In today’s world, telecommunications is more complex than ever. Telecommunication networks seem to advance more daily, so to keep up — and keep costs low — you need to have a telecom expense management (TEM) plan.
Part of maximizing your cost savings is understanding the best practices of lifecycle management of telecom equipment.
In this guide, you’ll learn what telecom lifecycle management is and how to get the most bang for your buck with every piece of telecom equipment in your network.
Telecom lifecycle management falls under the umbrella of telecom expense management. Instead of focusing broadly on cost and usage, however, telecom lifecycle management zooms in on every stage of the telecommunication lifecycle, beginning with equipment acquisition and ending with recycling.
Telecommunication networks include equipment such as:
By managing the lifecycle of each of these, you can buy the right equipment, set it up correctly, use it for as long as possible, and recycle it sustainably to keep costs affordable.
Lifecycle management of telecom equipment takes on the tasks of inventory management, account management, and general services management. This practice requires time, expertise, and patience, but it will ultimately pay off.
By taking a closer account of your telecommunication systems regularly, you’re more likely to discover flaws in your process before they become significant issues. This practice can reduce the costs of having to make major telecommunication changes on short notice.
Lifecycle management of telecom equipment can also prevent:
By carefully evaluating your telecommunications networks at every stage, your organization can streamline communication processes and improve overall service.
From purchasing equipment to monitoring your bills for unexpected charges to disconnecting your equipment when you no longer need it, here are the top 10 tips to maximize cost savings throughout the lifecycle of your telecom equipment.
One of the biggest ways to save on telecom equipment is by buying refurbished equipment instead of new. Refurbished equipment can save you around 60% on upfront costs. It will also reduce outage times, limiting the costs of downtime. You can browse refurbished telecom equipment here at eNetwork Supply to start off on the right foot with cost savings.
Once you order the telecom equipment, add the service to your inventory database. This will be a tool to track the equipment from that moment forward. By keeping careful track of your equipment, its functions, and its billing, you can catch issues earlier and reduce costs.
When you receive the equipment or service, do a quality check. You don’t want to pay for something that isn’t functioning properly. If the equipment or service isn’t working as promised by your carrier, you can either negotiate a decrease in price or replace it with more reliable equipment. Either way, you save money on future repair costs.
You should also take a close look at your first bill. Ensure you’re not paying for additional services you don’t need and that all calculations appear correct. From there, diligently monitor billing to avoid extra fees or unnecessary costs.
Managing all of the telecommunication assets in your estate can be a headache without consistency. Having lifecycle management policies that are consistent across devices simplifies this process.
These policies should detail guidelines regarding pre-installed applications, usage, costs, and security protocols. Complying with all government and industry policies also helps your asset usage remain consistent. With consistency comes cost savings. If you have protocols for cost savings for one asset, you can apply them to all assets.
Global organizations will run into the issue of telecommunication prices varying from region to region. In these cases, developing a centralized view of costs is essential. Continuously study any fluctuations in regional prices, and maintain a consistent budget. Without a centralized view of costs, your organization could pay much more in equipment and service costs than necessary.
Sudden problems with telecommunications assets often need attention immediately to avoid outages. Having a designated team available on-call around the clock makes repair processes smoother. This also reduces downtime, ultimately maximizing cost savings.
Following your telecommunications assets’ lifecycle and charges allows you to be more cost-effective. Determine what services are necessary and which ones cost more than they’re worth. Look out for lack of service quality, erroneous charges, and unused services.
Fast-forwarding to the end of the life cycle, the last thing you’ll do with telecommunications equipment or services is complete a disconnect order. This can be a lengthy process and requires a close eye, as carriers may try to overcharge you. If this happens, you can submit a dispute order.
After placing your disconnect order, monitor your next few billing cycles to ensure your carrier is no longer charging you. If you fail to check, your organization could lose money for equipment or services it doesn’t use anymore. Save on that unnecessary cost by paying close attention to your bills.
Not every organization can take on lifecycle management of telecom equipment on its own. Consider contracting with a telecommunications expense management company. These companies are professionals at maximizing cost savings because they make it easy for you to see at a glance your inventory, usage, and costs.
The last step of lifecycle management of telecom equipment is recognizing when equipment is at the end of its lifecycle. When you’re ready to update your equipment, you can sell it to us at eNetwork Supply. We’re the leading provider of equipment for telecommunication industries.
Browse our available products for new and refurbished telecom equipment. Contact us at (312) 283-5983 today to get started.
