Doing business internationally is complicated by different business practices and languages. Poor communication with clients or customers makes it difficult to create good business relationships, which leads to lost business. Ideas on how to build a good business relationship and communicate effectively are very different in Japan and the U.S. If you are involved in Japanese-American business relations without an international consultant on your team, you are missing a valuable opportunity to improve and increase your business!
Interpreting *Plus*Negotiation AssistanceConsultation and AdviceTraining for you or your staffEntertaining ClientsGift-givingRelationship Management
Border Crossings International is a company dedicated to helping improve communication between Americans and Japanese.
If you are an American company doing business with Japanese, or a Japanese company doing business with a US firm, we can help!
Interpreting *Plus*- We can provide interpreting services or find an interpreter for your specialized needs. We'll debrief with you afterwards to let you know what was going on with your culturally different clients. With languages as different as English and Japanese, sometimes things "get lost" in the translation- BCI can help!
Negotiation Assistance- We will attend meetings with you to help clarify points and devise negotiation strategies, as well as explain what's really going on across the table! In addition, we can act as go-between. In delicate situations, having a go-between is a culturally appropriate and comfortable way to do business for Japanese.
Consultation and Advice- "How should we handle this problem?"
We can advise you about strategies to use to create good-will. If there is a problem, we can help to resolve it, and we will advise you about how to maintain good relationships with your clients. We also work with companies that have Japanese and U.S. staff members to resolve any problems within your company.
Training- For short term or long term projects, BCI will work with you and your staff and give pointers on handling foreign guests, including proper forms of address, how to present and receive business cards, and conversational topics. We will also develop training programs for language and cultural awareness for your company.
Entertaining clients- This can be uncomfortable and stiff when a language/culture barrier exists. "Where should we go for dinner?" "What should we say?" "What's the proper protocol?"
BCI will help you choose a venue and menu. In addition, we'll go along with you when you are entertaining clients to help break the ice and keep the conversation flowing and comfortable.
Gift giving- "Do we need to give gifts?"
BCI will advise you and get appropriate gifts for your clients if necessary (we'll even wrap them).
Over the years our services have varied. We have sent holiday gifts for clients, and even represented clients at funerals and other formal occasions.
Relationship Management- Maintaining long-distance relationships when a language barrier exists is difficult. Sometimes, English used in faxes and emails can be misunderstood- native speakers may use too many idioms and difficult sentence construction for non-native speakers, while non-native speakers can construct vague messages that are unclear.
We will maintain communications for you, and because we speak English and Japanese fluently, we can pick up the phone to sort out any problems you may need clarified or resolved. (This also helps in the transfer of informal, or unofficial, communications.) We are experienced in helping companies create and maintain relationships and in overseeing bi-national projects.
