Many European businesses are waking up to the money and time-saving potential of implementing a robust Telecom Expense Management (TEM) program. But what are the factors you need to consider before launching your own?
1. Organizational Complexities
Attempting to implement a TEM program spanning multiple borders, in an organization that’s accustomed to each country managing its own telecom expenditure and carriers, is a complex business. Where do you even start?
It’s wise to focus on the countries that make up your business’s largest telecom spend, to begin with. If you can tackle these areas first, you’ll find it much easier to install your TEM program in other regions as you’ll already have a firm grasp on which processes work, and which don't, for your particular business.
2. Maximize Return on Investment
TEM is, after all, a cost-saving exercise, so, when setting up your program, center your attention on maximizing ROI. Any TEM solution that’s worth the investment will need to include:
Sourcing
- Help finding the right tariffs and devices for your EMEA business needs, across Europe’s various carriers
Auditing
- Stay on top of your expenditure and keep your telecom data compliant with GDPR
Optimization
- TEM isn’t a one-time deal, it requires continuous monitoring, optimization, and development
Reporting
- Easy to interpret and analyze monthly reports will give you clarity over your telecom estate
3. Getting Your Team Behind TEM
It’s imperative that individual teams in each country get behind your TEM program from the outset. Without everyone on board and working from the same page, your chances of success are unlikely.
It’s not just about convincing the C-suite either. You need to educate your middle-management teams on the benefits of TEM. Explain how it can simplify complex telecom estate management and deliver cost reductions for the wider business.
Getting buy-in from middle-management early in the process gives them time to prepare for any questions that may arise from staff during the implementation process.
4. Start with the End in Mind
A successful TEM program pivots on having two key competencies: stability and longevity. It’s therefore crucial that you start your program with the end goal in mind. If your business’s goal is to eventually have a single, global TEM solution – which makes sense if you’re looking to grow as an organization – then choosing a proficient, global TEM vendor from the start is a must.
While there is an abundance of TEM software solutions available on the market, choosing to invest in a TEM provider – an actual team of specialists – often proves to be a more valuable proposition.
Their expert knowledge of national, regional, and global telecom vendors, alongside their wealth of real-world experience, is something that just can’t be simulated in a software package.
It’s Time for Telecom Expense Management
With cost savings of up to 25% on offer, can your business really afford to not get started with TEM?
It may seem like a complicated transition, but with a helping hand to guide you along the way, implementing a TEM program needn’t be complex.
Topics: TEM
