The telecommunications industry is a rapidly changing landscape. There are new services, new technologies, and decisions to be made based on a different set of facts around every corner. Just when you think you have found your way to the perfect telecom solution for your company, there is a new option to consider. The ever-changing world of telecommunications had created a great need for telecom consulting.
What services can a telecommunications consulting company offer your company?
Here are 6 of the core services:
Telecom Service Audits
Are you wondering if your company is paying too much for telecom services? Are there services out there that would benefit your company that your provider is not currently providing? If so, then maybe it is time to request an audit of your telecom service situation. Your telecommunications consultant can perform an audit of your companies services to let you know how you are doing, kind of like a checkup with your personal physician.
However, unlike a medical check up, where you go to the doctors office, wait in the waiting room, and have your daily schedule disrupted, a telecom audit is less intrusive and disruptive. The majority of the work can be done offsite, so that your company can carry on with business as usual. What can you expect from your telecom audit? After a comprehensive review of each line item on your telecom invoices, your auditor will:
Inventory lines, circuits, wireless devices and features company-wide to make sure they match what you are paying for uncover any billing errors identify any under-used services, or services for which you are over-paying address any credits or refunds due to you from your provider.
An audit is a fact-finding mission, and with knowledge of the facts you will be able to make the best telecom decisions regarding your telecom services.
Telecom RFP
With telecom services being contractual in nature, the art of the RFP, or request for proposal, should not be overlooked. If you are of the “if it ain’t broke – don’t fix it,” philosophy, then you may be inclined to renew existing contracts without question. However, in the telecommunications services industry, acquisition pricing is almost always better than retention pricing, so a fast and easy decision to renew without an RFP may lead your company to pay higher rates than necessary.
Your telecommunications consultant knows the ins and outs of the RFP, and can administer one on behalf of your company to help you gain the competitive advantage. With a telecom consultant administering an RFP, it lets the service providers know that they need to keep the pricing competitive. For example, your consultant may include a smaller service provider in the RFP, even though they are not necessarily the best provider to meet the needs of your company. This will likely influence the price quotes that you are given from larger service providers. Your company will not be a victim of inflated pricing or paying for unnecessary, unwanted services with a telecommunications expert in your corner to administer an RFP.
Telecom Contract Negotiation
After performing an RFP, your telecommunications consultant can help you negotiate your next telecom services contract. Securing the best contract is not an easy task, as industry terminology, tariffs, pricing schedules and service guides are confusing to most people who are not in the telecom industry. Having an expert on your team who is fluent in the language of telecommunications is critical. Working on your behalf, your telecommunications consultant will give your company the competitive edge, and will help your company secure the best contract terms for the best price.
Project Management
As your company grows by adding a new division, merges with another company or splits into two separate companies, this can lead to confusion regarding telecom services. When big changes like these are made, your company will likely need a telecommunications consultant to manage the telecom needs of the company. The expert can also offer project management when your company is building an inventory of circuits and lines, considering a new vendor, developing a system to track the wireless devices of your company, or considering migrating part of your technology services to the cloud. A telecommunications consultant will help guide you through the decision making process during projects and changing times, so that your companies telecom needs don’t get lost in the process.
Telecom Technology Review
Technology and technological capabilities change so quickly that it’s sometimes difficult to keep up! Enlisting a telecommunications consultant to perform a technology review will help your company make sense of the most current options.
The newest technologies have the potential upside of performing better or faster, but is there a downside? A telecommunications consultant can provide insight on services and service providers such as VoIP, XaaX, Virtual Hosted PBX, Converged Networks, BYOD, and offerings in “the cloud”, so you don’t just follow the latest trends, but rather you make informed choices that will benefit your company now and in the future. The technology needs of your company are unique, so the right solution for you may not be the same as the solution for someone else. Enlisting a telecommunications expert to review your current technology, your immediate needs and needs moving forward will lead you to the best telecom technology choices for your company.
Telecom Expense Management
Many companies think of a telecommunications consultant as someone who can guide their companies telecom needs through changing times, to bring the company through the storm. However, after your company has undergone an audit or seen a project or change come to fruition, don’t be fooled into thinking that you no longer need your telecommunications consultant.
Expense management is an ongoing process because service providers offer promotional pricing, new services and new technologies on an ongoing basis. Hiring a telecommunications consultant to oversee your ongoing telecom expenses will assure you that your company continues to get the best pricing through the industries changing rules, services and prices.
As you can see, there are many benefits of hiring a telecommunications consulting firm. Whether your company needs a fact-finding mission with an audit, an expert negotiator through a contract procurement or renewal, leadership through changing times, or ongoing management to keep the telecommunications ship on course, a telecommunications consultant can be of great value to your company.
