Mobile and telecom services have become so complex that companies are struggling to keep up and manage all their assets, expenses and workflows in an efficient way. According to IDC, worldwide spending on telecommunications services and pay TV will reach a whopping $1,647 billion in 2020. And mobiles will account for more than 50 percent of that figure!
So, every two years, when the contract with the telecom carrier is up for renewal, businesses want to get the ‘best deal’ possible – focusing on needs, rates, usage, plus data and device plans for the next period.
In this post, we will show you how to review and optimise your mobile plans to deliver maximum cost savings and optimum performance from your telecom services, now and in the future.
Let’s begin.
1. Understand your current and future needs (the most important step!!)
It’s difficult to optimise your mobile business plans if you’re not sure which services are actually being used or will be used in the future. So, the first step is to understand your organisation’s needs moving forward – and how the different telecom services being offered by your provider can help fulfil those needs.
Firstly, try to plan for growth. Consider mobile plans that you can scale as the team and your telecom requirements grow. It would be easier (and less expensive) to package additional services at the beginning as you negotiate for a new contract, rather than try to adjust the services within the term.
Secondly, optimise services and eliminate unused or underutilised ones. Most often, your mobile plans would include services that are not necessarily important for your day-to-day operations or are hardly being used. Focus on aligning your business objectives with your telecom and mobile requirements – and identify services you can scale up and eliminate the unnecessary ones that create a lot of wasted expenses.
It’s worth asking the question, what assets and services do you really need to move the business forward?
2. Review your current plan
The next step is to review your current contract. If you haven’t done it before, we highly recommend you take the opportunity to do so and familiarise yourself with every aspect of your telecom plan.
Some of the items you can highlight in your current contract include:
- All devices and equipment purchased or being leased
- Services included
- Call and data plans
- Monthly charges for the service and device plans
- Discounts and any bundled packages included
- Utilisation status of any benefits offered on top of spend (eg. tech funds, other service support)
- Any additional charges, late fees and taxes
- Renewal terms and conditions
Reviewing your current contract not only helps you understand services and pricing, but also gives you enough visibility on your renewal options from both a legal and financial point of view.
3. Negotiate for the best deal
Your contract term is now nearing its end. It’s time to negotiate the best deal with your current provider and renew your plan for the next 2 years.
This also provides an opportunity to position your telco services to support your company’s future strategy and growth. Your service provider should be a partner in this, consulting with you to find a solution and plan that provides maximum value to your business.
As a reminder, make sure the new plan:
- Addresses your company needs now and in the future
- Optimises any unused or wasted services
- Packages the services you need to deliver better rates and more savings
Of course, your account representative can also take the initiative to review your needs and usage, and provide you with a fit for purpose plan that maximises your cost savings and improves overall service performance.
Going beyond your Telstra Mobile Business Plans
While negotiating a better deal with your mobile provider delivers obvious benefits, you may only be seeing a part of a much bigger picture. Your telco plan shows your monthly device and carrier expenses – but it fails to give you complete visibility into every financial cost associated with your mobile and telecom services.
The true cost of mobility is so much more than the expenses detailed in your phone and internet bill. It also covers all the hidden costs involved in managing your mobile assets. And most of the time, the cost of management is as much as the mobile expense itself. These costs may include:
- Operational expenses around ordering and provisioning management
- Time spent tracking and managing all mobile assets & services
- Manual bill analysis and reporting
- Vendor fees for outsourced mobile management or Telecom Expense Management (TEM) services
- Cost of unused phones and mobile devices
Calculating the total cost of ownership (TCO) for your mobility services will identify inefficiencies with internal processes, as well as improve governance and help you make optimisation decisions throughout the contract term (not just every 2 years).To learn more on how to track all your telco related expenses and determine your true mobility TCO, contact the Bluewater team today!
