Restoring Order To Telecom Chaos | TEM

The first quarter of a new year is always in turmoil for clients as they set their sights for a prosperous new year. The forwarding of the clock also severely impacts the major telecommunications carriers as well. This is the time of the year when the major players make their re-organizational changes.

As a result, in case you haven’t noticed, you may have a new account team, or orders placed in the fourth quarter of last year have never been implemented, or credits that you are waiting for have not happened. This could also represent their downsizing, cost savings, and the changing of their entire market strategy. Usually, you the customer are the last to know. When faced with these uncertainties – it’s hard to know where to begin.

Global Solutions Inc (GSI) has been helping thousands of clients since 1992 find quick solutions to these real problems. Whether it is local service, data, mobility changes, or basic contract management, implementation, or negotiation – we are there to help in any way. We get the job done quickly and we restore order where chaos once ruled the day.

Contact GSI for a complimentary consultation…
1-800-300-8144
www.billgenie.com

But I’m Under Contract? | Telecom & Wireless Contract Management

With the majority of telecom and wireless contracts being a 1, 2, or even 3 year commitment, it is common and almost certain that the majority of companies are under contract for various services at any given time.  However, even if under contract there are various ways of renegotiating current agreements, and a telecom audit can help uncover to create additional savings going forward.

Overcharges that are uncovered can help a company with time left on an agreement leverage the carrier to rip up the current non competitive agreement and do the right thing going forward to save the business.  Even with experts on staff it is a challenge to know the current marketplace without having a partner who’s been in the trenches on both sides of the table negotiating thousands of contracts, with current competitive marketplace experience on terms, conditions, and loopholes.

A couple of reasons companies pay too much for telecom:
• Most companies don’t understand their own metrics to leverage the best deal through the purchasing power they rightfully have.

• The rates are ok, but not great, who’s to know…

• The company did nothing when the contract expired.  They simply allowed it to automatically rollover at the same or even higher rates.

• The account rep told them it was their best deal and they believe it!

• They assumed that because of their size, they were getting the best rates and terms and conditions in their contracts.

• No feel for what “competitive pricing” would be in the marketplace, and negotiated own contract.

• Received multi-vendor cell phone bills – no metrics in place to compare them, signed the contracts, and were left exposed.

• Assume that local telecom companies are truly price competitive all the time.

To take full advantage of corporate purchasing power and to make certain of the very best rates, terms, and conditions in the marketplace being offered companies will seek out GSI to be the lead on an RFP for service, be hand in hand, or behind the scenes to make the carriers step up to the table with their best offers.  “GSI improved our bottom line by $3.9 Million in a couple of months by meticulously scrutinizing every last contract variable and negotiating the most favorable telecom contract we’ve ever had which included a signing bonus” (Amelia Goldacker/Adventist Healthcare).

Contact GSI for a complimentary consultation…
1-800-300-8144
www.billgenie.com

3 Things To Consider When Hiring A Telecom Auditor | TEM

Once you have reached the important decision to hire a telecom auditor or TEM firm, it is key to ensure that it will be a profitable investment on your end.  Telecom audits are designed to improve your bottom line so you can keep more of your company’s valuable revenue. Here are 3 major points to consider when selecting a telecom auditor or TEM company:

1. HOLD YOUR TELECOM AUDITOR RESPONSIBLE - Not only should your telecom audit uncover waste and implement a course of action for savings, the steps necessary to ensure both should be completed by the auditor.   Be sure that the auditor will actually correct any errors on your behalf so that your company is not saddled with that responsibility.

2. DO NOT PAY UPFRONT CHARGES - If you telecom auditor is competent and confident in their ability to save you money on your telecom expenses, they should have no problem working on a contingency basis. They should not be paid until you receive your savings.

3. BE SURE THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFLICTING INTERESTS - Your telecom auditor or TEM firm should not have any alliance or represent any telecom carrier. Be sure there is no conflict of interest and that they are working for you and you alone.

When selecting your telecom auditor, make a sound decision that will maximize your savings. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of a telecom audit, feel free to give us a call.

Contact GSI for a complimentary consultation…
1-800-300-8144
www.billgenie.com

Leveraging TEM Software| Telecom Expense Management

Some TEM companies utilize software only strategies, while others take a singular hands on personal approach.  To truly optimize your telecom savings, you need a comprehensive combination of both.  Our niche in telecom expense management is to proactively help reduce costs by leveraging the technology of web-based Bill Genie with GSI’s experienced and dedicated account managers who identify and implement approved savings. This creates a high ROI for clients.

HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT YOU?
This undeniably successful approach allows you as a client to implement proactive spend management, refocus employees on more strategic activities vs. labor inten-sive bill receipt & cost allocation process, improve visibility of business units and inventory.

WHAT ARE THE TANGIBLE SAVINGS?
Here are actual recent client savings that resulted from our Telecom & Wireless Expense Reduction
Services:
 
Healthcare Market
$1.6M in savings & refunds
$600,000 one time refund
 
Professional Service Group
$1.8M in total savings
$400,000 + refunds
42% wireless savings

Retail Industry
$51,000 billing refund
38% rate reduction
$324,000 contract savings udits, Expense Management, Contract Negotiations

 Contact GSI for a complimentary consultation…
1-800-300-8144
www.billgenie.com

The Wireless World, Industry in Chaos! | Telecom Expense Management

Not too long ago there were five major wireless carriers in the U.S., and now there are only three, along with several regional vendors still in place today.  So everything’s supposed to be real simple now with the Mega Mergers?  Not really, just talk to most business clients and they’ll be happy to share the frustration of trying to figure out the difference between “Old Blue” and “New Orange” on one bill, and “Yellow” and “Red” on the other, not to mention several billing platform changes during the past couple of months, CD-ROM bills that don’t match up with the paper bill that Accounts Payable has to actually process, and another bill where none of the paid for plan minutes show up…and let’s not forget about the 27,000 rate plans and features and constant barrage of media ads focusing on the latest greatest handsets. 

Wireless is the fastest growing part of telecom for most companies through cell phones, Blackberry’s, PDA’s, laptop cards, and even two way radios.  It now accounts for 25% of the average bill for most companies and is expected to cross 30% in the next year or so.  It is also the most political service for because it’s so personal down to the last end user, so it’s imperative that companies have a cohesive wireless direction.

Even when companies have time to be proactive in attempting to identify wireless cost savings opportunities, they often lack the tools and necessary resources to have an effective and cohesive wireless direction to manage all areas of wireless spend.  So it’s imperative that companies have a solid strategy for controlling and reducing the wireless expenses.  “I couldn't believe GSI was able to come in a couple of billing cycles and cut our bills in half without changing carriers or features” (Olivier Lemaitre/CFO/Tiernan & Patrylo).

Strategies can be quickly implemented to reduce and control wireless costs by analyzing current expenses beginning with a contingency audit.  The initial audit includes a review of all current wireless bills, usage patterns, contracts, policy review or creation, optimization, as well as taxes paid.  GSI’s complete lifecycle strategy helps companies make a significant impact on the bottom line while protecting revenue on an ongoing basis through retained wireless optimization.

Contact GSI for a complimentary consultation…
1-800-300-8144
www.billgenie.com