If your business uses any type of telecommunications to perform its operations, then you likely have a need for telecom expense management (TEM). And the truth is, almost all businesses use telecommunication in at least one form, meaning all of them can benefit from investing in TEM software.
Even though many business owners frown upon having to make yet another investment in another type of technology, when looking over the benefits of TEM software, you will start to see that instead of an investment, it actually proves to be a valuable asset. For now, let's take a look at TEM software and how it proves to a valuable investment.
Do Your Employees Use Company Cell Phones?
Regardless of the industry that your company operates in, there are likely several of your employees that use company mobile phones and devices. Smartphones and the plethora of features that they offer are proving time and time again to be an indispensable tool for companies. But when these tools and resources are left unmanaged, they can undermine your company's bottom line.
Take for example you have employees who are using a company mobile phone to perform a wide range of personal tasks that consume a large amount of data; this can lead to an increase in the employee's mobile phone bill, which will come out of your pocket as the company owner. With TEM software, you gain insight across the usage of your company's mobile devices, making it simple to see what the devices are being used for.
There's also a good chance that you don't understand all of the elements included in your monthly wireless bill. And when you don't understand each element, you may be overpaying for services that you don't actually need. TEM software simplifies your ability to understand your bill, enabling you to correct errors and pinpoint issues that need to be addressed.
With TEM software, your IT department can streamline the collection of billing data. More so, they can perform extensive analyses to identify any overcharges. If you ignore these overcharges, they may not seem like much in the beginning, but in the long run, they will add up to enormous amounts of money that can negatively hurt your profit margins.
Make Better Use of Your Time
No one wants to sit around for hours on end trying to decipher mobile phone expenses. You have better things to do, like exceeding the expectations of your customers. TEM software provides you with more time to do what you need to be doing. It also allows you to monitor what your staff is doing. If you see that some of your staff members are spending too much time carrying our personal tasks using company mobile devices, you can easily address the issues and have documentation to back up what needs to be addressed.
Other Uses of TEM Software That Makes It a Valuable Investment
Perhaps you feel that you already have a good handle on your company's mobile device expenses and you see no reason to invest in TEM software. What you need to realize, however, is that this software offers many other advantages.
First of all, it has the capability to store massive amounts of data related to the inventory of your communication devices. From computers to tablets to smartphones and even pagers, you can keep a bird's eye view across your company's entire mobile platform. More importantly, you can access it via an easy-to-use interface. You can also view the usage of any landline phones that your company has, and with permission, you can monitor the personal devices of your staff members that are used for company purposes. If your company operates its own hub and servers, you can use TEM software to monitor these elements as well.
When it comes to performing analyses, it doesn't get much simpler than being able to access data through a single dashboard. TEM software not only helps you analyze, but it also has the ability to generate reports and documentation for official purposes, such as tax filings.
What About Outsourcing TEM?
Many companies take it upon themselves to manage their own telecom expense management with software that they purchase from a provider. And while doing so can be a great way to keep TEM in-house, there is always the option to outsource TEM. In doing so, you can rest assured that you will have a team of experts on top of all your telecom operations and expenses. To decide whether or not you should outsource, it is recommended to host a meeting and speak with your IT department. Many times, your IT department will be able to inform you of whether or not it's best to keep TEM in-house or to outsource it. If you don't have an IT department, then it will likely be in your best interest to outsource all tasks related to TEM.
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About the Author: Chantel Soumis
Chantel Soumis brings over a decade of knowledge in workflow enhancement through the use of technology. Chantel studied marketing communications and business administration at Franklin University and proceeded to work in a fast, ambitious environment, assuring client delight in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Passionate about project productivity and streamlining workflows through the use of technology, Chantel strives to inform organizations of Valicom’s advanced telecom expense management software and services by mastering communications and messaging while delivering helpful information and supporting resources.