Can Telecom Expense Management Help in Disaster Planning?
May 06, 2013
By Susan J. Campbell, TMCnet Contributing Editor
When it comes to your communications strategy, you know you need an efficient way to stay connected. For that, companies throughout the world optimize telecom expense management (TEM) solutions, ensuring they have the most cost-effective methods in place and only pay for those services actually used. But, did you also know that telecom expense management can see you through a natural disaster?
A Profit Link Telecom blog post highlights how TEM plays into disaster preparedness. For one, telecom expense management can help with the planning stage by providing business leaders with information on who has what devices or connections. Second, disaster planning focused on the disasters most likely to occur can help limit telecom expenses when the unthinkable occurs.
With an effective TEM program in place, you also have access to important information on the inventory of your communications system to be used in disaster planning. When reviewing the carriers in use at different sites, you can estimate how a service outage will affect the site and discuss options related to redundancy or alternative carriers.
If another carrier isn’t available, alternative technologies may need to be considered for the creation of a backup site. Such a site can be available much quicker if these options are explored before a disaster occurs. Likewise, the TEM solution keeps the company directory up-to-date, providing an easy way for users to send alerts to employee smartphones and other devices. Using the directory, employees are also better equipped to stay connected to each other if a closure or evacuation occurs.
Unused devices managed with the telecom expense management solution can also be assigned or commissioned as needed to replace any devices lost or for those that won’t work in the aftermath due to carrier outages. The corporate directory is then updated to reflect the new devices.
Every TEM solution is implemented according to the needs of the business, ensuring that business is able to communicate effectively in the event of a disaster. This is only possible when TEM is made a priority within the disaster preparedness planning process. When firmly in place, such strategies allow you to plan ahead instead of reacting in the face of emergency.
Companies like IBM provide telecom expensive management solutions that can guide you through the planning process. IBM’s (News - Alert) TEM and Emptoris Strategic Supply Management solutions support procurement through a flexible and scalable suite of services. Plus, it can be customized according to your needs and objectives.IBM professionals bring a deep knowledge of supply management and a thorough understanding of technology and business requirements to ensure the strategy you put in place supports you now and in the wake of a disaster.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey