Firms That Bill Clients for Phone Call and Data Time Can Save Costs with Telecom Management Solutions
April 04, 2014
By Tracey E. Schelmetic
TMCnet Contributor
As the long recession drags on into its seventh year, companies are still trying to cut costs. They’ve plucked all the low-hanging fruit long ago, by cutting out unnecessary travel and turning the thermostats up or down as needed. A more painful step was layoffs, and companies indulged in those to the point of recklessness. With no more thermostats to turn down and bare-bones staffing levels, companies are having to find new ways to save a few bucks.
Telecom expense management (TEM) is one of the more successful ways organizations are finding to make money. The average company spends an enormous amount each month on long-distance, data and other telecom charges, and many of these expenditures are superfluous and unnecessary. For a company such as an accounting firm, some not-very-complex call accounting can go a long way.
By implementing a modern telecom management tool focused around voice and data optimization, client billing, and voice and immersive video recording, all types of firms, but particularly accounting firms, can streamline their professional needs while keeping costs at bay. According to solutions provider ISI (News - Alert) Telemanagement, because many accounting firms are comprised of contractors or consultants, it’s vitally important to have the ability to bill back telecom costs and interact with a time and billing system. (The same advice would apply to a law firm, as well.) Managing telecom expenses is particularly critical in an industry where contracted work has a start and end date. By properly managing and optimizing telecom expenses, organizations can reap huge cost and efficiency rewards.
With a variety of reporting options, users can track billable hours for both landline and wireless calls individually, by department, or by organization. Infortel Select, ISI’s telecom management solution, can interface seamlessly with most time and billing systems. Ultimately, companies will be able to spot areas where they are wasting time and money, and ensure that company telecom resources are not being abused by employees.
This type of solution is extra important in a highly mobile and “bring your own device” environment, according to ISI Telemanagement.
“With the integration of tablets, smartphones, and other wireless technology into most business models, accountants can work entirely on the go,” according to the company’s Web site. “However, with this increased mobility, companies are finding it necessary to incorporate a means to manage the devices associated with their companies. They need the ability to optimize voice and data plans, as well as keep an inventory of devices utilized by their employees.”
It’s an easy way to tame the beast that is telecom expenses. By ensuring that voice and data resources are being used properly and to best practices while at the same time making sure the expenditures are being billed for correctly, accounting firms and other companies with similar business models can save a significant amount of rather easy money.
Edited by Stefania Viscusi