Telecom Contract

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7 Tips to Negotiate Telecom Contracts

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7 Tips to Negotiate Telecom Contracts

Negotiating a telecom contract takes a certain delicacy if you want to get the best deal without compromising your service. Although companies can take advantage of a competitive telecom market, it's important to read the fine print on contract clauses and other factors that influence price and quality. On the other hand, a well-negotiated contract clearly states your services and expectations with unambiguous pricing models.

So, how do you come up with an agreement with your provider that works for you? With the right research and a little guidance, you can negotiate beneficial terms.

Here are seven tips to help your company get the service you need at a price you can afford:

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TEM Services: The Proactive Approach

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TEM Services: The Proactive Approach

Valicom offers the absolute smorgasbord of telecom services! Our a la carte service menu options means that you pick only the telecom expense management (TEM) services you want and need. Our mission is to help our clients reduce their telecom expenses. We do this by offering robust telecom contract and invoices services. Mix and match them. Every telecom environment is a little bit different.

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Finding TEM Challenges: Operational

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Finding TEM Challenges: Operational

During our latest webinar ‘Unlock Savings: Finding Telecom Inefficiencies” we covered many opportunities for savings in your current organizational processes. From financial, technical, and operational — we emphasized balance in achieving savings.

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Finding TEM Challenges: Financial

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Finding TEM Challenges: Financial

The bread and butter of telecom expense management (TEM) is finding opportunities for savings. Cold hard cash. Everyone wants to do more with less, and a lot of the time telecom expenses are eating up the IT department’s budget. Find critical savings, and free up budget for other more pertinent business expenses.

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Telecom Contract Negotiation: Talk softly but carry a big stick

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Telecom Contract Negotiation: Talk softly but carry a big stick

A webinar we did not that long ago illustrates the main problem with telecom contract management and telecom contract negotiation. We asked how many attending firms went through the RFP and negotiation process when their telecom contracts were due for renewal. The answers were all over the board.   However, only ONE said they did it “Every time”. I think we had one “Often”, but most said “Sometimes” or “Rarely”.

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Why Telecom Contract Negotiation Matters

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Why Telecom Contract Negotiation Matters

A telecom contract controls not only price, but terms and conditions, over a long period of time. Long distance rates, mobile data and minute pooling options, internet package pricing and device purchase costs all affect the bottom line.  This means that getting the lowest cost, most flexible agreement possible is one of the very best ways to save money on telecom. 

Telecom Contract Negotiation: Mind Your Terms & Conditions

Telecom Contract Negotiation: Mind Your Terms & Conditions

When conducting telecom contract negotiations, large businesses know and expect to scrutinize all areas of those contracts prior to signing them.  They not only review the contracts for pricing negotiation, but also for terms and conditions negotiation. The latter, the so called “T’s and C’s”, are what we often see small and medium size businesses overlook.  Whether you feel it’s unimportant, or that the contract value is too small, you still have the opportunity to scrutinize this verbiage, and it can often be in your best interest.

Telecom & Wireless Management: Contract Negotiation

Telecom & Wireless Management: Contract Negotiation

It’s easy to see that when you remember the telecom vendors are in business to make money.  YOUR money.In other words, they are good at this, and maybe you aren’t.So either get someone experienced to the negotiating table with you, or at least put a game plan in place so you have the time and the information to make an informed decision.  Here is where to start:

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Telecom Management Software and Contracts

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Telecom Management Software and Contracts

While we’re on the topic of making your life easier and saving you time, document management comes to mind.   In the modern era, no one wants a file cabinet stuffed full of papers hulking in the corner of their office. And they certainly don’t want to have to dig through it to find contract information.

Telecom Tactic 7: Telecom Contract Negotiation

Telecom Tactic 7: Telecom Contract Negotiation

Ok, now that we have your attention, let’s talk tactics.  Remember that the telecom vendors are in business to make money.  YOUR money.  So they are good at this, and maybe you aren’t.  Either get someone to the negotiating table with you that has experience, or at least be aware of these basic tactics….

Don't wait until your next Telecom RFP to get prepared

Don't wait until your next Telecom RFP to get prepared

As we discussed in our recent webinar “Plugging the Leak: Software Tools and Strong Tactics to Contain Telecom & Wireless Costs”, telecom contract RFPs and negotiation are the #1 way to save money on telecom.

Insights from our latest webinar: Telecom Contract Negotiation - Talk softly but carry a big stick

Insights from our latest webinar: Telecom Contract Negotiation - Talk softly but carry a big stick

As I discussed yesterday, we ran some polls during our latest webinar – “Plugging the Leak: How Software Tools & Strong Tactics Contain Telecom Costs” – with some interesting results.   Well, not interesting to us – we know what causes our client’s pain – but maybe interesting to you.  

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To Cut Telecom Costs in 2011, Plan in 4th Quarter 2010

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To Cut Telecom Costs in 2011, Plan in 4th Quarter 2010

I know this sounds like something your mother would tell you, but looking ahead and making good decisions in the present can lead to good things in the future.  As 2010 starts to wind down in its fourth quarter, firms are making decisions about what to spend, and what NOT to spend, in 2011.   Essentially, it’s budgeting time for many departments, and with IT costs set to rise with Windows 7 deployment, increasing security issues, and higher demands for wireless devices and data plans, finding ways to save money before you spend it is not a bad idea.