Explore Valicom's blog for essential industry insights and updates. Stay informed and empowered with the latest in technology expense management.
Cybersecurity was already a major priority in the industry long before the pandemic. Nowhere is this truer than in utilizing 5G networks without compromising security. In a conservative approach, organizations presumed they were safe if they kept their systems closed. However, that is no longer a certainty.
In order for digital networking to reach its full potential, the technology requires continuous upgrades in terms of capacity and speed. The global pandemic has caused everyone to rethink the requirements of this resource. With more people working at home, studying at home, and keeping themselves entertained remotely, existing systems were stretched to their limits. While 5G infrastructure promises to make high-speed internet a given for half the world, operators will still have to find new innovations to meet the ever-increasing demands on cyberspace.
According to the 2021 Broadband Pricing Index Report from US Telecom, prices are trending downward for American broadband services when compared with 2020 rates. This includes popular tiers, which have decreased by 7.5% this year. Downward price pressure has been a fixture of the industry since 2015. Therefore, in 2021, despite surging demand, the price of broadband fell more than 9% when adjusted for inflation. This means more value at a cheaper price for viewers.
As the industry focuses on the federal target of closing the digital divide, prices will likely remain low. Let's take a look at what this might mean for underserved users and the industry as a whole.
With 5G networks delivering faster download speeds and low latency, the industry may soon see new applications and services that take advantage of the greater bandwidth. However, right now, carriers are struggling to find enough people to sell the services and build new networks.
Major players such as T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are launching 5G into as many markets as possible as quickly as possible. The question is, will they be able to muster enough telecom workers to deliver on widely publicized predictions about the sea-level changes in the works.
While the economy has begun to open up post-COVID-19, many IT departments are being downsized. This trend may continue to affect technology budgets for the foreseeable future.
Technology workers are used to constant change, from taking on new projects to learning new skills to adapting to new innovations. However, a shrinking talent pool brings its own challenges. Often, IT departments are the first hit when it comes to belt-tightening measures. So, you learn to do more with less.
Telecom Expense Management (TEM) tools can help your organization run more efficiently. You may even find more room in the budget by resolving billing errors or recycling or retiring used devices such as laptops, tablets, and phones. First, you have to identify these opportunities, and it makes sense to invest in the technology that will get you there.
There are many challenges when it comes to keeping track of data inventory, telephone lines, and network, wireless and mobility assets. With the right telecom inventory management system, you can track, budget, and utilize or decommission assets effortlessly. Understanding the key challenges in telecommunications inventory management can help you streamline your telecommunications equipment and services.
Valicom provides inventory management services for telephones, fiber optics, microwave communication equipment, Wi-Fi, telephone lines, and internet services. With the right tools, you can stick to your telecom budget and ensure accurate monthly billing for everything from mobile devices to telephone lines.
Global organizations rely on telecom inventory to connect different office locations, suppliers, customers, and remote employees seamlessly. It's important to have one central location to store telecom inventory, usage, and other relevant factors. Managing telecom inventory is paramount to the success of your organization, but it’s far from simple. Here are five key challenges to address when considering inventory management solutions.
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:
If your telecom and technology management systems are outdated, you are wasting time and money. One of the biggest wastes is that in managing everything the old-school way, in spreadsheets or desktop software. Follow along as we uncover why it is critical for complex telecom environments to manage their infrastructure, contracts, and invoices in an intuitive cloud-based solution instead of tedious, error-prone, and heavy updates of your outdated solutions.
In telecom, as in many other sectors, the pandemic accelerated a move to digital communications and activity among both consumers and employees. During this transition, the telecom industry will continue to serve as a foundation to build digital assets and improve performance in this increasingly crowded space.
The growth of the digital economy combined with sophisticated data management and analysis makes 2021 an exciting time to be in the telecommunications business. One area that enterprises are focusing on includes SASE (“sassy”). Keep reading to learn more about how to implement this technology and stay ahead of the competitors in your industry.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored challenges facing the telecommunications industry. It’s time to make bold moves to help your company. There are areas of opportunity for telecommunications leaders to consider in their recovery strategies.
Here are three ways to thrive in 2021:
Focus on customer needs with a nuanced customer engagement approach.
Upgrade the customer experience with new service offerings and adopt agile business models.
Position your branding in a way that maximizes secure wireless networks and includes this technology in your services and business models when possible.
Valicom’s team sat down to discuss the most important questions to ask during the discovery phase of finding a trustworthy TEM vendor. The discussion started with basic questions, which we concluded could be applied to most technologies. These points also specifically had to do with the software provider’s team and who they work with directly. That brings us to the top two fundamental questions:
You take a deep breath as you look at your bank account…
You notice your balance is lower than expected…
Did a mysterious creature steal your identity?
Have you purchased something without knowing?
You peek through your recent charges and discover that your telecom provider increased your rates without your knowledge and charged you a mysterious fee which leaves you stranded with a bigger hole in your account than you anticipated...
Clearview looks very different today than it did 30 years ago. When I started the business in 1991, my office tools consisted of an Intel 10286 computer (100Mbps memory) which was a second-generation home (user friendly) computer, and word processing and spreadsheet (Excel) software. I used spreadsheets extensively to calculate pricing and perform long distance vendor cost comparisons based on the pricing schedules offered by AT&T and several other alternative carriers who had entered the marketplace after divestiture.
We think in-person is much better. Wouldn’t you agree? Here are hot topics in the IT world that are answered by Valicom’s President himself.
Now more than ever the healthcare industry should be looking into services such as technology expense management. Due to our current conditions caused by the 2020 pandemic, a new opportunity for rural healthcare organizations makes adopting TEM easier than ever. The Healthcare Connect Fund offers a 65% discount to those that qualify.
