News & Events

International Case Study

(Irving, TX February 19, 2013)
International clients are a great way to grow your business and expand customer base, and if done correctly can be a very fulfilling experience for all involved. There are some key points to working with international clients and doing installations in foreign countries. Simprint has been fortunate enough to work with clients in Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Viet Nam, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Columbia and Morocco, and through trial and error we have learned some valuable lessons that continue to make us a competitive firm in the international market. Below are our top 6 tips for international work.

Power Requirements
Different countries have different voltages. Make sure you’ve researched what type of power is needed and have the equipment properly converted and tested.

Cultural Differences
Many things and words that are acceptable in the US are offensive in other countries and vise versa. Make sure you’ve done a little cultural brushing up and know if its proper to shake with the right or left hand or not at all, what words mean something completely different from your intended meaning

Access to Supplies and Manpower
Very few things in life every go perfectly right, and so much more so on an install in a foreign country. Make sure you have the right people assigned to the job and know where you can go to get extra tools, supplies and machinery if needed. Always give yourself a few days of buffer time.

Language Barrier
Doing business by email is an easy and effective way for international trade, but make sure that you have someone lined up to help you navigate the language differences once you arrive. Few things are more ineffective than assuming you’ll have an onsite manager to help you and then discovering you don’t.

Transportation of Purchased Equipment
Each country you are shipping items to will have their own requirements that will need to be adhered to. If they are not followed, you will run the risk of delays in receiving the equipment to complete your install on a timely basis.

Payment for Purchased Equipment
To ensure both you and your customer are protected to the fullest extent possible, you should work with your customer to outline the key deliverables that trigger payments to you. If possible, have your customer secure a Bank Letter of Credit, which contains these deliverables.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”
- Benjamin Franklin
 

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