For those of us at the Forum for Expatriate Management Americas Summit in Houston last week, it came as no surprise that AI was woven throughout the conference agenda. In fact, I have yet to attend a single conference this year where the topic did not come up. Are we tired of the subject yet?
Traditionally, global mobility teams have lagged behind other areas of HR when it comes to technology adoption. Believe it or not, Excel spreadsheets remain commonplace. This is partly because global mobility typically impacts a smaller employee population and operates on a more limited budget than other HR functions.
That is beginning to change. Mobility teams are actively exploring how AI can help them move faster, make smarter decisions, and create more connected experiences for assignees and their families.
Some of the most compelling applications being explored include:
- Logistics: Algorithms recommend housing options and manage moving logistics.
- Immigration & Visas: AI tracks timelines, validates documents, and detects compliance risks.
- Cost Projections: Historical and real-time data analysis enables smarter budgeting scenarios.
- Auditing Expense: AI tools detect anomalies in expense reports and invoices.
- 24/7 Support: Chatbots answer FAQs and explain policy terms around the clock.
- Sentiment Analysis: Assignee feedback is analyzed to flag early signs of adaptation challenges.
- Strategic Decision-Making: AI reviews past assignment data, identifies trends in successful placements, and optimizes candidate selection for a strong ROI.
- Risk Management: Tracking global regulatory changes alerts managers to impending compliance, tax, or legal shifts before issues arise.
What struck me most at the conference was what nearly every corporate global mobility presenter stated unequivocally: the human touch should never be discarded. Their goal is not to hand the process over to AI, but to ensure that each employee, and their family, is genuinely taken care of throughout the relocation journey.
This makes complete sense. Every assignment is unique, and each comes with its own set of unpredictable family circumstances, housing searches, school transitions, and medical needs among them. These situations demand nuanced, critical thinking and human judgment that AI is fundamentally ill-equipped to provide.
Relocation is inherently stressful. It requires cultural adjustment, emotional support, and the ability to manage personal anxiety, none of which AI can replicate with genuine empathy. Given today’s rapidly shifting immigration landscape and complex tax environments, AI also risks surfacing outdated information or hallucinating guidance that is simply incorrect. A qualified professional must remain in charge.
Mobility teams are increasingly being asked to take on greater responsibilities without any corresponding increase in headcount. AI offers a meaningful way to bridge that gap. The overwhelming conclusion from Houston was that AI works best as a “digital assistant”, one that handles administrative tasks efficiently, freeing up global mobility professionals to focus on the strategic, high touch work that only humans can do.
That is a win-win worth pursuing.
Written by Cathy Heyne, GMS-T, President
