Master Agent Featured Articles

In a still fragile economy, businesses this year continue to keep focus on unnecessary expenses and try to manage to do more with less.

 

With telecom expenses often accounting for up to 20 percent of firms’ overall IT budgets, enterprises and SMBs alike understand that inconsistent processing and auditing of telecom invoices is no longer acceptable, according to IT research firm Forrester (News - Alert).

 

In order to best manage telecom expenses, going through a “master agent” as opposed to going directly to a carrier has several advantages, according to officials at Chicago-based Telecom Brokerage Incorporated.

 

 “Of course having a master agent in your corner is always recommended. It guarantees the best prices and the most complete quotes. It also guarantees that an agent will have rock-solid back office support throughout the whole process, from quoting to ordering, installation and commissions,” blogged Mark Garcia, IT director of TBI.

 

The Chicago-based company represents more than 60 industry providers and over 800 independent channel partner agencies.

 

But beside the master agent recommendation, there is another message and that is having valid and accurate quotes, which are both vital to an agent’s business, Garcia explained.

 

“Whether using a master agent or going it alone, it is up to the agent to make sure that every quote cuts the mustard. All numbers need to be correct, including pricing and contract terms. Promotion dates should be verified, especially expiration dates. Bring erroneous quotes to your client and not only are you putting a deal at risk, but you are also putting a great deal of stress on your relationship. Just like ‘Joe Agent,’ there are wolves at the door, waiting to steal away your customers. Don’t open the door for them by being sloppy or uninformed. Instead, arm yourself with a steel clad quote and fend off the competition.”

 

TBI represents a broad base of carriers, including: Major IX’s such as Qwest, ATT, Verizon, and Level 3; R-BOC’s such as Qwest, AT&T and Verizon; C-LEC’s Access One (News - Alert), ACC, McLeod, Paetec, TelePacific and XO; IP Telephony’s Geckotech and Netlogic; conference calling carrier Intercall; wireless carriers Sprint (News - Alert) PCS, XO and Covad; and Internet access/hosting carriers Eyezon, XO, New Edge Networks, Savvis and Level 3.

 

On the heels of announcing a partnership that will help channel partners drive revenue growth, TBI in December revealed that the company also become the first master agency to sign a channel marketing partnership with ADTRAN Inc.

 

According to company officials, the agreement will help promote TBI’s multicarrier portfolio of connectivity solutions to ADTRAN’s (News - Alert) 2,000-plus value-added resellers and gear to TBI’s more than 1,000 subagents.