Tele2 IoT: how a publicly-listed telecoms giant found the perfect growth partner

The Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a Hollywood sci-fi fantasy. From supply chains to healthcare, and smart homes to entire cities, this ubiquitous technology is transforming the world around us.

For businesses to leverage these exciting possibilities and stay connected, though, they need an IoT provider they can rely on. Enter Tele2 IoT: a true gamechanger in the digital space.

With a presence in over 190 markets, this European telecoms giant knows all about successful international growth. But to expand its global team and keep delivering value, the business first needed to partner with a proven, reliable global employment services provider — one that could keep up with its innovative pace.

Here’s why Tele2 IoT trusted Remote to support its international hiring, and forge reliable connections of its own with its global workforce.

Tele2 IoT at a glance

• Headquarters: Sweden

• Founded: 2012

• Industry: Telecommunications

Tele2 was initially founded in 1993 with a bold vision: to enable a society of unlimited possibilities. And with the launch of the Tele2 IoT division in 2012, this mission quickly took on a whole new meaning. With its robust network of providers, products, and infrastructure, the company quickly became one of the fastest-growing IoT enterprises in Europe — allowing businesses to connect and manage their IoT devices across the world.

According to Onur Kasaba, Tele2 IoT’s director of sales, there was a key driving factor behind this extraordinary growth.

“Everyone who works here has passion for what we do,” he says. “Internally, we use the phrase: ‘IoT Love’. We have the best people in the industry, and together, we bring IoT Love to different regions of the world.”

However, expanding that love across the globe meant leveraging a talented international workforce — and ensuring it experienced the same internal culture as the company’s local employees.

Finding the secret sauce

Unfortunately, Tele2 IoT’s first partner did not live up to expectations.  

“There was no support, no portal, and no roadmap for future products and services,” Kasaba says. “The provider also couldn’t handle all the countries we needed.”

Employees in unsupported countries were also being asked to create their own limited liability companies, through which they would invoice Tele2 IoT. Unsurprisingly, this was not popular with potential hires.

“You can’t go to the best person in the market, make the offer, and then ask them to set up a limited company with all the risk and liability that entails,” Kasaba adds. “It just doesn’t work that way.”

To find the solution, Tele2 IoT reopened their search for the ideal global employment services provider — and quickly encountered another dilemma.

“We’re a publicly listed company,” Kasaba explains, “so we needed the stability and reliability of a well-known brand, but with the flexibility of a small provider.

“We found that the big brands just weren’t flexible to our needs, and weren’t hungry to get to know our business. For them, we were just a number and they weren’t able to see the value of a true collaboration. Then there were the smaller providers who said yes to everything without substance; we didn’t feel they could actually deliver on the promises they were making.”

Finally, Tele2 IoT discovered Remote — and realized they could have their cake and eat it, too.

We needed one provider to help us scale; with the support, the roadmap, and the ability to support multiple countries — and handle all the compliance wherever we wanted to hire. Remote immediately ticked all those boxes.

“Remote provided the secret sauce,” says Kasaba. “They gave us stability, flexibility, and the right attitude. They were everything we were looking for and it’s the perfect combination.”

• Remote offers a flat pricing structure and no hidden fees when hiring employees

• Remote’s has a quick, self-serve platform for employers and contractors alike

• Remote’s employment and compliance experts on the ground around the world give Tele2 the confidence to onboard talent globally

One seamless, centralized onboarding journey

The collaboration with Remote instantly transformed Tele2 IoT's onboarding experience, with the platform serving as a centralized hub from which offer letters, contracts, incentives, and benefits could be easily managed. 

“Once we agree with an employee, it's very straightforward to have them onboarded,” says Kasaba. Crucially, it’s also a simple, user-friendly experience for new hires, with the company receiving unanimously positive feedback.

There is a robust layer between us and our global employees. They get the same benefits and the same coherent employment experience wherever they are in the world.

For Kasaba, another key plus point is Remote’s built-in compliance features. These ensure that all hires are authenticated, and that total regulatory compliance is maintained in each region.

“Compliance is built into the process,” explains Kasaba. “Remote is an expert in each region and, once we hire, they make sure that the person we are hiring is the person that we are talking to. I can follow everything online and know that it’s being taken care of.” 

Now, Tele2 IoT’s people feel like part of the organization from the start, solidifying that all-important company culture and sharing that ‘IoT love’.

A sizeable business impact

The partnership with Remote has also impacted Tele2 IoT in other ways. For one thing, Remote's multinational presence and brand strength instills a sense of financial security among the company’s employees. 

“Remote is a large, multinational company,” says Kasaba. “Our employees need to know that the middle layer between them and Tele2 IoT is robust — particularly if they want to get a mortgage, or a loan for a car.”

Remote gives our people peace of mind that they’re going to be OK as they go about their day-to-day financial lives.

This ensures that Tele2 IoT’s people feel secure and content, allowing them to focus on their work and deliver excellent results.

In addition, Remote's platform enables a smooth, consistent employment experience across all regions —- which has proved vital in attracting top talent.

“The interview process is like a sales pitch,” says Kasaba. “You’re promising a lot to the employee, and you want those promises to be held up.

“If there are too many hiccups or bad experiences in that process, then the person may decide not to join your company and you lose them to a competitor. Knowing that Remote gives employees the best experience from day one is crucial for securing the best hires.”

Two different companies: one productive relationship

Overall, Kasaba describes the partnership as “fantastic” — and credits a lot of this success to Remote’s personal touch.

“Telecommunications is an established industry with little wiggle room, and Remote is a startup with lots of flexibility,” he explains. “So we come from different perspectives. But what lies between us is great account management.

“We have an account manager and a customer success manager, and we leverage their support and experience in different markets as we scale and grow the team.

“Our core business is not international hiring; it’s IoT. So the partnership with Remote is a very important enablement layer for us.”

The Remote team works like magic. They are hands-on, proactive, and we’re always connected with the right people when we need solutions quickly.

Forging a bright — and exciting — future

Going forward, this kind of magic is going to be crucial for Tele2 IoT — especially as the potential in the IoT space continues to evolve. For Kasaba, though, it’s crucial not to lose sight of what’s driven the company’s success.

“When you focus on operational excellence, grow with the right talent, and focus on the customer, you stand out against the competition,” he says. “I’m very excited about all that we have achieved, and I’m looking forward to what the future will bring.”

As Tele2 IoT navigates the future, Remote will be there all the way, providing elite onboarding, management, benefits, and compliance support for its global contractors and employees.

Want to take the stress and ambiguity out of your international hiring? Contact us today to schedule a friendly consultation with one of our global hiring experts.