Companies may pay too much for telecommunications contracts due to the complexity associated with billing and verification, as well as the sheer number of smartphones and other connected devices the average company has to manage. With the large volume of data that accompanies each device, the jobs of telecom analysts have become increasingly daunting.
What Are the Major Benefits of TEM Software?
Does your company struggle to finish a satisfactory review of large-volume telecommunications bills every month? Also, changing rates make it hard to reconcile bills and create a true month-over-month cost analysis.
An effective Telecom Expense Management enables your telecom team to automate core functions, including:
Expense analysis processes
Identifying inefficiencies
Error correction
Results and variance reporting
TEM software lets you create reports that increase the visibility of significant trends. For instance, you can order reports by sorting different variables in ascending or descending order to aid the decision-making process.
Turning Your Telecom Expense Management Over to a Consultant
If you also need help managing your telecom inventory and billing, companies such as Valicom can help you get things on the right track. You then have the choice of managing ongoing telecom expense in-house or hiring an experienced third-party vendor to negotiate better rates and manage the billing process.
You might think outsourcing your TEM would restrict your control over your inventory. However, it can actually increase your control over your resources. By obtaining more accurate inventory tracking, you can adapt more quickly to your actuals needs.
Here how it works. The benefits of a Telecom Expense Management System result in reduced costs as discrepancies and areas for negotiation among your telecom providers arise. You can easily identify unused services and cancel redundant or unused lines.
You can also audit contracted lines. This allows you to budget for true consumption, instead of total costs, which may be inflated by unused lines. By giving your company a clear view of telecommunications spending via detailed and high-level reporting, a TEM system soon pays for itself. Not sold yet?
What if you could quickly pull the data you need to perform the following tasks?
Save time trying pulling data to file a claim or identify a problem with a provider
Improve negotiations with telephony providers
Keep better inventory records for better asset control
Four More Reason Why Your Company Needs TEM Systems?
Here are four additional reasons you can't afford MOT to automate and improve your telecom expense management.
Your Time Is Too Valuable
Spending hours on the phone with your telecom providers isn't a great use of your time. With the right reporting, you can email your provider with irrefutable proof of your billing issues and request an expedited turnaround. A telecom management consultant from Viacom can help you use your time more wisely and get to the right representative who can resolve your issue.
You Have a Lot to Gain from a Telecom Audit
Smaller companies may not have the manpower for monthly audits. Does your telecom team have drawers filled with old equipment that could still be appearing on your bills? You could be paying too much for your services.
A Telecom Management Consultant can perform an audit to help you estimate how much money you're wasting every month. Chances are hiring a consultant to come in and set your house in order will pay for itself many times over. Once things are running smoothly, your internal team can take over again, utilizing the best practices set in place by the consultant.
Wireless Carrier Packages Constantly Change
Today, the wireless industry is highly competitive. When the competition heats up, prices drop. You probably don't have time to stay on top of your carrier to request the latest discounts and packages. However, a Telecom Expense Consultant specializes in just this type of negotiating.
By monitoring your plan, a consultant can ensure your company is paired with the most advantageous packages. They can also explore the possibilities of saving money by switching vendors.
Technology Is Continuously Changing Too
At one time, cell phones were reserved for top executives. Nowadays, everyone from salespeople to on-call technicians requires a dedicated line, typically at the expense of the organization.
With the vast majority of online applications going mobile, data services are required in order for employees to do their jobs effectively. This expectation doubles or triples the expense per device, compared to plans without data availability. This offering helps your company stay competitive in the market place and the job market. However, it's important to have the expertise needed to troubleshoot both the billing and systems management of Android and iOS.
If you don't currently have that expertise in your employee roster, a telecom consulting firm can fill the gap.
Contact Valicom today for more information about Telecom Management Systems and consultants that can revolutionize the way your company handles one of its most complex and costly line items.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JEFF POIRIOR
Jeff brings 25 years of telecommunications and information technology management experience in voice and data networking, server support, and telephony and security; with a significant emphasis on customer service. Prior to joining Valicom, he was chief of the infrastructure support section for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Jeff was the vice president of operations for CC&N, overseeing telecommunications, help desk, data and desk side support services. Prior to that, he served as the associate director of technical resources for Covance, responsible for managing systems and network operations supporting 1700 users in Wisconsin and Virginia. He has also led data center operations at Magnetek Electric, supporting mainframe systems, client/server applications, telephony systems, and computer-aided design. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cardinal Stritch University and a master’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix. In addition, Jeff is a past board member of the Wisconsin Telecommunication Association.