How to Ensure a Successful Telecom Expense Management Program
February 14, 2013
By Rachel Ramsey, TMCnet Web Editor
Telecom expense management is emerging to be a more important consideration by end-users in communications outsourcing deals as TEM capabilities have become the business intelligence mechanism to prove the value of a communications outsourcing deal. But before you can have a successful telecom expense management program, you need to plan for one.
The purposes of project planning are to define the exact parameters of a project and to ensure that all the requisites for project execution and control are in place. A recent MDSL (News - Alert) and ATOMP whitepaper, “Planning for a Successful TEM Implementation,” illustrates the importance of proper planning of a TEM engagement and how to successfully make it through the planning phase.
MDSL is a provider of global telecom expense management technology lifecycle management and market data management solutions.
According to the report, 48 percent of enterprises said it takes longer than expected based on internal expectations or supplier indications to reach a steady state of operations for their telecom expense management programs.
Ben Mendoza (News - Alert), MDSL CEO and founder, said in a statement, “We are very pleased to be partnering with AOTMP on this whitepaper. It gives an excellent overview of how to plan for and what to expect from a successful telecom expense management implementation, as well as providing clear guidance on how to ensure staff realize there is more to TEM than simply cutting costs, and maximize the benefits a good TEM system can bring to all levels of the organization. Businesses will find the set of metrics included in the paper particularly helpful in evaluating the success of their TEM deployment.”
ATOMP’s advice for successful planning include performing a needs assessment to identify and document the necessity for a formal TEM program, developing the business case, obtaining stakeholder support, developing a detailed project plan and developing success metrics. Primary elements of a project plan include defining the specific activities to be performed, who will be performing those activities, the expected time frame for each activity and who will be accountable for each project plan component. Different components can include sourcing, invoice processing, service ordering, inventory validation and change control and reporting and analytics.
Though the process before you even implement a telecom expense management program may seem tedious and time consuming, the payoff will be worth it in the end. Make sure you take the time necessary to ensure your program’s success.
Edited by Brooke Neuman