Why is Network Mapping Associates a one of a kind Telecom Consulting firm? 

Because in addition to providing a hard wired Telecom Audit, NMA is one of the few companies that will service your wireless needs, as well.  Utilizing much of the same methodology - NMA will:

• Analyze many months of your existing corporate and individual wireless service plans to determine where efficiencies can be realized
• Establish cellular calling patterns to determine what calling plan (corporate wide or individual) is most cost effective
• Identify the best cellular service provider based on your unique usage requirements
• Determine if your current paging system is most efficient
• Identify potential cost effective solutions that address both your paging and cellular service requirements

NMA’s exemplary customer service includes:
• Prompt and courteous response to all your inquiries
• Personal interaction with maximum attention to detail regarding your unique requirements
• Total representation on your behalf in negotiating the best possible pricing and solutions with telephone providers of your choice
• Total representation on your behalf in negotiating and securing identified refunds you are entitled to
• Most importantly, the highest guarantee that we work solely and completely on your behalf and only propose what is in your best interest 

We were discussing the fact that not all Telecom Consulting firms are created equal.  We were also outlining the in depth approach that NMA uses in conducting a Telecom Audit.  Back to that:

NMA will analyze your existing bills to identify historic calling patterns. This will enable NMA to:
• Identify network inefficiencies for call transport both internally and externally
• Identify any calls of abnormal duration
• Identify and negotiate the most efficient volume discount pricing points and calling plans
• Recommend potential cost effective alternative solutions/services based on usage patterns

NMA will work with the carrier of each individual circuit identified to:
• Determine if it is functional
• Determine if it is being used in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible
• Determine if it is being billed for features not available or not utilized
• Recommend and coordinate cost effective replacement services utilizing your existing providers

NMA will analyze each data facility:
• To determine if it is being utilized efficiently
• To determine if there are cost effective alternatives available based on its intended use
• To determine if there are efficiencies that can be realized by combining currently separate data and telecom facilities
• To determine ways of maximizing capacity without giving up redundancy or other disaster recovery requirements

But wait there’s a lot more…..

Business owners need to understand that not all Telecom Consulting firms are created equal. In every service oriented industry all providers claim to provide the best service, but everyone knows that not every company can be the best. Talk is cheap! There are a lot of factors to consider when determining what really separates the best from the worst. When you are talking about a Telecom Audit the single most important factor to consider is simply how in depth is the actual analysis. Over the next few posts I will outline everything that goes into an NMA Telecom analysis:

NMA will utilize your existing bills and contracts to manually compose a detailed TeleMap of your entire network.  This enables us to:
• Identify all carrier services and their location within your network
• Identify how the services being utilized interact with each other
• Determine network redundancy
• Provide advice on a more efficient network configuration while maintaining the same providers and functionality

NMA will compare recent bills to current contracts:
• To ensure that contractual pricing has been applied accurately and identify any potential refunds based on billing errors
• To ensure that call volume discounts have been initiated and billed correctly
• To ensure that contractual rates are cost competitive in today’s market
• To determine network efficiencies not currently being realized (i.e. such as utilizing existing T1’s for local access calling)
• To determine contractual efficiencies amongst services that are currently contracted separately (i.e. realizing larger volume discounts for combined usage of multiple services)
• To negotiate the most cost competitive rates on your behalf

 BUT WAIT, THERE IS A LOT MORE……..

Why NMA for a Telecom Audit and total Telecom Management?

Companies that switch from internal telecom billing and contract management to NMA can expect to permanently save at least 10%-40% annually. This represents savings that are on average 3 times better than using internal staffing or engaging a typical auditing firm for similar functions.

Outsourcing this function to NMA also brings additional advantages:

• Enhance the accuracy of equipment, service and billing records, which will reduce the time and potential errors going forward.
• Improve visibility into billing, contracts and customer service records through TeleMap.
  Reduce the complexity of the network by creating a single point of control from which to more easily manage a top 3 cost center.
• Internal staff focuses on its core competency and is used more efficiently in other activities related to improving the revenue side of the business.

Many companies have tried to control their multi-million dollar telecommunications costs in a number of ways that, ultimately, have limited success:

Typical bill auditors: Often they are telephone bill auditors who use telecom audit software programs to locate billing errors or low hanging fruit. They will usually keep a portion of the amount recuperated (Refunds/Credits) for the client as a service fee. This short-term and limited approach could only be helpful in the case of carrier related errors that create a refund or credit which only constitutes approx. 15% of what may be available to the client.

Strategic Consultants: They offer the service of reviewing the business environment and design networking options, which may or may not bring reduction in costs. They write RFP’s/RFQ’s, they manage the implementation, then leave and eventually begin the process again at the next contract renewal, never really addressing the core problem.

Outsourced telecom department or function: The entire function of managing the telecom expenditures is outsourced to a specialized company. This represents a major shift in the company’s culture and requires strategic corporate planning and decision from the top level yet it may still never accomplish total telecom cost optimization.

If you believe you are spending more than is necessary on telecom related expenses, join the club …

Costs associated with telecommunications are often mismanaged & or overlooked. Users that fail to adequately resource this function will always overpay for their telecommunications services. Telecommunications expenses as a percentage of revenue range from 2% to 10% and are a significant cost line item affecting any organizations bottom line. Telecom spending on local & long distance, cell phones, data services and web hosting range from $100 to $10,000 per employee per year. On average, across industry, medium and large companies spend over $2,000 per employee per year in communications charges. Thus a company with approximately 500 employees is expected to spend approximately $1,000,000 per year in telecommunications of which, anywhere from 10-40% of that Top 3 cost center may be wasted every year unnecessarily.

For a large number of IT and telecom managers, the task of controlling telecom costs is overwhelming because of billing complexities, varying usage patterns, constantly changing market prices, proliferation of new services, introduction of new technologies and constant push by vendors and carriers to sell you the latest services. It is to say the least, a daunting task even for the most seasoned telecom professionals.

You might be thinking that the detailed approach behind TeleMap could seem intrusive and time consuming. It’s NOT.  Our Telecom Consulting firm completes all of this work at our facilities, and within 15 business days from receipt of billing we will present the initial TeleMap evaluation.

The overall timeframe to complete this comprehensive telecom audit is dependant upon the total amount of locations. For example, a business with 10 locations can be completed within 10-20 days; however, an organization with 500 locations could take between 2-4 months. In this case it is not only the quantity, but also how quickly NMA can receive certain information from the Telco provider.

Our analysts and project managers do nothing without approval from our customers. Once granted, we will perform all work including verifying each invoice to ensure all reductions and recoveries are posted.

Once the entire TeleMap Process has been completed, we will provide TeleMap for Free! Now there is peace of mind knowing all possible rate errors and wasteful spending has been recovered in addition to acquiring the toll that can easily manage your environment forever!

Describing our TeleMap Process as simply a telecom audit is like describing a brand new laptop as simply a calculator.  Technically the description is correct, but it leaves out exponentially more than it describes.  Our TeleMap process is a diagram that illustrates the function, flow, cost, and term of each and every communication service within a network. This revolutionary two-dimensional blueprint for any size network is created using the comprehensive line-by-line bill review, known as the Network Proficiency Evaluation.  Network Mapping Associates not only reviews bills and contracts to identify erroneous and/or incorrect billing but we take the next step by scrutinizing each charge and service to determine what the charge or service is and how the services are being used. NMA illustrates this information in TeleMap in addition to providing a separate report to include ways to recover funds and prevent waste without switching carriers.

Network Mapping Associates is the quintessential, unbiased telecom consulting firm. Our TeleMap Process uniquely uncovers a myriad of opportunities that provides true and “Total Telecom Cost Optimization” (TTCO) for our clients. Not only that, but we assume 100%of the risk involved. There is no up front cost for our clients. Our TeleMap Process is contingency based.

Even if you have recently performed a telecom audit, you owe it to your bottom line to allow us to double check. We routinely uncover things that a prior telecom audit missed. We welcome, and look forward to having the opportunity to follow any, and all, of the most respected auditors in this world.

How can we be that confident?!?! Well……………..

When looking for a telecom audit, there are three types of consultants in the telecom industry:

Captive, Biased and Unbiased

A captive consultant is one who usually recommends or works with one “preferred” vendor for client projects. For example, IBM has a global alliance with AT&T and generally quotes AT&T network services on projects. This approach, in many cases may not be in the client’s best interest. A red flag should go up if you hear a consulting firm announce a joint marketing or business relationship with a vendor or carrier. Peruse the consultancy’s web site and press releases etc. to see if there are arrangements in place that could affect the consultant’s ability to be completely unbiased and independent.

A biased consultant is one who generally steers the client to a handful of vendors or carriers with whom the consultant has a business relationship. Not surprisingly, these consultants often factor the best commission rate into their selection methodology. A warning bell should go off anytime you hear phrases such as, “we get paid by the carriers” or “our consulting is free to you.” When a vendor or carrier web site lists authorized consultants or marketing partners, this is a tip-off that the consultant has a biased agenda.

Unbiased consultants don’t have financial relationships with any vendor or conflicts of interest that affect their recommendations. If you want an independent telecom consulting firm that will work strictly in the best interest of your business, be sure that they are not affiliated with or accepting commissions from any carriers or vendors etc…. Peruse their web site and ask direct questions to the representative of the consulting firm before deciding to move forward. Also, once you choose a consultant, examine their recommendations closely to determine if they are in fact unbiased and independent and more importantly, in your best interest.

Which description sounds best to you?!?