Optimization – Going Far Beyond The Invoice

Of all the important value outcomes that TEM solutions provide, optimization is the one that most directly addresses and improves your telecom environment. It’s more than bill payment, more than bill validation and more than inventory management because it goes beyond what “is” and looks at what “could be”.

Optimization requires analysis. It requires expertise. And it requires a teamwork environment between the TEM provider and the client. Our long-standing commitment to serving as a partner with our clients, rather than just as an outsourcer, allows us to successfully work with you closely to fulfill that role. We identify potential opportunities, then we work together to select the best options and implement them.

Where Are The Opportunities?

To truly optimize networks and spend, we have to first understand telecom technologies and analyze the three most significant information sets – inventory/usage, client profile, and contracts. With that information properly assembled, our structured and comprehensive process to evaluate a client’s environment begins. We classify optimization opportunities into three categories:

• Use Less – Can the current network configuration and usage be streamlined or modified to reduce telecom infrastructure and related costs? Some items here are simple such as eliminating hidden inside wire maintenance charges, others are much more complex.
• Align Technology – Does the implemented technology offer the best cost to performance mix? Matching bandwidth/capacity to requirements is a key strategy here, but entire technology shifts can be reviewed when appropriate.
• Pay Less – Could the services be acquired for less by placing services under favorable contracts? Without changing vendors, contracts or technologies it is still possible to make significant reductions in the cost of certain services.

Optimization will include a mixture of simple and complex opportunities. Based on your preferences, we can automatically make some limited service changes. Others will require client involvement, especially those that are service effecting.

Experience Is The Best Teacher

With a highly-trained, knowledgeable staff, we know what to look for, and we have the processes to ensure that the job gets done. Here is a small sampling of optimization opportunities that we review on a regular basis with clients to insure they are never spending more for telecom services than they should.

• LEC – BRI and PRI at the same location, Centrex service or excessive business lines at locations served by a PBX, intrastate mileage when interstate rates could apply, unnecessary calling plans, term savings opportunities and expired contracts.
• DataCom – Outliers such as stray network elements, under/over subscription levels on virtual networks, bandwidth utilization and alternate topologies such as MPLS or Metro Ethernet.
• Long Distance – Balancing cost of dedicated vs. switched, excessive duration (hold times), zero usage toll free lines, excessive payphone surcharges, unusual international calling patterns, opportunities to minimize intrastate calling.
• Wireless – Individual rate plans, pooling programs, zero usage devices, flat rate versus measured usage data plans.

It’s Not A Random Hunt

When you get your oil changed, the service provider follows a strict checklist to make sure that nothing is overlooked. We do the same thing, because we’re not just hoping these optimization opportunities fall off the truck in front of us, we’re actively pursuing them, and the effort and process to uncover them is built right into our methodology.

Next Step: The Knowledge Envelope