Telecom Expense Management Year in Review: Emptoris
December 23, 2011
By Erin Harrison, Executive Editor, Cloud Computing
In what continues to be an uncertain economy, companies of all sizes are on a quest for ways to cuts costs and control larger line item expenses such as their telecom bills. Many organizations are now reaping the benefits of working with a telecom expense management provider to help them face the challenges of accurate budgeting and forecasting.
TEM has emerged as one of the most effective methods organizations are using to cut millions in wasted voice, data and wireless expenses. 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).
Telecom expense management provider Emptoris helps companies gain greater visibility and control over sourcing, contracting, supplier lifecycle and telecom expenses and ensure optimum performance and mitigate risks from an increasing global supply base.
With two major acquisitions under its belt for 2011, telecom expense management provider Emptoris is looking ahead to 2012 with its glass half full; IBM (News - Alert) recently announced it plans to acquire Emptoris, which means exciting changes for the company in the New Year. TMCnet recently had the opportunity to catch up with Emptoris. Read our full exchange below.
TMCnet: What were some of Emptoris’ biggest advancements this past year?
Emptoris: 2011 was a banner year for Emptoris. First, the company completed two strategic acquisitions – telecom expense management leader Rivermine (News - Alert) and leading supplier lifecycle management solutions provider Xcitec – both of which added significant value to Emptoris’ suite of strategic supplier management solutions. Secondly, Emptoris unveiled its Strategic Supplier Management Platform for the Future – Emptoris Suite V9 – during Q3, a major product announcement that takes customers to the next level of supplier management performance with a centralized repository of normalized supplier data, robust reporting and analytics (including for telecom expense management), advanced program management capabilities, etc.
TMCnet: Can you elaborate on some of challenges you foresee for you and your clients in 2012?
Emptoris: Our clients continue to face an unstable global economy and continued financial, political and environmental risks. However, with a strategic supply management program in place, organizations can leverage their wealth of supply-related knowledge to take proactive, strategic steps for mitigating risk and optimizing their comprehensive supply management activities.
TMCnet: What are your predictions for 2012 for the telecom expense management market?
Emptoris: Even with more visibility into and control over their telecom spend, many organizations using telecom expense management are still facing the challenge of accurate budgeting and forecasting. Emptoris is meeting this challenge with its latest TEM capabilities that enable IT and finance professionals to align their operational consumption models with budgetary constraints and financial projections, thus helping bridge the gap between IT and finance planning and reporting. Also, mobile expense management continues to be a hot topic as more companies are managing more devices than ever and more employees are bringing their own personal devices into their enterprise environments.
TMCnet: Were there any specific advancement technologically that you were really able to capitalize on in 2011?
Emptoris: Yes, with the rollout of Emptoris Suite V9, we capitalized on the capability to offer organizations a complete picture of their supplier base and initiatives. With a centralized repository of supplier data – which normalizes data from multiple ERP systems and other sources – organizations can gain increased visibility into all supplier activities and contracts, as well as share the most relevant data with colleagues based on their role in the procurement/contracts process.
Other key advancements included rolling out a powerful reporting and analytics platform that conveys the most relevant supply information based on the user’s particular needs, and is designed to empower users to make better business decisions. Additionally, key program management functionality fosters a more collaborative environment and helps move initiatives along for faster ROI and targeted results.
Erin Harrison is Executive Editor, Strategic Initiatives, for TMC, where she oversees the company's strategic editorial initiatives, including the launch of several new print and online initiatives. She plays an active role in the print publications and TMCnet, covering IP communications, information technology and other related topics. To read more of Erin's articles, please visit her columnist page.Edited by Juliana Kenny