In the
wireless market today, companies experience
frustration with the lack of ability to leverage
their entire wireless spending and better control
cost associated with providing network connectivity
to mobile employees. There are several important
considerations which impact a company's ability to
create this wireless leverage and the potential for
savings and operational benefits it offers. The
considerations listed below are the most obvious.
- Effective pooling
of minutes
- Disparate availability of phones
- Wireless number portability
- Individual contracts vs. corporate contract
- Cost and disruption from change
- Risk and security of intellectual property
- Compliance with
federal regulations
When it comes down to it, the
acceptable use policies a company is willing to
accept with regard to these considerations
determines a company's wireless strategy and begins
the process to take control of this part of the
business.
Enterprise clients today are
mostly dissatisfied with their wireless carriers
displaying a lack of human customer care and a lack
of interest in the service and geographic needs
inherent to their business. No carrier seems capable
to develop a solution to meet these service and
geographic requirements thus far unless driven to
meet client expectations.
In November, 2003, a major
trigger event occurred that is important for
business clients to consider: wireless number
portability. Portability made changing the entire
network of wireless phones and contracts to one
corporate contract much less cumbersome for business
clients and their employees. A huge bonus to the
consumer market, number portability did not
eliminate the financial or resource cost associated
with a migration from one carrier to another for the
enterprise.
Corporate America's telecom teams
have done a lot of homework on this, including
submitting limited RFPs to selected vendors. Their
efforts provided more information, including the
reality that there were a lot of details to process;
a lot of options, good and bad, to consider; and a
lot of work to do. These companies have come to the
realization that awarding their mission critical
mobility to a low cost vendor will not necessarily
meet their needs. In addition, the recognition has
arisen that this all requires time — time that is
just not available, due to other project demands.
TAG believes in focusing on
network wireless strategy discussions with its
clients to determine the most appropriate engagement
process to use. Direct negotiation with incumbent
providers,
benchmarking, RFIs, modified
RFPs and full RFPs are some of the tactics utilized
to achieve a client's strategic objectives. TAG has
the process, resources and tools to help companies
cope with the wireless market today. Give us a call;
we can make a difference for you.
