It is always fun and at the same time can be quite demanding to undertake business in India due to the cultural and social differences, population density, and business organization. This genuine guide is intended to facilitate the trip of the business traveler to India.
This business guide shares various steps that will help you to make your business trip a successful one. Even for first business trip or a consecutive one, these tips will make you ready and save a lot of your time.
Things to Consider Before Business Travel to India
India has the largest population in the world in terms of cultural and people’s diversity; therefore the business environment is as diverse. Here are the things you should consider before your business travel to India:
Official Language: Rest assured that English is the official business language of India. The regional language may vary depending on the cities you will visit, but with any translator you can make your deal.
North vs South: It is not wrong to say that India is bifurcated culturally in two halves, the northern region and the southern region. Begin your research on the cultural practices even before you begin making your travel arrangements for the trip.
Building Relationships: Personal contacts and trust are very important in India. The business culture in India is mainly ethical and intuitive in contrast to the factual and statistical approach of many western countries. To develop good rapport, approach other people in your line of work and engage them in a conversation while showing interest in them.
Plan an Itinerary: For any business trip to be successful, there should be proper planning that needs to be done. It is said that every trip has its surprises, but as you are planning a business visit let’s be business like. It must be understood that planning an itinerary and following it to the letter will certainly ensure that your trip will be as efficient as it will be productive.
Know What You Prefer: Do it yourself or better still seek the services of a travel agent to help you sort out your accommodation, flight times, business meetings, conferences, and other schedules etc. Also, it is advisable to book a hotel close to your business conference or meeting since this will save you a lot of time.
Navigate Communication Style: Do bear in mind that Indian communication behavior may not be quite as you anticipate it to be. This means that basic negative responses such as saying ‘no’ are considered impolite. Instead, you could stumble upon phrases such as “We will see” or “It seems like it is hard”, which are often employed to convey rejection. It will be easier for you to engage in conversations if you get to have a clue of these details.
Inform Your Team: If you are travelling with a colleague or with more than one colleague, then inform them about your schedule and your plans. Secondly, you can also ask for recommendations from your team members for better accommodation or venue. This will help to decrease your stress and advance the teamwork as a whole.
Get Ready for Your Business Trip
Once you have all planned your trip in theory, let’s execute it for real:
Booking Flight to India: In most cases, the company is fully responsible for all the travelling costs of the employee who is attending the business meeting or conference. It is to be noted that India runs international flights from major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc, so there is no problem as far as efficiency is concerned.
Travel Documents: It is time to board so make sure that all your documents such as passport and visa are out of your desks. Visa should be booked at least before a month so that there is no rush or rush charges are incurred. Ensure that the country you are coming from allows e-visa to be used to enter India this makes the visa approval and entry easier.
Pack Smart: Since you will be going to India for business work, pack more of the formal attire. This should also be based on the packing that you should do less on. Also, do not forget to pack your night wear to wear to bed after a tiring day of touring.
Do Not Forget Travel Insurance:It is evident that traveling for business has some risks that are attached to it. This could be damage or loss of baggage, an accident or any other unpleasant incidence. You have to ensure that you take business travel and medical insurance in order to be financially compensated in case of such incidences.
Take Guidance from the Best: Some of the applications include Google Translate, Google Map, Cam Card among others that will assist to enhance your productivity. It is advisable to employ the services of a professional travel agent to do all the bookings for tickets, accommodation, transport and other essentials. These experts arrange for your trip package depending on your choice and is cheaper and takes a shorter time.
Top 3 Cities for Business Travel in India
Let’s discuss some of the top business hubs across India to choose from:
1. Mumbai
This big city is the heart of the stock market in India and, hence is the commercial and financial hub of the country. Mumbai alone is 6.1% part of India’s GDP and ranks in the top 10 global cities for start-ups and financial flow. Rich in culture and dynamic business environment, Mumbai has luxury hotels that can serve as key venues for a meeting like The Oberoi, The Taj Mahal Palace, and many more.
2. New Delhi
This capital city of India is the political center as well as a growing potential business market. Several exhibitions and international conferences are hosted here year-round. Not to mention Connaught Place which is the city’s economic center and also has headquarters for major Indian companies. As per the World Wealth Report, New Delhi is ranked #37 worldwide as the richest city.
3. Bengaluru
The Silicon Valley of India is the center for technology and innovation which is a dynamic technology market of the country. For your business lunch meeting, you can consider adding Bombay Brasserie to the list. On top of that, the Oberoi Hotel is also the best option for business meetings and conferences.
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Concluding Thoughts
In this article, by looking at these tips and information you can prepare yourself for a successful business trip in India. You should always know about the culture, locality, arrangement of your travels and climate to make the best from your trip. Consider booking your business trip with Tusk Travel to save time and make your trip a professional success.
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