Communications solutions are necessary for the operation of the successful business, but the migration of voice and data can introduce new challenges not before seen in business communications. The success of such integration depends on a meticulous line audit and research to ensure the right qualities in service and billing consolidator are identified before any move is made.
A recent Ernest Communications (News - Alert) white paper explores the importance of these first steps as business customers analyze services and costs. This process demands regular inquiries into billing, service and options in expense management. According to an Aberdeen (News - Alert) Group study, telecommunications and related network services make up 3.6 percent of revenue for Fortune 500 companies. The study also found top telecom challenges to be visibility and asset management.
Companies that rely on communications solutions to drive revenue and enable collaboration have specific pain points when operating multiple locations. Three pain points include 1) too many resources required to approve telecom bills and payments, demanding process improvements; 2) limited insight when it comes to actual telecom expenses per department or location; and 3) LECs continue to increase competition and learner operations, negatively impacting client care.
Clean conversion is a top priority for Ernest Communications when serving new clients. The company aims to demonstrate its differentiation in offering and services, instead of just telling companies that these differences exist. Audit professionals conduct an intense discovery process, ensuring all vital detail is captured so the implementation team can review all findings along with the customer. This approach helps to eliminate any surprises that can slow the conversion process.
Part of this process includes putting an accurate line inventory maintenance approach in place. For the company that has rapidly expanded, acquired other companies or even scaled back, managing the growing or shrinking number of lines can be a daunting task. When the lines are properly audited in the first step, the conversion process is more accurate and completed in less time. The audit process can also include the confirmation of services and features within communications solutions that benefit the company.
If lines need to be reduced or added, contacts have to be adjusted. The audit process will review contracts already in place and those needed for new lines. Each line item on the contracts and invoices will be reviewed to ensure complete accuracy and the elimination of fees that aren’t necessary.
Finally, as a business prepares for migration of the voice and data lines to deliver the communications solutions necessary for success, Ernest helps to put a strategy in place to deal with downtime. Downtime during migrations can occur when a physical move occurs from one carrier switch to another, if an LEC changes facilities without notifying the customer, or a straight conversation of services causes confusion for a technician and the customer. Ernest provides the tools necessary to prepare for and even prevent downtime that can interfere with the optimal performance of the communications solutions.
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Edited by Amanda Ciccatelli