The best local addresses for expats

The challenge

The Netherlands has more than one million expatriates. They stay here temporarily, in a different culture than in which they grew up. They are not familiar with local businesses and have trouble finding suitable business addresses. Moreover, they come into little contact with local residents.

Expats are a very interesting target group for entrepreneurs, but prove difficult to reach. In addition, they set different requirements for entrepreneurs and companies, such as the ability to communicate in their own language.

The assignment

We developed an online platform for expats that they can use to find quality and reliable companies that meet their needs. They can view and compare companies based on reviews, which they can also post themselves via a handy Wizard to help other expats get started. In addition, they can create an accessible user profile.

Companies can create a free or paid profile, with commercial opportunities to address the expat. It offers local entrepreneurs excellent local opportunities, based on qualitative reviews with manual control.

Implementation

We developed a modular platform, prepared for expansion to multiple countries. With an interactive homepage, with search functionality based on category, activity, company name, or a combination thereof. In addition, expats have the option to create a user profile there, if desired by logging in with a Social account. The Review Wizard makes it easy to post reviews.

Companies can create a free or paid profile, with commercial opportunities to address the expat. It offers local entrepreneurs excellent local opportunities, based on qualitative reviews with manual control.

Results

The platform was positively received by the expat community, which immediately garnered considerable fame. The growing database of companies quickly resulted in 3,126 applications, providing national coverage.

Within the first 2 months of the launch, 411 unique reviews were posted. In addition, companies created the first paid premium accounts, which proved successful in the revenue model.

Future

In the future, we will roll out the concept to a number of other countries, such as England, Belgium, Spain and France. In addition, an app version of the website will follow. Another strategic step towards an expat-friendly locals concept.