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Factors That Impede Your Inventory Efforts

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Factors That Impede Your Inventory Efforts

Creating and maintaining an inventory of your telecommunications services, invoices, and vendors is a substantial undertaking that demands consistent attention to detail. Ensuring the cleanliness and accuracy of this inventory is a challenging task, often requiring dedicated daily efforts. Engaging the services of a Telecom Expense Management (TEM) company is essential in effectively managing these tasks.

Many organizations opt to outsource the periodic inventory assessment of their telecom services and invoices. While some may view this as a sporadic necessity, often with a minimal financial benefit, a more strategic approach suggests otherwise. Rather than periodic assessments, an audit encompassing a comprehensive inventory conducted once, followed by regular maintenance, offers a more pragmatic solution.

The practicality of maintaining a clean inventory on an ongoing basis is often hindered by time constraints within most companies. However, partnering with a reputable TEM provider enables the execution of this task every month. This proactive approach not only mitigates the risks of overbilling but also streamlines the recovery process for any erroneous charges. Additionally, any recovered funds resulting from the initial audit can be efficiently managed and shared, maximizing overall savings and efficiency.

Challenges in Maintaining an Accurate Inventory of Telecom Services

Many factors contribute to an organization needing help maintaining an accurate inventory.

  • Absence of Corporate Contracts: When corporate contracts are lacking, employees may independently enter into agreements, resulting in higher service costs.
  • Decentralized Spending: This occurs when employees make equipment purchases without organizational oversight, leading to inefficiencies.
  • Inaccurate Inventory: Without proper tracking of telecom and IT services at each location and for each employee, overspending is likely due to duplicate or unnecessary services.

Addressing these factors is crucial for effective inventory management of telecom services. Implementing corporate policies and contracts can help control spending. Engaging a reputable Telecom Expense Management (TEM) company is the initial step in assessing service distribution through a comprehensive Inventory and Audit. This process necessitates a thorough examination of services beyond superficial refunds, providing detailed descriptions of phone or circuit numbers, monthly charges, service types, and features.

Enhancing Cost Reduction Strategies with Comprehensive TEM Solutions

Upon establishing an accurate inventory, a Telecom Expense Management (TEM) system empowers organizations to consistently drive cost reductions by offering comprehensive visibility into their communication ecosystem and invoice lifecycles. Centralizing all telecom-related data in a unified repository, accompanied by robust reporting tools, facilitates precise cost assessments, aids in identifying and disputing billing discrepancies, streamlines contract management including contract imaging and auditing, and uncovers optimization opportunities. Additionally, capacity planning and call accounting functionalities mitigate resource wastage within the network.

This goes beyond just telecom. A good TEM vendor will provide a comprehensive cost reduction management strategy that includes both telecom and IT, managing the complete communications lifecycle. The accuracy behind these transactions is vital to the overall efficacy of the organization.

Steps to Maintain a Clean Inventory

Keeping the inventory clean will be affected by the following:

  • Monthly services being added.
  • Monthly services being disconnected.
  • Employees moving to different departments, being hired or terminated.
  • Vendor’s changes in monthly fees.

To maintain a clean inventory every month, it is imperative to establish an order process that fosters transparency throughout the organization. Integration of a Help Desk module within the TEM provider’s software is instrumental in capturing all moves, additions, changes, or disconnects effectively. This ensures a seamless transition of new invoices to accounting without delay for coding, thereby preventing overpayment for previously disconnected services.

The next critical step in maintaining inventory accuracy is invoice and service validation. Conducting a monthly audit of each invoice and charge is essential for any TEM company. This line-item audit enables prompt identification of overcharges and provides an efficient mechanism to notify vendors for dispute and recovery. Rigorous tracking of disputes to ensure proper crediting on invoices is paramount in the recovery process facilitated by TEM services.

Optimizing Inventory Accuracy

Maintaining the accuracy of your monthly inventory relies heavily on verifying it against the established baseline inventory. A reputable TEM provider should offer validation services with select telecom vendors, enabling swift identification and rectification of discrepancies to prevent recurring overcharges on subsequent invoices.

Leveraging its proprietary SAAS platform, ExpenseLogic, RadiusPoint facilitates the creation of a concise list of invoices and services for monthly validation against the baseline inventory. This validation process provides organizations with a clear overview of services at each location, streamlining interactions with telecom vendors and pinpointing opportunities for cost reduction by identifying unnecessary services. Partnering with the right TEM provider can significantly save time, money, and resources while empowering internal teams to take control of expenses.

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The Future of Cost Optimization: TEM Services are Leading the Way

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How RadiusPoint Telecom Expense Management Services are Leading the Way

As RadiusPoint Telecom Expense Management (TEM) services continue to revolutionize cost optimization in the telecom industry, businesses are now equipped with the tools they need to stay ahead of the game. With its cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions, RadiusPoint has positioned itself as a leader in helping companies streamline their telecom expenses while achieving significant cost savings.

In this article, we will delve into the future of cost optimization and how RadiusPoint TEM services are paving the way for businesses to optimize their telecom expenses like never before. By leveraging their extensive experience and industry knowledge, RadiusPoint provides customized solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

With cost optimization becoming increasingly crucial in today’s competitive landscape, businesses need a reliable partner like RadiusPoint to navigate the complexities of managing telecom expenses. Their proactive approach, coupled with their innovative software, helps businesses identify potential areas of cost savings and implement effective strategies to optimize their telecom spend.

Stay tuned as we explore how RadiusPoint TEM services are leading the way in cost optimization and discover how your business can benefit from their expertise.

The challenges of cost optimization in telecom expenses

Cost optimization plays a vital role in the success of any business. In today’s highly competitive market, where every penny counts, companies are constantly seeking ways to reduce expenses and increase profitability. Telecom expenses, in particular, can be a significant drain on a company’s resources. With the increasing reliance on telecommunications for business operations, companies must optimize telecom spend to remain competitive.

Effective cost optimization allows businesses to allocate their resources efficiently, ensuring that every dollar spent delivers maximum value. By identifying and eliminating unnecessary expenses, businesses can free up capital for investments in growth opportunities, product development, and innovation. Cost optimization also helps businesses improve their bottom line, increase profitability, and enhance their overall financial health.

How RadiusPoint’s TEM services work

Cost optimization in telecom expenses presents unique challenges for businesses. The telecom industry is complex, with multiple service providers, various billing structures, and a wide range of services and technologies. Managing and controlling telecom expenses can be a daunting task, especially for businesses with multiple locations or a large number of employees.

One of the main challenges in TEM is the lack of visibility into telecom spend. Without a centralized system to track and monitor expenses, businesses may struggle to identify inefficiencies and cost-saving opportunities. Additionally, the ever-evolving nature of the telecom industry means that businesses need to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies, services, and pricing plans to ensure they are getting the best value for their money.

Another challenge is the complexity of telecom invoices. Telecom bills can be confusing, with multiple line items, different rates, and various fees and surcharges. Without a thorough understanding of telecom billing, businesses may miss out on potential cost-saving opportunities or fall victim to billing errors and overcharges.

Key features of RadiusPoint’s TEM services

RadiusPoint’s TEM services offer a range of key features that set them apart from other TEM providers. These features include:

  1. Invoice Processing and Auditing: RadiusPoint’s proprietary software, ExpenseLogic, automates the invoice processing and auditing process, ensuring accurate and timely payment of telecom bills. This eliminates the need for manual invoice processing, reduces the risk of errors, and improves overall efficiency.
  2. Expense Tracking and Reporting: ExpenseLogic provides real-time visibility into telecom expenses, allowing businesses to track costs, monitor usage, and generate detailed reports. This helps businesses make informed decisions, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize their telecom spend.
  3. Contract and Vendor Management: RadiusPoint helps businesses manage telecom contracts and relationships with service providers. They negotiate favorable contract terms, monitor contract compliance, and ensure that businesses are getting the best value for their money.
  4. Cost Allocation and Chargeback: ExpenseLogic enables businesses to allocate telecom expenses to different cost centers or departments, making tracking and managing telecom spending across the organization easier. This feature is particularly useful for businesses with multiple locations or complex organizational structures

The benefits of outsourcing telecom expense management services

RadiusPoint has helped numerous businesses achieve significant cost savings through their TEM services. Let’s take a look at a few real-life success stories:

  1. RadiusPoint assisted a multi-location nonprofit by identifying the existing local telecom service utilized across six locations, meeting specific landline requirements. They successfully identified all needs and found a superior service at a reduced monthly cost, resulting in a $12K reduction in total monthly expenses across the six locations.
  2. RadiusPoint’s software, ExpenseLogic, found a contract overcharge on local phone lines for a discount retailer, ongoing for months. RadiusPoint collaborated with the carrier to secure an $82K credit and prevent a $12,000 monthly expense.
  3. ExpenseLogic discovered services billed for three months despite being closed and disconnected for a restaurant group. RadiusPoint collaborated with the vendor, resulting in a $5,761 credit from the vendor.

The future of cost optimization in TEM

Outsourcing telecom expense management to RadiusPoint offers several key benefits for businesses:

  1. Expertise and Industry Knowledge: RadiusPoint’s team of experts has extensive experience in the telecom industry. They are well-versed in the latest technologies, services, and pricing plans, enabling them to provide valuable insights and recommendations to optimize telecom expenses.
  2. Time and Resource Savings: Managing telecom expenses in-house can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive task. By outsourcing to RadiusPoint, businesses can free up their internal resources and focus on core business activities, while leaving the complexities of TEM to the experts.
  3. Cost Savings: RadiusPoint’s cost optimization strategies and negotiation skills help businesses achieve significant cost savings. By identifying inefficiencies, eliminating unnecessary expenses, and negotiating better rates, businesses can reduce their telecom spend and improve their bottom line.
  4. Improved Visibility and Control: ExpenseLogic provides businesses with real-time visibility into their telecom expenses, allowing them to track costs, monitor usage, and generate detailed reports. This improved visibility and control enable businesses to make informed decisions, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize their telecom spend.

How RadiusPoint is leading the way in telecom expense management services

The future of cost optimization in telecom expenses looks promising, with technological advancements and the rise of innovative solutions. As businesses continue to rely on telecommunications for their operations, the need for effective cost optimization will only grow.

One key trend in cost optimization is the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies. These technologies can analyze large volumes of data, identify patterns, and make intelligent recommendations for cost savings. By leveraging AI and ML, businesses can automate the process of identifying cost-saving opportunities and implementing optimization strategies.

Another trend is the integration of TEM with other business systems. By integrating TEM with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, businesses can gain a holistic view of their expenses and improve overall cost control. This integration allows for better coordination between different departments and ensures that telecom expenses are aligned with business objectives.

Conclusion

RadiusPoint is at the forefront of telecom expense management services, leading the way in cost optimization for businesses. Their innovative EXpenseLogic software, experienced team, and customer-centric approach set them apart from other providers in the industry.

RadiusPoint’s proactive approach to cost optimization helps businesses stay ahead of the game. They continuously monitor the telecom industry for new technologies, services, and pricing plans, ensuring that their clients are getting the best value for their money. Their team of experts works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and develop customized cost-optimization strategies that deliver tangible results.

By leveraging RadiusPoint’s expertise and innovative software, businesses can streamline their telecom expenses, identify cost-saving opportunities, and implement effective strategies to optimize their telecom spend.

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Unlock Cost Savings Through Telecom Expense Management

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Unlocking Cost Savings: How Telecom Expense Management Can Benefit Your Business

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, optimizing costs is a top priority for organizations across industries. One area where significant cost savings can be unlocked is telecom expenses. However, managing telecom expenses efficiently can be a complex and time-consuming task for businesses of all sizes. This is where Telecom Expense Management (TEM) comes into play.

With TEM, businesses can streamline their telecom expenses, reduce unnecessary costs, and regain control over their telecom budget. By leveraging advanced software solutions, TEM provides businesses with real-time visibility into their telecom spend, helping them identify areas of inefficiency and take corrective actions.

By implementing a robust TEM strategy, businesses can benefit in multiple ways. From negotiating better contracts with telecom service providers to identifying and eliminating billing errors and unauthorized charges, TEM helps organizations optimize their telecom costs while ensuring compliance and improving overall efficiency.

In this article, we will delve into the key benefits of telecom expense management and explore how businesses can leverage it to unlock significant cost savings. So, buckle up and get ready to discover the power of effective telecom expense management.

The importance of managing telecom expenses

Telecom expenses are a significant part of an organization’s budget. With the rise of remote work and the need for constant connectivity, businesses are spending more on their telecom expenses than ever before. However, managing these expenses efficiently can be a daunting task, given the complexity of telecom billing and the number of service providers involved.

That’s where telecom expense management comes in. By implementing a TEM strategy, businesses can gain better visibility into their telecom expenses, identify areas of inefficiency, and take corrective actions to optimize their costs. TEM helps businesses streamline their telecom expenses, reduce unnecessary costs, and regain control over their telecom budget.

In today’s competitive business landscape, managing telecom expenses is more critical than ever before. Organizations that fail to optimize their telecom spending risk losing out on cost savings and falling behind their competitors.

Telecom expense management statistics

Telecom expense management is becoming increasingly popular among businesses of all sizes. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global telecom expense management market is expected to grow from $2.78 billion in 2020 to $5.99 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.6% during the forecast period. Another report by Gartner suggests that TEM can help organizations reduce their telecom expenses by up to 40%. Furthermore, a survey conducted by Aberdeen Group found that businesses that implement a TEM strategy can reduce their telecom spend by an average of 15% to 20%. These statistics highlight the significant cost savings that can be unlocked by implementing a robust TEM strategy.

Understanding the components of telecom expenses

Telecom expenses consist of various components, including voice, data, and mobile services. These services are provided by multiple service providers, making telecom billing complex and challenging to manage. Understanding the components of telecom expenses is crucial for businesses looking to optimize their telecom costs.

Voice services are typically provided by traditional landline providers or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers. Data services include internet connectivity and networking solutions, while mobile services include voice and data plans for mobile devices. Other components of telecom expenses include hardware, software, maintenance, and support services.

Without proper management, these components can quickly add up, resulting in unnecessary costs and inefficiencies. By implementing a TEM strategy, businesses can gain better visibility into their telecom expenses and identify areas of inefficiency to optimize their costs.

Benefits of implementing telecom expense management

Implementing a robust TEM strategy can benefit businesses in multiple ways. Here are some of the key advantages of telecom expense management:

  1. Cost Savings – One of the primary benefits of TEM is cost savings. By gaining better visibility into their telecom expenses, businesses can identify areas of inefficiency and take corrective actions to optimize their costs. TEM helps businesses negotiate better contracts with service providers, identify and eliminate billing errors and unauthorized charges, and optimize their telecom spending to maximize cost savings.
  2. Improved Operational Efficiency – TEM helps businesses streamline their telecom expenses, reducing the time and effort required to manage them. With real-time visibility into their telecom spend, businesses can identify areas of inefficiency and take corrective actions to improve their overall efficiency.
  3. Increased Visibility and Control – TEM provides businesses with real-time visibility into their telecom spend, enabling them to monitor their expenses and identify areas of inefficiency. This improved visibility and control help businesses regain control over their telecom budget and make informed decisions regarding their telecom expenses.
  4. Compliance – TEM helps businesses ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies. By monitoring their telecom expenses, businesses can identify and eliminate unauthorized charges and ensure that their telecom spend is in line with regulatory requirements and internal policies.
  5. Scalability – TEM solutions can be scaled to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Whether a business has a few dozen or several thousand telecom devices, TEM can be tailored to meet their specific needs, providing them with the scalability they need to manage their telecom expenses effectively.

Steps to implement telecom expense management

Implementing a TEM strategy requires careful planning and execution. Here are some of the key steps involved in implementing a telecom expense management strategy:

  1. Conduct a Telecom Audit – The first step in implementing a TEM strategy is to conduct a telecom audit. This audit helps businesses gain better visibility into their telecom spend, identify areas of inefficiency, and develop a plan to optimize their costs.
  2. Develop a TEM Strategy – Based on the audit results, businesses can develop a TEM strategy that outlines their goals, objectives, and action plans. This strategy should include a plan to optimize their telecom spend, negotiate better contracts with service providers, and eliminate billing errors and unauthorized charges.
  3. Choose a TEM Solution – Choosing the right TEM solution is crucial for the success of a TEM strategy. Businesses should consider factors such as scalability, customization, and integration capabilities when choosing a TEM solution.
  4. Implement the TEM Solution – Once a TEM solution has been chosen, it’s time to implement it. This involves integrating the TEM solution with existing systems, training employees on its use, and developing processes to ensure its effective implementation.
  5. Monitor and Optimize – Finally, businesses should monitor their telecom expenses regularly and optimize their TEM strategy as needed. This involves identifying areas of inefficiency, taking corrective actions, and continuously monitoring their telecom spend to ensure compliance and cost savings.

Best practices for telecom expense management

Implementing a TEM strategy requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices to consider when implementing a telecom expense management strategy:

  1. Conduct Regular Audits – Regular audits help businesses gain better visibility into their telecom spend and identify areas of inefficiency. Conducting audits regularly can help businesses optimize their telecom costs and maximize cost savings.
  2. Implement Automated Systems – Automated systems can help businesses streamline their telecom expenses, reducing the time and effort required to manage them. By automating tasks such as invoice processing and payment, businesses can improve their overall efficiency and reduce the risk of errors.
  3. Establish Clear Policies and Procedures – Establishing clear policies and procedures for managing telecom expenses is crucial for ensuring compliance and cost savings. These policies should outline how telecom expenses are managed, who is responsible for managing them, and how disputes are resolved.
  4. Train Employees – Training employees on the use of TEM solutions and the company’s policies and procedures for managing telecom expenses is crucial for the success of a TEM strategy. Employees should be educated on the importance of managing telecom expenses and the role they play in optimizing costs.
  5. Continuously Monitor and Optimize – TEM is an ongoing process that requires continuous monitoring and optimization. Businesses should regularly review their telecom expenses, identify areas of inefficiency, and take corrective actions to optimize their costs and ensure compliance.

Common challenges in telecom expense management and how to overcome them

Implementing a TEM strategy can be challenging, given the complexity of telecom billing and the number of service providers involved. Here are some common challenges in telecom expense management and how to overcome them:

  1. Complexity of Telecom Billing – Telecom billing is complex, involving multiple service providers and various components. This complexity can make it challenging to gain visibility into telecom expenses and optimize costs. To overcome this challenge, businesses should consider implementing a TEM solution that provides real-time visibility into their telecom spend.
  2. Disparate Systems and Processes – Managing telecom expenses can involve multiple systems and processes, making it challenging to streamline and optimize costs. To overcome this challenge, businesses should consider integrating their systems and processes and implementing an automated TEM solution.
  3. Lack of Resources – Managing telecom expenses can be time-consuming and require specialized knowledge and expertise. To overcome this challenge, businesses should consider outsourcing their TEM needs to a third-party provider that specializes in telecom expense management.
  4. Lack of Visibility – Without proper visibility into their telecom expenses, businesses cannot identify areas of inefficiency and take corrective actions. To overcome this challenge, businesses should consider implementing a TEM solution that provides real-time visibility into their telecom spend.
  5. Difficulty in Negotiating Contracts – Negotiating contracts with service providers can be challenging, given the complexity of telecom billing and the number of service providers involved. To overcome this challenge, businesses should consider leveraging the expertise of a TEM provider to negotiate better contracts and optimize their telecom spend.

Choosing the right TEM solution for your business

Choosing the right TEM solution is crucial for the success of a TEM strategy. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a TEM solution:

  1. Scalability – The TEM solution should be scalable and able to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes.
  2. Customization – The TEM solution should be customizable, allowing businesses to tailor it to their specific needs.
  3. Integration Capabilities – The TEM solution should be able to integrate with existing systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems.
  4. Reporting Capabilities – The TEM solution should provide robust reporting capabilities, allowing businesses to gain real-time visibility into their telecom spend and identify areas of inefficiency.
  5. Support and Training – The TEM solution provider should offer comprehensive support and training to ensure the effective implementation and use of the solution.

Conclusion: Maximizing cost savings with telecom expense management

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, optimizing costs is a top priority for organizations across industries. Telecom expenses are a significant part of an organization’s budget, and managing them efficiently can be a complex and time-consuming task. However, by implementing a robust telecom expense management strategy, businesses can unlock significant cost savings, improve operational efficiency, and ensure compliance.

From negotiating better contracts with service providers to identifying and eliminating billing errors and unauthorized charges, TEM helps businesses optimize their telecom spend and regain control over their telecom budget. By following best practices and choosing the right TEM solution, businesses can maximize cost savings and gain a competitive edge in today’s business landscape. So, what are you waiting for? Unlock the power of effective telecom expense management and start optimizing your telecom costs today!

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Telecom Expense Management (TEM) – Auditing Telecom Invoices to Detect Cost-Saving Opportunities

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The telecom expense management (TEM) industry has grown in size over the last few years, concurrent with the evolution of telecom technology, the demand for bandwidth, and the rising use of wireless devices and video conference services during the pandemic.

As a result of these trends, medium-sized and large corporations have resorted to using the services of 3rd-party providers specializing in the analysis of telecom vendor services and billing in order to curb the increasing weight of telecommunication services on their P&L.

As part of their mission, telecom expense management specialists like RadiusPoint audit the invoices issued by telecom and internet service providers, to detect cost-saving opportunities and erroneous charges driving up the cost of the lines.

A few definitions

To do their invoice analysis, telecom expense management specialists will have to gather specific data points from the client and the telecom operators billing the client. Here are 11 data points that always must be collected by the TEM specialist. The TEM specialist provides the 12th one in the following table to the client.

Some definitions are necessary:

DATA POINT WHAT IT IS
Service Address / Identifier The physical location or unique identification of the client’s telecom service
Service Provider The company that provides telecom services to the client
Master Account Number The main account number associated with the client’s services from the service provider
Sub-Account Number Secondary account numbers tied to the master account often used to track usage and costs for specific departments or locations
Circuit ID/Number A unique identifier for each circuit or line that connects the client’s service location to the service provider’s network
Circuit Type The technology used for the circuit, such as T1, E1, DSL, MPLS, or Ethernet
Port Size The bandwidth capacity of the port (measured in Mbps or Gbps) used to connect the client’s equipment to the service provider’s network
PVC (Permanent Virtual Circuit) A virtual connection between two points on a network that simulates a dedicated physical connection
DLCI (Data Link Connection Identifier) A unique number assigned to a PVC in a Frame Relay network, used to identify the virtual connection
CIR (Committed Information Rate) The guaranteed minimum data transfer rate provided by the service provider for a particular circuit
Un-Audited MRC (Monthly Recurring Charge) The monthly cost for the telecom service as billed by the service provider, before the audit
Audited MRC The corrected or optimized monthly cost for the telecom service, identified during the audit process

 

Data points: how they are used for the audit

Each of the data points above has a role in the auditing process which will eventually lead to identifying potential savings or billing discrepancies. The table below summarizes the use of these data points.

Data Point Auditing Purpose & Identifying Savings/Discrepancies Reference/Source Document Flagging Cost-Saving Opportunities or Billing Discrepancies
Service Address / Identifier Verify service locations and validate service usage Service provider invoices, contracts, and client’s internal records Compare the service address with the client’s records to identify unused services or locations
Service Provider Ensure appropriate providers and services are being used Service provider invoices and contract Look for better rates or service options from alternative providers or negotiate with the current provider
Master Account Number Verify account accuracy and organization Service provider invoices and contract Ensure charges are billed to the correct account and identify unauthorized charges
Sub-Account Number Analyze costs and usage by department or location Service provider invoices and client’s internal records Identify high-usage areas, reallocate resources, or uncover billing errors
Circuit ID/Number Validate the circuits and their usage Service provider invoices, contract, and circuit inventory Compare circuit IDs with inventory to identify unused circuits or billing discrepancies
Circuit Type Assess if the correct technology is being used Service provider invoices, contract, and client’s internal records Evaluate if a more cost-effective or efficient circuit type is available
Port Size Check if the bandwidth capacity meets the client’s needs Service provider invoices, contract, and client’s internal records Identify underused ports or opportunities to upgrade/downgrade for cost savings
PVC Validate virtual connections between network points Service provider invoices, contract, and client’s internal records Ensure PVCs are correctly billed and identify unused or unnecessary virtual connections
DLCI Confirm Frame Relay network connections Service provider invoices, contract, and client’s internal records Verify DLCIs match the client’s records and identify billing discrepancies
CIR Ensure the guaranteed data transfer rate is being met Service provider invoices, contract, and client’s internal records Monitor actual usage vs. CIR to identify opportunities for negotiation or cost savings
Un-Audited MRC Establish a baseline for monthly telecom expenses Service provider invoices Compare with audited MRC to determine cost-saving opportunities
Audited MRC Identify optimized monthly telecom expenses after the audit Service provider invoices and audit findings Validate the effectiveness of the audit and track potential savings

 

Cost-saving opportunities

Once the information has been collected, and the telecom operators‘ billing has been analyzed, the TEM specialist looks for specific types of cost-savings their client can make on their telecom bills.

Here are 10 types of cost-savings a TEM specialist would look for:

  1. Unused services: Discontinue services or circuits that are no longer in use, which helps reduce monthly costs.
  2. Negotiated rates: Renegotiate contracts with the service provider to obtain better rates or discounts on services.
  3. Service bundling: Combine multiple services or features into a bundled package to get discounted rates.
  4. Optimized service plans: Choose service plans that better match usage patterns, such as unlimited plans for high usage, or pay-as-you-go plans for variable usage.
  5. Technology upgrades: Replace outdated or inefficient circuits with newer, more cost-effective technologies.
  6. Volume discounts: Leverage the client’s purchasing power to negotiate volume discounts based on the number of lines or the total spending.
  7. Optimization of port sizes: Adjust port sizes to match the client’s bandwidth requirements more accurately, avoiding over- or under-provisioning.
  8. Resource reallocation: Identify high-usage areas and redistribute resources or services to better align with the organization’s needs.
  9. Tax and regulatory fee adjustments: Verify and correct taxes and regulatory fees, which can result in cost savings if errors are found.
  10. Alternative providers: Research and consider alternative service providers that can offer better rates or service options.

Typical telecom overcharging situations and billing errors

TEM specialists use proprietary SaaS platforms to automate the analysis and processing of telecom bills. These are complex systems that compare the client’s current telecom invoices with the vendor’s conditions, the line number, and the device ID when applicable.

The function of these SaaS platforms is to accelerate and systematize the processing of telecom invoices, which is a big organization with hundreds of retail locations and can quickly become a monthly nightmare for their Accounts Payable department. In fact, it is not uncommon for a large-size organization to have to process over a thousand telecom invoices in the course of a month. This represents a very large workload, and when reduced by automation, sizable soft-dollar savings for the organization.

The TEM specialist sets up the SaaS platform to flag out any inconsistency in telecom billing, and mismatch with known rates. Here is an example of 10 common overcharges and billing errors found in a telecom operator’s invoice:

  1. Double billing: Charges for the same service or feature appear multiple times on the same invoice.
  2. Incorrect rates: Charges that do not match the contracted rates or discounts agreed upon with the service provider.
  3. Unauthorized charges: Charges for services or features not requested or approved by the client.
  4. Misapplied taxes: Incorrect application of taxes or regulatory fees, resulting in overcharges.
  5. Billing for disconnected services: Charges for services that were previously disconnected or terminated.
  6. Incorrect usage charges: Overstated usage charges due to metering errors or incorrect data.
  7. Billing for non-existent locations: Charges for services at locations where the client does not have any telecom services.
  8. Incorrect service plan charges: Charges for a more expensive service plan than the one agreed upon or requested.
  9. Incorrect circuit charges: Charges for circuits that are not in the client’s inventory or have been assigned incorrect circuit IDs.
  10. Late payment fees and penalties: Unwarranted late payment fees or penalties that are not justified based on the client’s payment history or the terms of the contract.

The job of the TEM specialist can just be to flag these errors and let the Accounts Payable department deal with the vendors to recover credits and refunds.

But TEM specialists like RadiusPoint offer their clients to take over this part of the service, and recover credits and refunds themselves, as well as follow up with billing corrections so that the same errors don’t reappear in the next billing cycle.

By identifying cost-saving opportunities and billing discrepancies, and requesting refunds and credits from telecom operators, Telecom Expense Management specialists ensure their clients can curb the rising costs of telecommunications services, spend no more than what is necessary for their organization to operate, and offer their clients valuable business intelligence in regard to the utilization of their telecom assets and their allocation by cost centers. This enables an organization to make better-informed decisions in procurement, cost allocation, and technology.

$1.3M in Telecom Refunds and Cost Savings: Case Study

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In this new case study, CEO Sharon Watkins discusses the telecom refunds and cost saving opportunities discovered by RadiusPoint during an Inventory & Audit of the telecom invoices of a global paper manufacturer. This case study highlights the need for organizations to streamline their telecom invoice processing to avoid overcharges and paying for services that telecom operators add to their billing. 

Transcript of the video

Summary

In this video, we will talk about how we were able to assist a paper manufacturer, a Fortune 100 company with a global presence, with their mobility management and telecom expense management needs.

To start with results, RadiusPoint obtained telecom refunds of over $450,000 on their wireless expenses in the first year of service. These refunds matched identified overcharges on wireless invoices. The primary challenge of our client was that they did not have the personnel to manage over 10,000 wireless devices and end-users. This was a global situation, the end-users were spread around the world.

The second major challenge was they could just not manage their telecom billing: at that time, invoices came in a box of over 3 feet high. According to our client, it took six people each month to go through these invoices, flipping through pages and pages to verify costs. So they needed assistance with the invoicing side, as well as with managing the servicing of so many end-users.

Inventory & Audit

We assisted our client with our proprietary platform, ExpenseLogic™, getting them set up to audit and process those invoices each month. We identified billing errors, and went back to the telecom operators to obtain all necessary refunds and reconcile the credits back on the bill.

We did identify over $400,000 in telecom refunds the first year. Those came back to the invoice. Then, still in the first year of service, we reduced costs by identifying services that were not supposed to be on their bill, or that Corporate did not want to pay for or authorize their end-users to have on their company phone. We identified over $850,000 in ongoing telecom savings (cost avoided).

Discoveries during the process

During our Inventory & Audit process, we discovered several major anomalies. For instance, the organization was still paying for phones (and services) for employees no longer on the payroll. Some of them had given their company phone to their children, and our client was still paying for them phones though these ex-employees had not worked there in two years.

We also identified instances when employees were downloading services (apps) — basically almost every phone had paid-app downloads — that were not authorized by company policy. However, since our client had no way to audit the bills, they had no idea their staff had downloaded those extra apps.

Initial TEM mission

Initially, RadiusPoint was hired by this client to perform a one-time audit, Then we continued on with monthly services for Telecom Expense Management and Mobility Expense Management.

Telecom refunds & savings

Q: Where did the $1.3 million in saving come from?

A: The $1.3 million came from two areas. First, we got over $400,000 in telecom refunds. During the first leg of our mission, as we were performing our Inventory & Audit process, we identified what actually belonged to the client, and disconnected what did not belong to them.

Second, going forward, we made recommendations that resulted in another $800,000 in telecom savings. Our recommendations aimed at cutting costs, consolidating the wireless operators, and optimizing contract rates.

That’s where the $800,000 [and ultimately, the $1.3M] came in.

TEM mission follow-up

Q: Does the client continue saving money on their telecom expenses?

A: Our client does continue to save money on an annual basis through our Telecom Expense Management services and the refunds we identify. It’s no longer a historical audit because the service occurs on a monthly basis and as the telecom invoice comes in, it is audited through our ExpenseLogic software platform. We then go to the vendor and reconcile. So yes, they continue to save money on a monthly basis.

Additional resources and references:

These links provide additional relevant information on our services and client feedback.

RadiusPoint and Telecom Expense Management: Our Presence in the Gartner Market Guide

TEM services: One of the two core business lines of RadiusPoint

Next case study:

Click here to discover how a glass manufacturer saved $100K on telecom expenses using RadiusPoint services

In this new video case study, Sharon shares how RadiusPoint helped a global glass manufacturer with large retail operations in the U.S. to overcome a lack of procurement framework, and curb their telecom expenses by $100K+ in Year 1 to get a ROI of 200% on TEM services.