Independent Telecom Expense Management Association Officially Formed

By Anuradha Shukla

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

The Independent Telecommunication Expense Management Association (I-TEM) has announced its official formation. I-TEM has also launched its Web site and inaugural membership drive.

 

The CEOs of a group of Telecom Expense Management (TEM) companies from across the U.S formed the Association. These leaders believe that independence from traditional telecom service providers is a key differentiator when end-user enterprises seek solutions to control, manage, audit and contain telecom expenses.

 

According to Nancy Peckham, CEO of Visicom, and founding member of I-TEM, the founding members of I-TEM are dedicated to telecom carrier independence and the associated fiduciary duties that come with independently managing a customers’ telecom spend.

 

I-TEM members currently include: ICOMM Consulting of Oak Park, IL; Visicom of Madison, WI; Teligistics of The Woodlands, TX; TSG Enterprises of Memphis, TN; Telytics of Carlsbad, CA; Dietrich Lockard Group of St. Louis, MO and TnT Partners of Sandy Hook, CT.

 

The core initiatives stated by I-TEM for the group include expanding market awareness of the value proposition offered by ethical TEM providers through client education. An independent voice for defining clear standards for the TEM industry is also provided by the I-TEM members.

 

Additionally, I-TEM has set objectives for its members to affect the improvement of telecom carrier electronic invoicing, dispute resolution, billing accuracy and customer service.

 

Peckham believes having a single collective voice of independent TEM companies who literally represent hundreds of enterprise customers and very large telecom budgets, gives the association the strength to affect change where it is needed.

 

A TEM provider-applicant must go through an application process to become an I-TEM member. The applicant also has to make a statement certifying that the prospective member does not receive commissions or fees (directly or indirectly) from any telecom carrier in the performance of its functions relative to its role as a telecom expense management firm.

 

Due to the complexity and inefficiencies of current telecom carrier billing practices the TEM industry has continued to grow. Technology changes, the rapid growth of wireless voice and data, and the mergers of large telecom companies have resulted in a high degree of expertise to manage and control these expenses.

 

“The process for billing telecommunications expenses has become so complex that it's untenable for anyone less than an expert to understand the bill, let alone verify its accuracy,” said Martha Buyer, an attorney who represents telecom service end-users, in a statement.

 

Buyer continued: “I-TEM member firms provide invaluable expertise to end users while simultaneously improving efficiency for clients.”

 

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