When exploring new markets for global growth, companies need a strategy to help mobile teams stay agile and keep costs down

For growing businesses, the prospect of global expansion can be daunting. After establishing a successful model in one market, taking a tentative step into a new one can feel like starting out all over again. But fortune favours the brave, and those who are willing to venture beyond home turf are opening up the possibility for some big wins.

International expansion means businesses can tap into new revenue streams and introduce their product or services to a fresh customer base; according to research from Mazars, 45% of mid-scale businesses generate more than half of their revenues internationally. New markets may offer enticing propositions for incoming overseas businesses, be it tax breaks or other financial incentives for setting up shop. And expansion into another territory also means access to a brand-new talent pool of skilled employees to complement the existing team and increase output. What’s more, having an international presence is a firm advantage over competitors when winning new business or investment. Thinking globally can really pay off in the long-term so it makes sense that, for 56% of middle-market businesses, international expansion is part of their strategy.

Knowing where to start is often a stumbling block for companies looking to make the first step into a new territory. More often than not, it involves being on the ground in a new destination and moving between meetings while also keeping up with the demands of the office back at HQ. It’s essential to stay close to potential local partners and suppliers in order to build relationships and get things going.

At the same time, investing in a permanent office space in a new market may be a step too far. While it’s important to have access to a professional base for certain teams to carry out their roles – particularly those needing access to office software and equipment, such as finance teams and HR directors – companies also need to stay mobile while exploring fresh opportunities in order to act quickly and cover more ground. Rather than being tied into a lengthy, full-time lease with traditional office space – when all sales professionals or procurement teams may need is somewhere to work for a few hours between appointments – a flexible workspace can be a more intuitive option.

In essence, flexspace means businesses only use and pay for the workspace they actually need. And IWG’s Enterprise Plan – created specifically for businesses with mobile teams – takes this one step further, by giving employees “on-demand” access to the company’s 3,500 flexspace locations across the globe, as and when required. Instead of spending time sourcing a meeting room in an unfamiliar destination or working out of coffee shops, Enterprise Plan lets employees access these locations on a drop-in basis, all bookable via app.

Customers can choose between various subscriptions, paying a fixed monthly fee in exchange for a certain number of days’ access a month, or day offices, or coworking or business lounges. Alternatively, they can simply choose to pay-as-you-go, and only pay for what they use – if they don’t make any bookings, there’s no charge. Either way, customers are only paying for the space their teams need, where and when they need it.

When a company enrols its employees in Enterprise Plan, the total usage and spend of the entire workforce can be consolidated into one single bill – wherever in the world different employees are working. Businesses also have access to granular reporting about the ways in which their team is using IWG’s network, which can inform future decisions. For example, if several colleagues are spending a few days each week using one particular IWG location, it may be worth leasing a private office there.

When it comes to weighing up the corporate real-estate portfolio, and assessing best options for expanding into new markets, it makes sense to test the water before taking a permanent, costly leap. Finding a solution that’s time- and cost-efficient, and that lets mobile teams stay agile while thoroughly laying the foundations for growth in a new market, is a sound place to start.

Contact enterprise.sales@iwgplc.com to see how IWG’s Enterprise Plan could help you to manage your real-estate portfolio or read more on our website