7 New Year’s Resolutions to Make (and keep!) for Your Telecom Department in 2008
A New Year. New challenges and opportunities.

Time to get down to business and set some new year’s resolutions for your telecom department, don’t you think?

This month is a very important issue because it will serve as a “checklist” to help you reduce and gain control of your telecom costs throughout 2008 and beyond.

Let’s get started!

7 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Telecom Department in 2008

1. Review and Be Sure You’ve Chosen the Most Optimum Local Service Options

Most businesses are unaware of the options that are available from their local phone company. The 3 basic local service options for businesses are below. Check your bills to be certain you are on the optimum plan.

1) Flat-Rate Service: the line cost is high, but the user can make unlimited local calls on the line at no extra charge.

2) Message-Rate Service: the line cost is lower than a flat-rate line, but the user pays an additional per call charge, usually $.07-$.12 per call.

3) Measured-Rate Service: the line cost is usually low, but the user pays for each minute of local outbound calling. There is an initial rate for the first minute and a lower rate for each additional minute of the call.

2. Locate, Review, then Evaluate All Current Telecom Contracts

Contracts you signed 1-2 years ago are probably coming due. First, you’ll need to locate any contracts that are currently in place. (Sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how many clients we work with that can’t even find the contracts they have!)

Next, check to be sure that there are no automatic renewals that will lock you into the same terms without renegotiating. Remember…Things change. Make a note the dates of expiring contracts and plan to renegotiate or research better options.

3. Put Phone Policies in Writing for Employees to Avoid Possible Abuse

A big area of waste we see with clients is phone abuses by employees. Oftentimes employees have no idea their behavior is costing the company LOTS of money. And other times employees knowingly engage in outright abuse and fraud.

To avoid confusion and misunderstanding, always have a separate written policy of acceptable phone usage for both landlines and wireless usage.

4. Schedule a Complete Telecom Audit/Evaluation in 2008

Seriously consider having your staff or an outside firm complete a full audit and inventory of your entire telecom department. A complete audit of your department will give you the foundation you need to help uncover problems.

Left unchecked and unresolved, this overspending will occur month after month - costing your company thousands of dollars over the course of the year. If you have your staff conduct the audit in-house, TelCon Associates has training publications and training modules that will help tremendously. TelCon can handle the burden for you as well.

5. Research New Wireless Options Due to Wireless Number Portability Legislation

New laws passed in November of 2003 allow for you to change wireless providers without having to give up your current number. Carriers have by now worked out the “kinks” so it’s a safe bet that you can make the switch without any problems.

When wireless contracts come due in 2005, shop around to see if you can acquire a better value from another carrier. Make a list of your needs and wants BEFORE you start talking with carriers. It is probably a good idea not to sign more than a 1 year contract - no matter what kind of deals they pitch you.

6. Establish an Electronic Inventory to Help Facilitate Moves/Adds/Changes More Easily

For multi-location companies, controlling and managing moves/adds/changes for field locations can be a real hassle. The solution is to inventory all of the lines at all field locations into an electronic database. Headquarters can now stay informed and in control of adds/moves/changes for each specific location.

It’s best to do a complete audit before building the electronic inventory database. The audit will help eliminate unused or overprovisioned lines without needlessly going into the database.

7. Stay Current and Informed With Telecom Technologies, Industry and Legislative Changes

We try to cover helpful topics in this newsletter and you can stay current with recent and interesting telecom news at www.telconassociates.com
Another terrific source for all kinds of telecom information is CCMI - (Center for Communications Management Information). CCMI is well-known for their seminars on just about every available telecom topic.

The Telecom Manager’s Voice Report is an award-winning publication that provides critical news and proven guidance to help telecom end-users secure the best rates, services and equipment for their company, twice monthly.

Resolve to make 2008 the year that you get your telecom department running like a fine Swiss watch!

Contributed by the folds at: TelCon Associates, Inc.