX, powered by PayPal, allows employees to manage moving costs over time without financial strain.
- Multi-modal shipping flexibility matches the right move logistics with the individual needs of your transferee profiles.
- Simplified and transparent pricing protecting your company and transferees from online pricing fraud and scams.
- One dedicated contact moving your transferee’s shipment door-to-door, increasing employee satisfaction and supplier accountability.
Regular Policy Audits
Regular audits of relocation policies are becoming increasingly vital, as nearly 90% of employers anticipate changing their operating models within the next two years. With market volatility and cost pressures on the rise, these audits—especially when paired with technology investments—can help organizations adapt, control costs, and maintain their competitive edge.
Mobility policies age faster than we think. A benefit perfect in 2020 may now feel irrelevant to a workforce demanding hybrid options.
- Proactively manage risk and cost volatility.
- Drive efficiency and future-proof mobility functions.
- Improved transparency and control.
Supplier Benchmarking
Supplier benchmarking is crucial to the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, as it enables organizations to systematically compare potential suppliers against industry best practices and performance standards, ensuring optimal selection and continuous improvement.
What gets measured gets managed. Benchmarking turns supplier promises into provable performance.
As a multiple-service award winner, Arpin’s performance is consistently managed against strict, client-specific KPIs and follows established, clear benchmarks to report and track success.
How Can Arpin Assist
Arpin’s proactive account management program provides a full suite of reporting, policy reviews, recommendations, and best practices. With over 125 years of experience in the mobility space, Arpin has subject matter expertise and global logistics proficiency to future-proof your mobility program.
You don’t have to choose between saving money and taking care of your people. With Arpin, you get both. Contact your U.S.-based Arpin Business Development Team and put your mobility growth in motion.
Sources: 2025 Mercer Report, EY, SHRM
