Grow your business by expanding to other markets

As a business, growth is essential. But what to do when your local market is saturated and you're not landing sufficient contracts? It might be time to expand internationally.

Every day numerous businesses of all sizes come to find and win international tenders through Mercell Bidding while growing their businesses. Want to know how they succeed? Read on to learn more.

Why go international?

International tenders offer unique opportunities you might not come across locally. At the same time, building a name internationally helps you gain trust more quickly, regardless of your client’s location. A few years into running his business, Mehmet Ak from Ak Solution was ready for the big public contracts. Unfortunately, the Dutch public market proved to be quite hard. He decided to start looking for international opportunities, especially in Germany, through Mercell Bidding. “There’s a much bigger market in Germany than in the Netherlands.” In this article, he shares his experiences with Mercell. 

 

How to grow in the international market?

There are multiple ways to start growing internationally. You could apply these tactics separately, but together, they make for a strong growth strategy.

Understand your buyer’s needs

The first step is understanding your buyer. Who are they? What are their needs? And what market are they in? By doing this research beforehand, you can pinpoint the opportunities that are worth pursuing, enabling you to make the smartest decisions. With Mercell, you have the right tools at your fingertips to increase your understanding of markets and buyers 

Gain knowledge about CPV codes

Every tender is linked to at least one CPV code. By knowing which codes apply to you and your business, you will be able to find relevant tenders across the entire European market. You can add CPV codes to your profile in Mercell Bidding, ensuring that you’ll find the most relevant tenders when using that profile. 

Unsure of which CPV codes apply to you? Use our AI Profile Builder or Enhancer and discover which codes fit your business.

Register your business internationally

Register your business with the Chamber of Commerce in the country you would like to expand to. This step ensures you’re allowed to bid on tenders—and lets you hit the ground running when you win your first contract. 

Serve the international market

At the same time, it’s smart to create a multilingual website, including the language of the country you would like to expand to. This way, potential clients can find you when they're looking for your services online. This might prove especially helpful during market consultations and below-threshold tenders.

Be present in your market

The next step is to network within your sector. By having a proactive conversation with the buyer, you show that you’re committed to a long-lasting relationship. Consider attending events where you’re able to promote your services and meet potential clients. You’ll be up to date with developments in the market, boost your credibility, and reap the benefits of a direct sales approach. Networking and attending events are effective ways to open doors to bigger opportunities in both the private and public sector. 

Start bidding on international tenders

Are you looking for the biggest impact? Start bidding on international public tenders right away! Getting started doesn’t have to be hard or time-consuming. Within two minutes, you’ll have a fully realised profile, including CPV codes, keywords, and preferred regions, ensuring you the best business opportunities. No need to have prior experience with difficult jargon or tendering; just add a brief description of your work and let the AI do the heavy lifting.

 

How do you find the right international tenders?

To find relevant tenders, traditionally you might have started with building a list of relevant tenders by hand. However, this can rapidly start to take up a lot of your time. Mercell Bidding cuts through noise and helps you easily navigate finding the right international tenders.    

1. Discover our suggested tenders: Find relevant tenders by using your monitoring profile optimally. Just add a brief description of your products or services, and our AI will suggest relevant tenders in mere minutes, fully tailored to your business. 

2. Identify trends and opportunities in the local market: Get a holistic view of the market by searching our extensive database. You’ll be able to see bigger trends and opportunities. Narrow down your search by using the filters, such as opportunity type, bid due dates, language, expiring contracts, tender status, and more. 

3. Let our AI search relevant tenders for you: Would you prefer to automate your search? Our AI will deliver relevant tenders across multiple branches and niches. Whenever a new relevant tender that matches your profile is published, you'll automatically be notified. All so that you’ll never miss a relevant opportunity again.