Global Mobility teams are often described as “doing more than ever.” On the surface, this shows up as a growing mix of programs from assignments, transfers, domestic relocation, immigration-only cases, to newer forms of cross-border work. Still, the real shift facing mobility today runs deeper than program breadth alone: Mobility is increasingly being asked to play a different role in the organization.
Beyond supporting moves, many teams are now expected to advise the business, enable talent movement, provide cost and workforce insights, educate stakeholders, and steward a consistent employee experience. These expectations reflect an evolution in what organizations need from Mobility, and they raise an important question:
This is where Mobility function design comes into focus.
Function design is not about rewriting policies or adopting a standard organizational model; it’s about intentionally defining how mobility operates. This involves examining how work is structured, who owns decisions, how resources are allocated, and how people, processes, technology, and vendors come together to support business needs.
For some organizations, traditional drivers such as case volume, geography, and program complexity remain central to design decisions. For many others, they are no longer the only considerations. Expectations around strategic partnership, talent enablement, data transparency, and stakeholder engagement are increasingly shaping what “effective” mobility looks like.
Nonetheless, many mobility functions are still structured primarily for operational execution. As expectations expand, this can create pressure on teams, confusion around priorities, and gaps between what the business needs and what the function is set up to deliver.
Thoughtful function design helps close that gap.
When structure, skills, and operating model are aligned with Mobility’s mandate, teams are better positioned to prioritize, adapt, and deliver sustainable value-- both to the business and to employees.
In our upcoming webinar, we’ll explore what mobility function design really means, why it’s becoming a critical conversation for many organizations, and how mobility leaders can begin thinking more intentionally about how their functions are built for the future.
Session 1: January 27 | 10:00 AM Boston / 3:00 PM London
Session 2: February 4 | 11:00 AM Hong Kong
Explore additional AIRINC insights that dive deeper into how organizations are designing and evolving their global mobility functions:
Global Mobility Function Paper: Learn how leading companies are redefining their mobility functions to deliver business value and enhance the employee experience.
Global Mobility Function Case Studies: See real-world examples of how organizations are transforming their program design, vendor partnerships, and technology use.