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Monthly Archives: December 2010
Helpful Features Provided By Consultant-Specific TEM System
This is a follow-up to my previous blog entitled “Helpfulness of Telecom Auditing and TEM Software Tool For Consultants” and the fifth in a series of blogs that outline the results of Valicom’s telecom consultant survey sent out to telecom consultants in August, 2010. The blog series also discusses the benefits of utilizing telecom expense management tools for telecom and IT consultants.
The last survey question was “Which features would you find helpful in a consultant-specific tool?” The following graph demonstrates the overwhelmingly positive response received to the features listed.
Some interesting results were shown from this question. About 90% reported that they would find a web-hosted solution helpful. With the advent of software-as-a-service providing ease-of-use and flexibility at a low subscription-based price point, more consultants are moving toward utilizing webhosted solutions.
90% also responded that data loading and graphs and charts would be helpful. About 85% reported that one-time audit capabilities, customizable reports, asset/inventory management and remote access for other users would be beneficial. Remote access for clients and audit tools drew
approximately an 80% approval rating. Close to 70% said that they’d like logo branding (white labeling) and document imaging features. Bill processing and payment was favorable to approximately 40% of the respondents.
Clearview For Consultants (C4C), Valicom’s answer to this overwhelming need is a SaaS based platform that provides all of the features listed above and is designed specifically for consultants. Stay tuned for my next blog that will explore the benefits for consultants of utilizing TEM software in detail. You can also read more by downloading the white paper entitled, “Telecom Expense Management Tools For Telecom and IT Consultants“.
Helpfulness of Telecom Auditing and TEM Software Tool for Consultants
This is a follow-up to my previous blog entitled “Tracking Systems Used By Telecom Consultants Today” and the fourth in a series of blogs that outline the results of Valicom’s telecom consultant survey that was sent out to a nationwide group of independent telecom consultants in August, 2010 on this subject.
The fourth survey question was “How helpful would you find a software tool designed specifically for telecom consultants for auditing and TEM?” The following graph depicts the responses received:
Approximately 80% of the respondents said that a telecom consultant-specific tool would be very helpful or somewhat helpful to them in their practices. Only 7% reported that it would not be very helpful and no one responded that it would not be helpful at all.
Once again, the results of this question demonstrates a large need within the telecommunications consultant community for a telecom expense management tool designed for consultants. To answer this need in the marketplace, Valicom developed Clearview For Consultants (C4C). C4C is a SaaS based platform designed specifically for telecom consultants. Clearview is not only designed for automated telecom auditing and service optimization but also for full lifecycle TEM services such as accurate, comprehensive inventory management, more granular cost allocation and bill payment and standard and customizable reporting and dashboards. This unified platform enables consultants to manage both wireline (local, long distance, data network) and wireless (cellular, PDA, blackberry, smartphone, pagers) services for their clients. Valicom is disrupting the TEM industry with Clearview’s clean, easy-to-use and flexible user interface and low subscription based pricing model.
Stay tuned for my next blog that will provide you with how the telecommunications consultant respondents answered the question “Which features would you find helpful in a consultant-specific tool?”
Valicom Helps Telecom and IT Consultants Expand Service Offerings for 2011
***** PRESS RELEASE *******
Telecom expense management firm Valicom is helping telecom and IT consultants expand their services through their web-based software Clearview paired with Telecom Practice Packages. The combination offers even small consulting businesses a leg up in offering expense management solutions and a wealth of other money-making client deliverables. To help consultants increase profitability in 2011, Valicom is also offering some promotions for businesses that adopt Clearview by the end of the year.
Madison, WI (November 30, 2010) – Valicom, a twenty-year veteran in telecom cost control solutions, is finding a unique way to share its intellectual capital with other independent telecom and IT consultants. The rise in cloud computing and software-as-a-service tools led Valicom to begin licensing its telecom expense management software Clearview in early 2010. Now they are putting that software in the hands of other consulting firms. Many consultants that are still using inadequate tools like manual paper processes or outdated spreadsheets are finding the availability of advanced, feature-rich, cost-effective platforms like Clearview a great boost to their profits.
A recent survey of the Society of Telecom Consultants (STC) membership showed an overwhelming desire for such advanced tools to ease the task of auditing and processing telecom invoices. Consultants identified three top priorities in a web-based software tool for telecom auditing.
First, they are seeking to save time and money through automating the many tasks involved in telecom invoice auditing. Clearview offers a variety of visibility tools to speed up identification of errors and opportunities for saving. It comes with a large library of stock reports, and custom reports can be created at any time, to better showcase savings for end-user clients.
Next, there was great interest in the option to utilize Clearview to expand their current service offering. Many telecom and IT consultants want to get into the telecom expense management area, as an additional value-add for existing and new customers. And existing telecom auditors are very interested in offering the telecom invoice data loading and payment services offered as an add-on to Clearview.
Third, the perception of being able to offer higher value to their customers draws IT and telecom consultants to Clearview. The advanced dashboards and reporting options allow them to offer clients better business data on which to base decisions. Knowing how and where the budget is being spent allows for more rapid identification of needs and changes. Then the consultant can assist with implementing and tracking those changes.
In addition to the Clearview telecom expense management software tool, Valicom is also supporting telecom and IT consultants who wish to add telecom invoice auditing to their stable of services by offering Telecom Practice Packages. The practice packages are essentially a “TEM Business in a Box” solution. Offered in three levels, it includes all the documents and detail needed to deliver telecom auditing services, from sample contracts and scopes of work, to marketplace pricing data, proposal templates, start-up checklists, and marketing strategies. Valicom will also assist by delivering demos of Clearview for their partners and doing one-on-one business consulting. It is the perfect way to ease a consulting business into offering telecom expense management solutions as well.
To help telecom and IT consultants increase profitability in 2011, Valicom is offering some promotions for businesses that adopt Clearview by the end of the year. Interested consulting firms can visit www.valicomcorp.com/C4C to learn more about Clearview for Consultants and the current offers.