As international companies consider expanding operations in the United States, strategic decisions are increasingly driven by shifting tariffs, labor challenges, and incentive landscapes. In their recent article, the Business Expansion and Location Solutions (BELS) team at Parker Poe outlines how global executives are approaching U.S. expansion through the lenses of trade policy, talent access, and legal structure.
At FHI, we see these as crucial variables—and we believe labor execution is the natural next focus in completing the picture. Whether you’re managing distribution in-house or through a third-party partnership, workforce strategy has become a make-or-break factor in successful expansion. That’s where partners like FHI—who specialize in 3PL warehouse management and labor execution—help turn strategy into results.
Here’s how the themes raised by BELS intersect with labor—and why aligning with an expert partner can give your operation the edge.
Tariffs Are Squeezing Margins—Labor Efficiency Helps Offset the Pressure
The volatility of global trade policy has made site selection more complex. With tariffs reshaping cost structures overnight, companies are seeking greater financial predictability by expanding domestically.
FHI’s take: Even when tariffs tighten margins, workforce performance remains an opportunity to recover cost. FHI provides region-specific labor models that evaluate full burden costs, shift productivity, and employee retention. In many cases, gains in labor efficiency and safety can balance out external pressures like tariffs—especially when paired with a high-performance 3PL warehouse management model.
Talent Constraints Are Real—But So Are Workforce Partnerships
As Parker Poe’s team points out, labor availability is one of the most significant barriers international companies face when selecting a U.S. location. Finding, training, and retaining reliable workers—especially for warehouse and distribution operations—can be difficult and costly.
FHI’s value: We bring over 30 years of workforce execution experience to the table. Our teams build and manage labor solutions on-site, from recruiting and onboarding to managing daily productivity. We help mitigate talent scarcity by developing localized pipelines and performance-based labor programs that align with your operational demands. Whether you’re operating a dedicated facility or outsourcing with a 3PL provider, FHI ensures the human element is accounted for and optimized.
Site Selection Is About More Than Dirt and Dollars
The BELS team encourages a data-driven approach to evaluating infrastructure, access, and incentives. Yet in many cases, labor assessments still rely on outdated statistics or oversimplified projections.
FHI’s insight: Labor is dynamic. We incorporate real-time insights into workforce readiness, commute patterns, and safety culture to help companies understand not just the quantity of labor, but the quality. For those evaluating 3PL warehouse management options, we offer transparency into how labor performance varies across markets and how it can be managed and scaled effectively.
Compliance Isn’t Optional—Especially in a New Country
Legal structures, tax compliance, and employment law are complex for any company—especially those new to the U.S. environment. The BELS team helps companies navigate these complexities from a legal and strategic lens.
Our boots-on-the-ground support: FHI brings that same risk mitigation to your operations. We handle OSHA compliance, wage audits, and joint-employment issues every day. Our on-site managers and compliance protocols ensure your workforce program is ready for any inspection—and that it protects your brand, not jeopardizes it.
Incentives Should Include Labor, Not Just Real Estate
Parker Poe rightly emphasizes the role of incentives in U.S. expansion decisions. However, many companies fail to take full advantage of workforce-specific grants and programs that reward investment in training and job creation.
FHI’s role: We help clients identify and align with workforce-related incentives—such as job creation tax credits and training grants—by designing labor strategies that meet eligibility requirements and by tracking the performance metrics needed to support long-term compliance and reporting.
3PL Warehouse Management Is Stronger with a Labor Strategy
The Parker Poe BELS team provides a roadmap for successful U.S. expansion—from legal planning to site selection. At FHI, we help bring that vision to life on the warehouse floor.
Whether you're partnering with a 3PL warehouse management provider or planning a dedicated distribution facility, labor will be your most critical operational lever. FHI ensures that lever is built on performance, compliance, and adaptability—so your U.S. expansion isn't just successful, but sustainable.
If Parker Poe’s roadmap is your blueprint, FHI helps you bring it to life—on the warehouse floor and beyond.
Editor’s note: This article builds on insights shared by the Parker Poe BELS team. We appreciate their perspective and aim to complement it with practical workforce strategies based on our experience in the field.
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