For many companies, learning how to expand business internationally is the next logical step for significant growth. If that’s your next focus, too, then gleaning everything you can from those who’ve done it before is probably at the top of your to-do list. We met with senior executives from 11 global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to discuss the challenges in supply chain management and other areas their international expansions faced initially. Here are the top five takeaways.
When your company is ready to expand, it may be easy to think that expanding internationally can be done the same way you expanded domestically, but that’s not necessarily true. All the executives we talked to agreed that what works in one country may not (and probably will not) work well in another. To be successful, you need to identify, understand and take advantage of cultural differences in your target markets.
“Push, fix, change, hire, buy, do what you need to do to make the quarter. That’s the business culture I grew up in, but I learned quickly that it’s not how people everywhere approach a situation. If you don’t understand how they get things done, you won’t get them done.”
Respecting others’ working norms is essential, and that includes conversation etiquette.
I'm not comfortable with silence in a conversation. Those moments of silence are important, though, because in many cultures they indicate thoughtfulness. My tendency was to jump in to fill it, but I ended up cutting off the thought process and collaboration altogether — that impatience was completely counterproductive. Silence can also be used to control the conversation, which is good to know when you’re negotiating.”
Problem-solving styles vary across cultures.
In some places, the approach to solving a challenge is ‘try, try, try, perfect.’ In others, it’s ‘think, think, think, perfect.’ If you’re used to one approach, finding yourself immersed in the other can be enlightening... or frustrating. Just know that at the end of the day, there are different ways to get to the right answer.”
All great customer experiences have a lot in common. Companies need the right services at the right time to support the demands of their business. They want consistency and predictability — not surprises or excuses. When you’re expanding internationally, that requires scalability (systems, processes) and adaptability (accommodating different taxes, currencies, customs regulations etc.). The more countries you enter, the more complexity increases — and it can become difficult to know what to focus on first.
Our customers are demanding global capabilities — at minimum, regional capabilities — but you have to begin at the country level. Expansion means a focus on their systems and processes, not yours. It’s your job to knit together the pieces of this intricate quilt.”
The nuances of local customs, languages and business norms can pose a significant challenge to those responsible for expanding services globally into new countries. You may need to be prepared to launch the business and then hand it over to local leaders to run it long term, which makes identifying and preparing that talent critical.
Local leaders understand their markets, know how to work with their customers and can effectively motivate their employees. They also open you to a 24/7 business cycle rather than command and control tied to your headquarters’ time zone. Companies that transition to local leaders quickly are, quite often, more successful. You put in place people with a diversity of experience and opinions, and you’re stronger as a result.”
International expansion is inherently risky. Every country has its own laws and regulations to navigate, and pleading ignorance is no hedge against penalties for noncompliance. For instance, those doing business in the European Union have to be hyperaware of the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which applies to all companies processing the personal data of EU citizens. The Canada Anti-Spam Law (CASL) requires that a company receive prior consent from anyone it sends commercial emails and text messages to — (think about what that means for marketing). Contract law, import/export regulations, taxes, labor requirements, conflict minerals — the list is endless. Good legal counsel is essential.
We understand our own regulatory environment, so it’s easy to think, ‘OK, it’s going to be that simple.’ It’s never simple.”
Perhaps the best advice I heard on global expansion strategy had to do with getting started.
It's different instincts, it's different DNA, it's different reactions, it's different ways to communicate. Listen first, learn everything you can, collaborate on a solution, then act. ‘Ready, fire, aim’ is a surefire way to fail.”
Here are some key questions you should consider as you’re putting together your international expansion strategy:
No two companies are the same. Each has its own objectives and expectations, and there is no right or wrong strategy for international expansion. One thing we can all agree on is that it’s complex — knowing what you don’t know is essential, and learning from others who have done it before can make the effort a whole lot easier. You can also read about my own experience opening and working in new markets here.
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