For years, roaming charges have plagued business travellers, often leading to bill shock.   unexpected bills.   We’ve all seen or heard about the employee who travelled outside of Europe and inadvertently racked up $10 and 20, even $50,000 of roaming charges.  The fact is that while travel in the EU is practically ‘free’, as soon as you go further afield, those roaming charges can soon mount up – especially within the framework of many corporate mobile contracts.

Over the past couple of years, you might have noticed a proliferation of companies offering e-sim solutions.  While they absolutely save money, most are aimed at the consumer market and individual travellers.  How can these solutions be integrated within the corporate environment, and which ones are best? 

What is an e-SIM?

An e-SIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM that is built directly into your device, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card. With e-SIM technology, you can install from a QR code and easily switch between it and your regular sim.   Most recent phones (iPhone 11 onwards, Galaxy S20, etc) support e-sims, and some allow multiple e-sims. 

Key Benefits of Roaming e-SIMs for Business Travellers

• Instant Connectivity: No more hunting for local SIM cards at the airport or searching for Wi-Fi on the move. With an e-SIM, you can activate a roaming plan before you even set foot in a new country

• Cost Savings: e-SIMs will offer more competitive international data packages compared to traditional roaming options, helping businesses control their mobile expenditure

• Simplified Management: IT departments can remotely provision e-sims and manage mobile plans for employees via a portal, ensuring everyone stays connected and compliant with company policies

• Control:  set spending and usage limits, select the most appropriate travel bundle, receive high use alerts.  These are all ways to ensure bill shock is avoided.

How to Get Started with an Enterprise Solution

With the proliferation of providers, choosing a suitable one for your company is daunting.  But be aware that most are consumer-oriented, so don’t offer the controls discussed earlier.  Ensure you choose a reputable e-SIM provider with robust international coverage, and stringent control methods. 

If you haven’t already explored the world of e-SIMs, now’s the perfect time to make the switch. Contact us for help making the transition.