Internationalization

„Nothing but expenses”

„Nothing but expenses”

Raising awareness among international buyers can quickly become expensive, but that’s not the hardest part. As a rule, most internationalization projects fail at this point: after the costs, before the results. Why?

Converting this initial interest into profitable sales is a real challenge. In most cases, promising discussions at trade fairs fizzle out and the company turns its attention to other issues.

Historically, only one in seven companies that decide to pursue international growth achieve or exceed their desired results.

Most losers approach international sales opportunities opportunistically: they target the wrong markets, select trade shows and media at random, and hire unknown individuals.

Especially when we look at the accidents in Germany, failure is very rarely due to poor product quality. It is due to poor preparation, which leads to poor implementation.

But great success is also possible, and that is what this section is about. Most winners in the business world have also been successful in their internationalization. And so have we. Time and again.

Let’s get together and work on your internationalization project.

Success across borders

The main steps

Internationalisation: One step back

Internationalisation: One step back

We start by asking why? A new market is a large risk. Why do you want to take it? How does success look like? Which products or services stand out in your current offer? What if you need to adapt your offer? Identifying the signals and learnings from the past interactions with international clients. Making sure somebody is in charge. There will be a lot of work.

Market Selection

Market Selection

This step requires an in-depth understanding of the multiple markets that come in consideration. Status and dynamics of demand, regulation, competition. Finding sweet spots in the target markets where your current products can sell at a margin premium. Selection of the first market, sequencing of the next markets.

Execution beyond borders

Execution beyond borders

Ensuring cost-effective and predictable execution. Identifying resources that can be utilized. Setting up tools that enable you to work with international customers without having international experience (including AI-powered tools). Searching for a waterproof and scalable solution for export logistics.

International partnerships

International partnerships

Together we are strong. Where it makes sense, we look for companies, either in Germany or in the target market, that can share an investment (trade fair, logistics) or benefit from an exchange of expertise (delivery, selection of dealers).

International talent

International talent

We help you find talent in your target market. If necessary, we identify the appropriate infrastructure for accommodating and employing your international employees.

International campaigns

International campaigns

To gain a foothold in a new market, we look for the right message that appeals precisely to the target group we want to reach with the new offering. Digital strategies make it possible to reduce initial investments and validate the best levers for attracting attention where you want to be heard.

Global support structures

Global support structures

Customer service is an area where growth keeps happening. We have experience in developing scalable support models that can assist customers in various markets. From multilingual customer service to technical operations, we design and develop systems that guarantee responsiveness and quality.

This program is suitable for companies with a high level of implementation power.

Before you begin

Before you press the start button, you should bear in mind that only one in seven internationalization projects is highly successful.

Expanding into Europe is not simply a larger version of what you have already done successfully in Germany. It is a completely different game that rewards preparation, clarity, and know-how.

Choosing CO.INTRA increases your chances of success thanks to our experience in all areas of internationalization. However, this alone is not enough.

When you play on an unfamiliar field in front of an audience that did not expect you, the challenge becomes considerably greater. Only if your company is a strong player at home, will it gain the confidence it needs to beat the competition on its own turf.

And that’s what it will do: most large companies operate internationally for good reason. However, we believe that they became international because they were great, and not the other way around.

Winning across borders

You are highly successful in Germany and want to move up to the next league. Welcome to a challenge of a different dimension.

A major milestone will be reached with a perfectly executed market launch in a carefully selected market. Learning and fine-tuning. Then the second export market will be addressed with the same discipline.

Over time, the pace accelerates, but the discipline of working through the checklist perfectly is the most important aspect.

If you are already running a company with excellent execution, we should have a conversation about how you can expand it beyond Germany’s borders. We look forward to getting to know you.

Let's make growth happen.

Let's make growth happen.