WHAT DOES GLOBAL GROWTH MEAN FOR LIFE SCIENCE BUSINESSES?
Global growth means expanding your business operations into new and potentially untapped international markets, allowing you to reach more people with your products and services. Another reason many businesses expand internationally is to diversify the company and protect it from market conditions in a single geographic area. Global growth presents many opportunities and challenges for businesses, particularly in a regulated industry such as life sciences, so there are many things to consider before setting your business in a foreign country.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EXPANDING GLOBALLY?
Being a global entity and launching into new markets has many advantages, and if successful can greatly boost a company’s growth and give them a unique competitive edge:
Greater reach
Having a presence in an international market can help you to reach more people. For life science companies, expanding internationally means you can help more patients access your lifesaving and life-changing treatments and medical tools, greatly improving global health.
Improved access to talent
Being in a new market allows you to access a new talent pool with diverse skillsets, varied cultural backgrounds, and invaluable knowledge of the local market. This can be particularly beneficial if your domestic market is short of good talent.
Access to new facilities
International expansion can also help you to gain access to new technologies, innovative facilities and industry ecosystems which may significantly benefit your business operations.
Diversifying company markets
Operating in more than just your domestic market can offer your organisation greater financial stability.
Greater brand awareness
Operating in a new market gives you the chance to strengthen and build new brand awareness, recognition and loyalty.
Investment opportunities
Many government bodies will offer investment incentives for businesses wanting to grow in their country which could help you produce innovative and advanced therapies and devices quicker.
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBAL EXPANSION?
Although expanding globally offers huge gains and rewards, there are often a number of challenges and hurdles that a business may face alongside the normal growing pains of scaling up:
Cultural differences
All markets have different business environments. This can impact the way your HR team needs to operate, how you build relationships with local partners, and how you market your products. Your business and its offerings will need to appeal to the local demographic, overcome language barriers, and embrace cultural differences.
Compliance and regulatory issues
For life science companies, setting up in a new locale will mean different tax codes, business regulations, and product standards. This may mean changing the packaging for your treatments, putting the instructions in a different language or giving different dosage recommendations, etc.
Lack of brand awareness
It can take years of hard work to establish a good reputation for your brand. However, being well established in one part of the world doesn't mean people elsewhere will know who you are or what you stand for. Being new to a market may mean you struggle to appeal to the local population and to attract employees as an unknown brand.
Where should you expand internationally?
Expanding into a new market can seem like an exciting prospect for any growing business, but how do you decide which market is best for your company?
Identify whether you
want to expand into Europe, set up an affiliate in Asia, build a new site in North America, or explore another region. Many
markets within these territories will present exciting and prosperous
opportunities, but before reaching a decision you must weigh up the pros and
cons of each. It’s important to remember that each country — even within the
same region — is different so you may need to adjust approach. For example, Europe is a very diverse region, with an abundance of attractive markets, but just because you have a good knowledge
of Germany do not assume that this also applies to the Netherlands.
HOW DO YOU EXPAND GLOBALLY?
Before you can put the wheels into motion, you must thoroughly consider if expanding internationally is the best option for your company. You should carry out extensive research, speak to local market experts, get your financials in order and consider the logistics before you decide where will be best for your growing company.
Once you have a solid gobal expansion strategy in place, you will want to think about hiring the right people for your team, setting up your operations and building out your company culture. Getting help from vendors can help you to mitigate potential risks and navigate specific market nuances.
It’s important to be prepared for bumps in the road that will inevitability occur, for this, it’s vital to be adaptable and respond quickly.
Interested in learning more about how to expand your business internationally?
Check out our Global Expansion Guidebook where we provide specialist insight and advice from industry experts on what it takes to thrive in an overseas market.
What makes ÌìÑÄÉçÇø¹ÙÍø Global Growth Partners?
At ÌìÑÄÉçÇø¹ÙÍø, we are Global Growth Partners in life sciences. We help individuals, teams, and whole organizations grow so they can innovate the next generation of medical advancements and deliver their Pharma/Biotech and MedTech products and services across the world for more patients.
Whether you are looking bring in new skillsets from abroad or expanding into a new territory, our global team can extend your reach in the search for talent and help you mobilize the right people to where they are needed most.
Global Growth Case Studies
OUR INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE
With specialist teams in every corner of the globe, we provide a suite of solutions to help your business grow, from direct hire and contingent staffing, to executive search, managed workforce solutions, and consulting services – all tailored to your needs.
Our global network
>350,000
screened and qualified life sciences professionals on our database
>300
life sciences recruitment consultants specializing in a niche function
>10,000
professional life sciences hiring projects successfully completed
>1,000,000
life science professionals in our extended global network
>14
languages spoken by our team members globally
>16
years' exclusively operating as a life sciences recruitment partner
Our international team and services
People naturally warm better to those who speak their own language and understand differences across cultures, locations, and local legalities. With offices in 15+ of the world’s most exciting life science and technology hubs, and a wide range of languages spoken by our diverse team of recruitment consultants, we can support you in finding and engaging talent wherever you are, and wherever you aim to be.
Other ways we can support your business internationally include:
- Video interviewing
- Local assessment centres
- Local compensation benchmarking
- Candidate relocation support
- Talent market mapping
- Site and talent evaluation
- Support with local legislation
- EVP and employer branding
International licences and accreditations
Need help hiring internationally?
Get in touch with our expert team to find out more about how we can help your team grow.