Stop Wasting Money on Relocation – Here’s How Data Can Fix It!

Let’s be real— companies obsess over data for everything. Sales? Data. Marketing? Data. Even coffee machine usage? Probably tracked somewhere. So why is corporate relocation still treated like some mysterious, unpredictable black hole of spending?

If you’re not using data to optimize your mobility program, you’re burning money and hoping for the best. And in today’s competitive talent market, that’s a gamble you can’t afford.

Ignoring Data Is a Fast Track to Failure

According to experts , U.S. companies drop $18 billion on domestic relocations every year. That’s a lot of cash. But ask most employers if their mobility program is actually worth it, and you’ll get a lot of blank stares.

They know relocation is expensive. They hear complaints when things go sideways. But do they know:

• If they’re getting their money’s worth?
• How employees are using their benefits?
• Whether relocation is actually helping the business?

If you’re investing serious dollars in moving talent, you better have the receipts to back it up. Here’s how to get them.

5 Must-Track Metrics for a Smarter Mobility Program

1. Employee Satisfaction— Because If They Hate It, You’ll Hear About It

Relocation is stressful— but it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. A bad experience can lead to disengagement, productivity dips, or even employees jumping ship.

How do you know if your relocation program is good? Ask your people. And don’t just take a quick pulse— break it down:

• How was the moving process itself?
• Were the services actually helpful?
• Did they feel like they had choices, or was it one-size-fits-all?
• Did they feel supported throughout?

Happy employees = successful relocations. It’s that simple.

2. Time to Relocate— Speed Matters

The clock starts ticking the second you hire someone who needs to move. The longer it takes, the longer they’re not contributing. Tracking relocation timelines allows you to:

• Plan more effectively for project staffing
• Identify and address delays before they derail a move
• Pinpoint areas where process improvements could save time

Slow moves hurt both your employees and your bottom line.

3. Retention Rates— Is Your Investment Paying Off?

Relocation is a big deal. If employees feel unsupported, they might start eyeing the exit way sooner than you’d like.

Don’t just track overall retention—dig deeper:

• Do relocated employees stick around longer (or bail faster) than their peers?
• Are certain roles or locations linked to higher turnover?
• Are you investing in people who actually stay long enough to make it worthwhile?

If your relocation program isn’t keeping talent, it’s not working.

4. Business Impact—More Than Just Moving Boxes

Relocation isn’t just about getting people from Point A to Point B— it should be driving your business forward.

Ask yourself:

• Are relocated employees actually hitting their performance goals?
• Is mobility helping attract and retain top talent?
• Does the cost justify the impact?

When done right, relocation is a strategic tool—not just a line item in your budget.

5. Total Program Costs—Where’s the Money Going?

“I think we spend about this much” isn’t good enough. Break it down:

• Year-over-year cost trends—are you spending smarter or just spending more?
• Benefit usage—are employees using what you’re offering, or are you wasting money?
• Vendor costs—are you getting actual discounts or overpaying?
• Hidden expenses—like admin time and policy inefficiencies.

If you don’t know exactly where your relocation dollars are going, you’re probably wasting some of them.

Stop Guessing. Start Managing.

Tracking the right data is just step one. Now, you have to use it:

• HR Analytics: Compare relocated vs. non-relocated employees for retention, performance, and engagement.
• Exception Tracking: If employees keep asking for policy exceptions, maybe your policy needs fixing.
• Employee Feedback Surveys: If you’re not gathering post-move feedback, you’re missing golden insights.
• Relocation Reports: A good provider (cough-- like NuCompass-- cough) should give you real-time analytics.

Ready to Make Your Relocation Program Smarter?

Data-driven mobility isn’t about cutting costs— it’s about making better decisions. More efficiency. Better employee experiences. Bigger business impact.

If you’re still managing relocation by gut feeling, it’s time for an upgrade. Let’s talk. NuCompass can help you turn your mobility program into a data-powered success machine.

About NuCompass

NuCompass Mobility is a veteran-owned, independent mobility management company, offering a comprehensive range of global mobility and U.S. domestic relocation services. For more information about how NuCompass and our CoPilot® or CoPilot Express™ platforms can support your global mobility needs, visit www.nucompass.com/solutions/technology today!