While it is one of the industry’s most important roles, the quality of packing generally still lags behind the high standards set in other parts of the business. Andreas Eibel, of Sobolak, explains that defining standards and a professional term for ‘a mover’ is a vital part of changing this.
?The new FIDI-FAIM 3.4 Standard has been approved and is ready to be rolled out in 2026. As FIDI members, we all agree that administrative standards, processes and hard facts are important to define quality. We have the Professional Cooperation Guidelines (FIDI PCG), giving us guidance on how to act as professional movers, covering best practices in operations, move coordination and in sales. Unfortunately, they do not cover the core of what we do at all: packing household goods.
We take it for granted that a company that puts effort into all these aspects will produce quality work when it comes to packing. Our packers are busy with checklists and signatures on documents, on compliance and safety issues, and so on. However, the most important part – packing, unpacking, dismantling, reassembling – has not improved in the last few years.
If we want to be the gold standard holders of our industry, we need to do something about this.
Don’t get me wrong: there are many skilled companies among us, training their staff to keep their own standards high. But it doesn’t appear to be the norm.
How can we reverse the trend? Firstly, we could define some industry standards on what proper packing and a good job looks like. This would enable us to measure it and to hold partners accountable for what they produce. It helps our customers, and this means that the business stays within the FIDI family.
Sourcing blue-collar staff is a challenge. Being a ‘mover’ doesn’t have the same connotation as being a carpenter or a plumber. However, our local Austrian movers’ association, ÖMTV, has done an amazing job, under Karin Lang’s presidency, of improving the image of the job of a mover.
The Austrian employment service (AMS) now recognises an ‘Umzugsfachkraft’ – or ‘moving specialist’ – elevating the status of our core profession: a crucial step to give our people pride in what they do. Let’s not forget that other than sales staff, our packers are the only ones a client meets personally. Our workers should showcase what your organisation stands for, and we should acknowledge this – at least with the creation of a name that reflects a skilled profession. I encourage every FIDI national or regional association to champion this in their respective countries.
Educating our operational staff is the next part of the equation. The FIDI Academy has great online training for packers, teaching them why we use different packing techniques and materials, and showing the risks of poor quality. Wouldn’t it be great to go a step further and train people in how to handle different items?
Skilled professionals also need to practise their skills. What’s better than using the best available packers in the region? I am sure some Affiliates have great staff who can help us raise the bar. There are so many ways to communicate nowadays: videos, online meetings etc. Let’s use all means of technology to teach best practice.
FIDI and its Affiliates need to identify some core gold standards or ‘do’s and don’ts’ of packing for international moving. Let’s agree on what basic re-assembly really means, what tools should be in every mover’s toolbox, and finally, how certain items need to be wrapped, packed and handled. I am confident that the insurance companies can tell us exactly where our pain points are.
Once defined, implementation in our organisations can start and we can move towards a time when we no longer receive rattling boxes from our overseas FIDI partners. Then we can work together to drive these standards throughout our industry.
Who will volunteer to define standards of proper packing, wrapping and handling, and possibly to update the FIDI PCG? Who is up for working on practical packer training or is willing to identify which objects are most often victims of incorrect handling?
I am confident there is more than enough knowledge in the FIDI family. FIDI stands for the best possible quality. We owe it to our customers and to ourselves to look into this.