Telecom related expenses are expected to rise both for public cloud connectivity and AI/CX/omnichannel services supporting enterprises globally. Any company who has been in business for more than five years, with multiple office locations is more than likely to have telecom “debt” where the pricing, service, taxes, and terms are not favorable to the enterprise. Often, clients have no line of sight into an active, billing inventory due to multiple influences. This is a result of years of change and no one person solely responsible for the entire tech stack of connectivity. Finance owns the payables, procurement owns process, while IT is responsible for the uptime, delivery, and design to support the business. The concept of using a Telecom Expense Consulting approach is not new; however, employing a boutique firm with deep hands-on experience in customizing Network, Telecom, Mobile, and Cloud solutions tailored to your business is an innovative approach.
The billed but not in use inventory conundrum
The process all starts with a validated inventory. I’ve noted below my top four reasons for having an incorrect IT asset inventory…do they sound familiar?
- Your company implemented a TEM that can’t provide accurate inventory based on “authoritative” third-party endorsements. (It’s not your company’s fault!)
- M&A type activity over time and key employee attrition.
- Shadow order & MACD activity.
- Lack of an outcome defined TEM contract with true ROI and savings guarantees.
The team at E78 Partner’s understands how frustrating inventory challenges can be for IT leadership. Unpredictable IT costs and the fear of change due to a lack of understanding of how IT assets support the business are often symptoms of a troubled IT inventory. Often, suggested TEM vendors seem to worsen the issues instead of resolving them or lack a clear path to remediate the problems at hand.
E78 uses an evidence-based methodology to validate telecom inventory by combining time-tested process, tailor-made auditing BI and the best experts in the field. Our clients who already have a TEM today can still achieve average savings of 15%-30% from E78 audits and 30%-50% from E78 sourcing and advisory services work.
Once an inventory has been validated, next up is cost of service. Am I paying market rates for the services my company utilizes?
How do I know if we are paying market rates for our network services?
TEM benchmarking involves comparing an organization’s technology expenses, processes, and performance against industry standards or similar companies to identify areas for improvement and optimization. Benchmarking can help organizations understand how they stack up against their peers in terms of tech stack spending, efficiency, and effectiveness. This process can involve analyzing various metrics such as telecom costs per employee, cost per device, contract terms, service levels, and usage patterns. By benchmarking their TEM practices, organizations can identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve processes, and enhance overall telecom management efficiency.
Telecom rate analysis involves examining the pricing structures, contracts, and usage patterns associated with an organization’s telecom services to identify potential cost-saving opportunities and optimize spending. This analysis typically includes reviewing invoices, contract terms, service agreements, and usage data to understand where money is being spent, whether services are being underutilized or overused, and if there are opportunities to renegotiate contracts or switch to more cost-effective plans. Telecom rate analysis can help organizations ensure they are getting the best value for their telecom expenditures and make informed decisions to optimize their technology expenses overall.
E78 blends audit, benchmarking, sourcing and lifecycle TEM into a single, continuous delivery model and we engage in a risk-off manner with full contingency model on audit & optimization fees. Our Strategic Procurement services include carrier service benchmarking and sourcing are at no cost to our clients.
Strategic sourcing with E78
Companies should have clear visibility to technology market rates without paying a surcharge for expertise. E78 Partners helps clients increase profitability, visibility, and control across organizations by advising on technology solutions that streamline processes, optimize resource allocation, and enhance decision-making. Through strategy, automation, cost optimization, and data-driven insights, we enable businesses to make distinctive, lasting, and substantial improvements in their performance.
E78’s strategic sourcing strategy combines market expertise and veteran insights to optimize buying arrangements, negotiate top-tier agreements, and monitor compliance, delivering cost savings and improved spend management for organizations at no charge!
We manage the entire process surrounding sourcing including:
- Demand Set Analysis
- Vendor Capability Assessment and Selection
- RFI/RFP Document Production
- Vendor Response Compilation
- Final Decision Recommendation
- Negotiation of the Final Agreement
E78 leverage’s a proprietary data set, providing your business with an unparalleled edge in negotiations. This data-driven approach, combined with our deep understanding of technology and industry-specific landscapes, empowers your organization to make informed, strategic decisions. We guide you through the minefield of outsourcing options, aligning each choice not just with your existing contracts and current needs, but also with your future state aspirations and budgetary considerations.
With E78 Partners, every outsourcing decision is an opportunity to advance your organization’s technological prowess and market positioning. Contact us to learn more!
